hope is a weapon

❝ Unfortunately, i think that's the price of living. Those things then to stick to you. ❞

A small pause.

Older than he'd think, and now Tarre is curious: he did not know Master Fay in his time, but the chance is not impossible. After all, the current grandmaster is supposed to be eight-hundred years old at the very least, not that it has done much for the Order.

That she does not like Mandalorians, well. It's to be expected, just like it's to be expected that younglings and young Padawans might be lacking in the tact department. And while bluntness is not something he will encourage in someone else's Padawan, from what he knows of the Order at the moment, he will also not correct it: it's a very Mandalorian trait, and they are in Mandalore.

Instead, he lets his smile show the wry amusement in his chest, and lets his Force presence show it as well, for a moment.

"Lead the way." He says, as he puts on his buy'ce. "You will notice that a properly armored Mandalorian makes people suddenly want to look the other way."

Especially right now. Especially wearing his Clan's sigil.

"And all in all, ad'ika," he adds, "the Mando'ade and the Jetii have been at war quite often over the ages, and the dislike is well entrenched in both cultures. And it's not only because of a lack of clear cultural middle-ground: neither side is innocent in the conflict, for all I will not pretend the same blood has been shed on both sides."

He is not about to soften it, and neither is he going to pretend his people have not done terrible things.

"There have been times where the conflict has not been so present, and there are countless examples of alliances and personal friendships, and the Clans do not all share an opinion on the Jetii. It is a complicated area." He adds. And then, fondly, "My Master was a diplomat, and very fond of discussion. Our differing worlviews gave us material for more than a decade."

And to this day, he still disagrees in some points of the Jedi view. But he also sees the value in many others.

"But I still want to believe," Tarre adds, gentler now, "that the Temple would not have been unkind to a child, even one with my origins."

"I mean, not really anymore." For one, Bruck Chun is dead and all of his friends are now terrified of him. Master Qui-Gon's looming presence certainly doesn't hurt either, the no-nonsense man with a low tolerance for bullies that he is. "And I'm really not at the temple a lot these days either."

He's likely saying too much, but the Force isn't warning against it, so he sees no reason to still his tongue. Given he not reveal any of his assignment secrets, of course. It's been some time since he's been around who doesn't want to throttle him, even longer since he's felt safe in the presence of an adult (a Jedi one!).

"My Master and I have been really busy . . . he hasn't wanted to go home a lot since Galidraan." The word sits heavy on his tongue. Mandalore has always been hostile toward his kind, but the slaughter of her people has awakened something deep and primal. It's made his mission all the more difficult, and that is excluding the knowledge that the main perpetrator of the battle was his own Grand Master. It's something Obi-Wan intends to keep to himself as well.

Tarre has been friendly for now, but there's no saying how he'll react to knowing retribution is mere feet ahead of him. Thankfully, Master Count Dooku has never been loud about their lineage and his Master has always held them at arms length. He says it's because he doesn't want his violent influence around, but Obi-Wan think it has something more to do with not wanting him near Master Sifo-Dyas, not wanting him to encourage any lingering visions of the future.

Commission for the lovely @dreamerkath

@spokewar - Mand'alor again verse starter call

A Jetii could travel discreetly, if a Jetii wanted to. Not as discreetly among Tarre's people as everywhere else, when so many Mandalorians were in the business of noticing people and remembering old grudges, but discreetly enough. The Force, however, was not always a proponent of discretion.

And a Jetii so close to Mandalorian space was always intriguing. This one, even more so than most. And so, the moment the Force had nudged Tarre's attention towards the one presence that was notably vivid, notably light, he had followed, and sent a nudge back. Lowered his shields enough that it would almost be a call, now that he had finished the business accord that had brought him to the edges of what had once been Mandalorian space and was now space worth considering again, and sent a faint greeting to the Force.

And then he walked where the Force would lead him, because he was curious and he was not wearing the full regalia, merely the armor and underneath it clothing that was the Mandalorian answer to tunics. Not so much the Mand'alor he was trying to become again as the Alor of Clan Vizsla, because he had long grown fond of moving alone, to the annoyance of some of his new Captains.

It was bound to happen, he just hadn't expected it to be so soon, someone had reclaimed the Mand'alor's title and he needed to know who. The Duchess had once entertained the idea of leveraging the Clones' Mandalorian heritage into spurring the Republic into action, and though he didn't expect the same of any new leader, he needed to know what he'd be up against. Or, at least, what Bail and Senator Chuchi would be up against. Obi-Wan was just making first contact as a precautionary. Much to the chagrin of Commander Cody.

He hadn't expected the Mand'alor to find him first, though he really shouldn't have been surprised. He didn't come as Ben, not even as a General, Obi-Wan Kenobi came as a Jedi, bearing his traditional robes and dual sabers proudly displayed at either side of his hips. Slightly out of place were the bracers on his forearms, but he thought it might be an insult to come completely unarmored, implying he didn't view the visit as a threat to his safety.

It was going to remain unspoken, but he found himself relieved he didn't have to venture deep into Mandalorian territory to get his meeting. It might have been slightly concerning how fast he'd been found, but the Force seemed more amused than on edge.

"Hello, I'd like to offer you my sincerest greetings and my sincerest apologies for dropping in unannounced.," Obi-Wan offered a quick but deep bow, not wanting to look away for too long. Normally, he would prod at any uncertain minds, but given Jango's explosive temperament and vitriol hatred of Jedi, he kept his shields in tact and to himself. "I feared something more stately my stir up more trouble than either of us want.

Is he safe or is he just a prisoner?

No one is getting in (because of you, because you put them all in worse danger than they've ever been) and no one is getting out (because you're dangerous and you're never to be trusted again). Anakin only half hears Obi-Wan's careful words. There's the voice in his head again that sounds dangerously like Sidious and Anakin wants to slam his head into the wall or the floor just so he doesn't have to hear it anymore.

Can you really trust him? Do you really think he has your best interests at heart. Or is he just afraid of you?

Anakin's tear-filled eyes snap away from Obi-Wan as if he expects someone there. The touch of an old man's hand on his shoulder. Kindly, but now with an undercurrent of something darker that Anakin hadn't realized. It's so obvious, now. The way his mind had clouded over every time he entered Palpatine's office. It had felt almost calming, then. Like a drug he couldn't quite quit. Had he known the whole time and just... ignored it? Let himself fall into a false sense of security because of how much he craved something that wasn't so strict and stringent like the Jedi's way of love?

He's dizzy.

"You've told me before that I talk enough for the both of us." In terms of fight or flight, Obi-Wan's first response has always been chat. (something certainly not inherited from Master Qui-Gon). "I've been off planet for- a while I presume? The days are hard to keep track of when there aren't any windows. I mean in the temple. On Lothal. I've been restoring it while the Republic is arguing over who is getting put on trial for what."

He winces, a stunning start.

"I'm sure you've heard of it in your classes before? It currently looks like a mountain and has been out of commission ever since the Jedi consolidated to Coruscant. Awfully dusty and desolate inside, but there's potential. Plus, it's gargantuan and far far away from the noise of the senate. I wouldn't call it habitable at the moment, but it'll helpful in the future for those who no longer wish to remain tied to the inner core. The Force is clearer there and not everything you do is under the watchful eyes of a thousand interested parties. "

There is, of course, the matter of the entire High Council disapproving of his pet project, but they have much larger things to worry over and Obi-Wan scuddling about the outer rim is a low priority concern in regards to all the trials and rapidly forming legislation. Such a shame they don't realize he's doing this for them. For the near future when they're going to have relearn how to exist without the support of the Republic, which will no doubt be quite upset about the upheaval of its army.

just some straight up bullshit