An open invitation

[ezra_of_lothal]

WHO: Ezra, other Jedi Temple residents, visitors, and spectators
WHERE: The Temba Jedi Temple and the area around it/former museum area
WHAT: Lightsaber practice and mingle OTA
WHEN: Several days after Billy’s spell breaks
WARNINGS: TBD (label threads if you can, please!)



Having his connection to the Force fully restored is strangely disorienting and unbalancing for Ezra, and he was never completely cut off from it. He can’t really imagine how his fellow Jedi, who now remember entire lives without sensing the Force, feel. So, for a few days, he does his chores, mediates a little, visits other people, and tries not to hover while the residents of the Temple area regain their inner footing.

Eventually, though, he gets a little restless. Maybe some focused movement with a purpose would help the other Jedi, too.

Network - Text

Lightsaber practice in the open area by the Temple area, early afternoon today. Myself and Master Kenobi at least, still working out details. I guess it’s never actually been said – people are welcome to come watch! It’s polite to stay quiet when there’s actual instruction going on, of course. Also, we’re usually working on lower power, but for safety please stay well back while blades are ignited.



It starts a little slow, warming up with katas, demonstrating and talking through sequences. Ezra’s particularly interested in learning more about Soresu, the defensive form for which Obi-wan had once been well known in the Order. He’s learned the fundamentals from Kanan, but getting to see Master Kenobi go all out in the salles at the Coruscant Temple had been enlightening.

Eventually they get around to the really fun stuff – practice duels. They should really do this on some varied terrain at some point, but for right now, it’s flashing blades, jumps, twirls and flips around the flat ground. Perfect for others to come watch and talk amongst themselves.

Ezra'a soon clearly in a much better mood, beaming as he extinguishes his green blade for a break.

Comments

[ezra_of_lothal]

"The crew of the Ghost! Also knows as the Spectres. I was Spectre Six."

He flips through the holofiles some more to new picture. "Kanan Jarrus, my master. And Captain Hera Syndulla, one of the best pilots around."

[on_repeat]

"Good name. Has a nice ring to it." Of course he'd approve of the code names, especially ones that work around a unifying theme.

They look like a capable couple to Echo, eyes flickering to Ezra. "Did you say Syndulla?"

[ezra_of_lothal]

"Yeah." Ezra tilts his head thoughtfully. "Were you at the Battle of Ryloth? Hera's father lead some of the locals against the Separatists, I know that."

[on_repeat]

The daughter of a resistance fighter who's reputation is saddled in speaking out against Ryloth's Senator. Echo has thoughts about it, setting them aside for the time being as he shakes his head.

"At the time? No, I wasn't directly involved. General Skywalker and Commander Tano mostly acted as support against the Confederate blockade that surrounded the planet. If I recall correctly, General Kenobi and General Windu continued the ground campaign."

[ezra_of_lothal]

"Well. Hera never forgot how your brothers and the Jedi helped her home," Ezra offers, softly.

"Whatever else came from the war, all the things that weren't-" He swallows, and says louder, with some of that fierce, angry edge. "Weren't right about it. The civilians you helped protect, that was real."

[on_repeat]

The Republic's efforts were able to produce results that benefited the civilians. He feels relief in hearing this, like he's been holding in a breath without even realizing it. Because this is what he knows to be true.

Simultaneously, the sudden edge in Ezra's voice reminds him of Fives, of when he rallied the young clone cadets when their home was under attack. Except there's a nuance present that he can't quite pinpoint, of a fury he still has yet to understand.

It's worrying.

Echo doesn't hesitate, reaching out to clasp the padawan's shoulder. "Ezra," he nearly whispers, gentle yet firm in an attempt to assuage the anger present. "As long as they remember, that's all that matters."

[ezra_of_lothal]

The gentle tone just makes Ezra's chest ache. His voice drops quieter again, but there's still an edge to it.

"It matters. It also matters that you and brothers didn't have a choice about fighting for them."

That's not even getting into the whole chip thing. He sees the broad strokes of how it all fits together, so there were no good choices left for anyone who cared about peace or saving lives, until the Jedi were mostly gone and the masses of citizen just went along with the Empire out of fear or exhaustion.

[on_repeat]

Ezra has a point – a perspective he doesn't consider very often, and it's due to the fact he and his brothers have a duty to fulfill to the Republic. All of it, done without question.

His choice is to serve and fight alongside the Jedi. That alone comes into conflict with the things he's learned here.

"Hey." Any sternness in his tone is dulled as he gets out of his own head to focus on the Padawan. The hand that rests on one shoulder moves to the other so that he can hug him. "I appreciate you caring so much about us," he says. "My brothers would've felt the same."

[ezra_of_lothal]

Ezra goes and just...hugs back for a moment.

"...Ok," he says, eventually. "I know I can't fix any of it. It's all before I was born, anyway."

[on_repeat]

A tight smile forms, albeit briefly and not quite reaching his eyes. With that truth in mind, nothing he can say will change anything.

He squeezes Ezra's shoulder before loosening his grip, ready to give him space whenever he decides to step back. "...It may not be home, but you still have a chance to fix things here."

[ezra_of_lothal]

"For the Agrii," Ezra agrees before he shifts a half step back. "But, you'll let me know if there's anything I can do to help you, right?"

[on_repeat]

Echo nods. "I'll let you know."