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

OTA

[hadthehighground]

Having the memories of a normal guy from earth with an undisciplined mind along with that of a Jedi master was very strange. It had left Obi-Wan unbalanced and confused with his own identity. He knew which one was real, but that didn’t make it any less difficult for him. He had spent days meditating with varying degrees of success. Spending time alone and trying to sort out his thoughts.

Holding his lightsaber again and going through the motions helped and this class was just as much of a time for him to learn as it was his students. Though in his case he was relearning. Even so, Obi-Wan might be caught making comments that didn’t sound much like him, but rather the man he had been in Billy’s world. Some lectures and demonstrations causing him to pause as he had to jog his own memory. But he would eventually move on as if nothing happened.

A couple of robotic balls could be seen floating in the air. Training remotes that he had brought back from Coruscant. Harmless things that fired little bolts that would sting but not injure. Perfect for demonstrating the defensive moves of Soresu and as practice for the Padawans. He would then have Ezra and Cal practice what they learned with each other while he had one on one instruction with Grogu. The little one being given a training saber that was appropriate for his size.

Any spectators were welcome, and he was open for questions between lessons if anyone had any. Also, those that didn’t see Obi-Wan during the recent happenings may notice that he looks very different. On top of the slightly off personality he also has a bare face that is only just barely starting to grow stubble again.

[the_child]

Grogu held the training saber hesitantly, looking up at Master Kenobi. Are you sure about this, Master? Is he really ready for this? He's only barely started his training again, after all.

[hadthehighground]

Bending down to Grogu’s level, Obi-Wan smiled at the little one and nodded.

“You are ready for this. Though don’t worry, we will take it slow. It would be hard for you to seriously hurt anyone with that blade.”

He then called one of the remotes over.

“Do you remember seeing the younglings practicing in the temple? We will be going through the same exercises. Reach out with your feelings and sense the remote. Anticipate where it’s going to fire and block it.”

Obi-Wan then stands up again and steps back. Setting the remote to its lowest level. It buzzes lazily in front of Grogu and fires a tiny bolt at him.

[the_child]

He looks at the lightsaber in his hands. Hard to hurt someone... but not impossible. He'd still have to be careful.

But Master Kenobi had confidence in him. He could do this... right? Closing his eyes, he tried to do as Master Kenobi instructed. Reaching out with his feelings, he could sense the remote. He wasn't able to anticipate the shot, however, and he got zapped.

[hadthehighground]

Obi-Wan winced in sympathy when the little one inevitably got zapped by the remote. It was bound to happen though, and it wouldn't be the last time.

"It's all right, Grogu. Do it again."

Practice makes perfect after all, and just like anything else he would have to keep going until he did get it. Every Padawan went through this stage.

[the_child]

It was a learning curve. He'd seen this done plenty of times, but he'd never done it himself.

He steadied himself and tried to focus. He could do this. He could feel the remote as it moved in front of him. He shifted his stance as it did, the lightsaber raised. This time, when the bolt was shot towards him, he was able to angle the lightsaber to block it.

[hadthehighground]

Obi-Wan stands back and watches. Silently cheering on his small pupil as he observes. When Grogu manages to deflect the the bolt this time, he can hardly hold back his excitement for the Padawan.

“Very good, Grogu. You see? You’re capable of more than you realize.”

He knew the young one was unsure of himself, but hopefully this would encourage him.

“Keep going. You’re doing well.”

[the_child]

He's so proud of himself that he loses focus and the next bolt zaps him. That's his own fault, though. He shouldn't have stopped paying attention to what he was doing. The praise is nice, but he needs to focus on his training.

[hadthehighground]

Obi-Wan can't help a little chuckle as poor Grogu is zapped again. But he's compassionate and continues to try and guide the little padawan.

"Stay focused, Grogu. Celebrate your victories, but a Jedi must never lose sight of the Force."

[ezra_of_lothal]

He'd been glad Master Kenobi had readily agreed to practice.

Seeing his master occasionally verbally stumble or sound more like Ben Bridger was less comforting. He just stayed quiet and tried to look attentive and radiate as much steady calm as he could muster, when Obi-wan paused. Showing distress would only throw the Jedi Master off more, he was sure.

Although, he wondered what Cal and Grogu thought of this shift.

When everything started to wind down, he circled around to come close enough to offer, quietly while studying Obi-wan's expression, "Tea, Master?"

They had agreed that they'd talk about....everything that had happened.

[hadthehighground]

Obi-Wan was starting to look weary by the end of it. Mentally exhausted more than anything else. No matter how much he tried to hide it, his stumbles gave him away to anyone who paid attention.

When Ezra comes over and suggests tea, there is a visible relief on his face. “Yes, I would like that.” And right now Ezra was a comforting presence. The Jedi Master placing his hand on the young man’s shoulder as he started walking.

“You did well in practice today.”

[ezra_of_lothal]

Ezra lit up at the praise. "Thanks, Master Kenobi. I know it's this sort of stuff that are part of what I need to work on most. Things that take repetition and consistency."

He was going to add something about not being in the habit of doing that most of his life, but then his expression scrunches up as he realizes that's...sort of not true, anymore, depending on your point of view. "At least I remember what studying is like, now," he mutters.

[hadthehighground]

Obi-Wan knows what Ezra is talking about and gives an understanding smile. “You know, it might not hurt to continue your studies here as best you can. The Jedi value all forms of education. Not only that of the Force and the lightsaber.”

Is he suggesting that Ezra continue his schoolwork? Yes he is. That might be a bit of Ben coming through, but Obi-Wan kind of agreed with the sentiment.

[ezra_of_lothal]

"Ok, Ben," Ezra teases, lightly, then continues more seriously, "I actually asked Padme if she could help with writing and politically related things, right before this whole things happened."

[hadthehighground]

Obi-Wan chuckled at the teasing but then raised his brows in a bit of surprise. “Really? Well I think that was a good choice. She would make an excellent teacher.”

Eventually they stepped into the building that had been intended for living quarters and into a room that the Jedi had claimed for himself. It was sparse and simple. But it had a simple bed for him to sleep on and a place where they could sit. A few personal things sat off to one side as he hadn’t figured out what to do with them yet, including a wrapped box and a pink mothcat plush.

Obi-Wan motioned for Ezra to sit while he went about preparing the tea.

“I had thought it would be nice to start a school as the twins and James will need an education eventually. As well as any others that come along.”

[ezra_of_lothal]

Ezra's room wasn't much more decorated yet. He missed Sabine's murals. He might try his hand at some sort of decorative craft, eventually.

He peered curiously at the couple of items that seem incongruent - the wrapped box especially, but took a seat without touching any of it.

"I hadn't thought that far ahead," Ezra admitted. "But that's true. And people here have so many different backgrounds; maybe some sorta organized classes to teach other skills isn't a bad idea either?"

[hadthehighground]

“People tend to come and go, and we might not be here that long. However, we should plan as if we are to never leave.” Because they couldn’t know for sure when or if they would leave. Some had been here for a very long time, after all.

“And I think that’s a good idea as well. The more skills everyone learns, the better we can work together as a community.” This all said as he set out a couple of simple cups while the water was heating up.

[out_of_order]

Cal doesn't opt to spar immediately, but he feels things are mutual among his fellow Jedi. He's been going through his own routines, so coming here to do so doesn't find him all out of sorts, and the familiar motions are easy enough for his mind to attach to, to keep himself focused.

His focus is far from perfect, and there are those moments when it slips, punctuated by a hiss or a slight yelp in response to a stinging bolt going astray, but he's never deterred, always resetting himself to try again, wrist twisting with an idle twirl of his weapon. He finally finds a good flow, his lightsaber humming with each movement, cracking with each successful deflection.

[hadthehighground]

It seems that Obi-Wan isn’t the only one who has found himself unbalanced after everything that occurred. Ben knows Cal as the intern at the paper, but to Obi-Wan he’s more than that. And he can’t help but look on with sympathy as the young Jedi struggles at first.

But eventually Cal manages to find his focus and Obi-Wan nods with approval before recalling the droid. “That’s very good, Cal. Sometimes it takes a little time to get back into a routine, like stretching your muscles. Eventually your body remembers and it becomes easier once more.”

[out_of_order]

"Yeah, I know," the padawan says, glancing over with a wry smile. And yet he still feels rustier from a month's neglect over several years, but then having your life on the line was great incentive for you to remember how to do things rather quickly.

He deactivates the lightsaber blade, hefting the weight of the long hilt in his hand. "Still feeling your way back into things too?"

[hadthehighground]

And if Cal was anything like Obi-Wan it felt longer than a month. What with having a whole lifetime of new memories poured into your brain.

"To put it mildly, yes. This have been a very strange experience for me, as I'm sure it has been for you as well."

It's left him very unsettled and unbalanced, and Obi-Wan was struggling to find some sense of normalcy again.

[out_of_order]

Cal laughs, not entirely felt, but it wasn't entirely fake either. "Strange is putting it lightly," he says.

"I've found it easier to just distract myself doing things. It's easier to focus on something in front of you than trying to separate thoughts from two different lives. Meditation wasn't working. It's too busy in here."

[hadthehighground]

“Meditation isn’t working well for me either,” Obi-Wan admits. And he normally loved meditating and was good at it. But it’s like he now had another, undisciplined mind in his own head.

“Having different perspectives on life is normally a good thing, but this isn’t something I would have ever had in mind.”

[out_of_order]

"Yeah... I don't think anyone could have expected something like that." It's certainly not anything that Cal would have ever thought possible. The last time they'd all been in the Calibrations tunnel things had been quite different, but no one had lost themselves like that.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" he asks.

[hadthehighground]

Reaching out, Obi-Wan out his hand on Cal’s shoulder with a smile. “Just having you here helps,” he said warmly.

“I’m hoping, in time, it will get easier. For all of us. I believe finding a sense of normalcy again is the most important thing.”

It might take awhile but he had hopes it would work out in the end. Somehow.