A homecoming of sorts

[ezra_of_lothal]

WHO: Ezra, Luke, and anyone else around
WHERE: Temba Jedi Temple
WHAT: Ezra bringing Luke to the temple complex/mingle with residents and visitors
WHEN: Soon after Luke's arrival
WARNINGS: Discussion of canon levels of violence, maybe? Others added as needed

"We're pretty sure this used to be a museum," Ezra rambles as he leads Luke to the complex of bulidings Obi-wan had chosen to designate as the Jedi temple. "We packed up all the artifacts. And we're still working on actually making it, you know, nice. Obi-wan and I live here."

He pauses, debating his phrasing, but lands on going with how he'd describe the other Temple residents to anyone else.

"So does Padme and her twins, who are Force sensitive. Cal - he was a padawan at the end of the Clone Wars - has been here in Temba by far the longest, and he's pretty settled in his workshop, but he comes by to train and visit. Grogu's developmentally pretty young, so while Master Kenobi's taken him as a padawan - in front of the Council when we were on Coruscant and everything - he lives with his adoptive father."

***
Open Mingle

It felt good, bringing Luke here, but also really, really weird. They should be age mates, but they aren't, and besides, Ezra's gotten used to sharing living space with the infant version of Luke and Leia.

Still, he's glad that this version of Luke, who had talked about being alone, has a chance to meet more Jedi. To spend more time with some of his family, both of the Jedi variety and not. He's curious they'll all have to say to each other, but he resolves not to hover and eavesdrop.

Although as the afternoon goes on, he does try to make sure there's tea and snacks on hand.

Comments

[hisfathersimage]

Luke is really only half listening, looking around and taking everything in. The city, the wreckage of the civilization that was once here, the lingering impressions that he can't be sure are real or just in his mind. "You introduced yourself as padawan..."

He doesn't continue it, just leaves Ezra to fill in the blanks. What blanks, he also doesn't elaborate. He certainly doesn't say that he's not heard the word before here. He's worked out the meaning from context.

[ezra_of_lothal]

"I guess Master Kenobi will knight me - or Cal - when he thinks we're each ready. We can't really do the traditional trials."

He tilts his head thoughtfully. "We haven't talked about it," he admits. "I know I don't feel ready."

[hisfathersimage]

"... what are the traditional trials?"

Yeah, Ezra, this is where we are. The last Jedi knows next to nothing about the Jedi.

"But, I do know what you mean about feeling ready. I sort of already felt it, because Master Yoda told me I was the last Jedi." Which had been his way of telling Luke he was a Jedi at all.

[ezra_of_lothal]

"I only now most of this because I've been doing a lot of reading the last few months - and talking to Master Kenobi about it," he tries to reassure the older Jedi.

"Skill, Courage, Spirit, Flesh, Insight," Ezra ticks off with his right hand. "Skill was usually a straight up test created by the Masters. Courage or Flesh, - dealing with the threat of loss and pain, those were the most likely to passed by difficult field missions, but they could be constructed tests, too. Spirit and Insight, though, those usually involved communing with a place strong in the Force, such as the nexus at the Coruscant temple. And - a lot of what I've been reading is from the perspective of the Order at peace, so traditional is...relative? Obi-wan passed his trials to Knighthood by witnessing his Master's death and defeating the Sith who killed Master Jinn without falling to the Dark Side. And of course, at that time, he was the first Jedi in centuries to fight a Sith and live."

[hisfathersimage]

Luke considers what Ezra's saying and he understands why Yoda declared him ready. That he was a Jedi. "Yeah. I survived a confrontation with Vader... and the things he had to tell me." He lifts his right hand and looks at it. Sometimes, he almost forgets it's mechanical under that skin.

"And we've never known a galaxy without Sith. It's weird to think that there's such a difference in just forty years." For a galaxy that has had hyperspace travel for millenia, it seems like a fast change.

[the_child]

Somewhere in their tour, they'll come upon someone who looks like a tiny version of someone else Luke has met. He's dressed in Jedi robes, a braided strap looped around the base of one of his long ears with a bead dangling at the end. He looks up when he hears them approach, his ears raising cheerfully as he waves a greeting.

[hisfathersimage]

'Tour' had sort of become Luke wandering off to look at something and assuring Ezra he'd find him later and then following the bright dark spot he could sense until he found-

"Hello, there." He's very obviously a young child, tiny even compared to Luke's diminutive master. He comes over and kneels down, giving the little one a warm smile. "What are you up to then?"

[the_child]

Grogu smiles, looking up at the stranger. He doesn't know this person. Yet, he can sense he's strong with the Force. Another Jedi? That's exciting!

He trills happily, his ears raising. Hello fellow Jedi! He'd been heading to the garden to meditate. But he likes this better.

[hisfathersimage]

Luke's never really communicated like this consciously, but the impressions are clear and easy to understand. "You like meeting someone new better, huh? What about if you show me the way to the garden? Garden and new person."

[the_child]

His eyes widen. Whoa! Not many people could just read him like that. That's new and exciting. It's nice to be able to 'talk' to someone.

He nods, making another happy noise. Turning, he begins to move towards the garden. Looking up, he projects one word towards the stranger - Grogu.

[hadthehighground]

There was a lot going on between the trips to Not-Temba, and the other day to day things here in Temba. Obi-Wan had just come back from another trip to the town when he noticed that something was... different. There was another strong Force presence that hadn't been there before. It left him curious, but he had come back late, so he went to bed with the decision to deal with that in the morning.

Except that morning he woke up to a surprise under his pillow. Such a surprise that he practically forgot about the presence he had noticed the night before. That's bound to happen when you discover a large cluster of crystals under your head. But not just any crystals. Obi-Wan was almost overwhelmed when he realized what they were.

He managed to contain his excitement as he dressed for the day in his robes and got himself something to eat. Eventually he could be seen walking across the temple grounds holding the crystals in his hands in a reverent fashion. The light further illuminating the sparkling gems that had flames dancing within them.

[hisfathersimage]

Luke wakes up and realises that Ben is here.

He doesn't know how he knows. He only knows that he does know. But he also quickly establishes that Ben's asleep and should probably be allowed to stay that way.

But once he realises the older man is awake and up and about, he goes charging off to find him and only worries about what he's going to say when the man himself comes into question. "Ben!"

[hadthehighground]

That name confuses him for a moment. When he first arrived that’s what he referred to himself as simply to protect his identity in case there was any threat. However, it turned out that there wasn’t and none of it mattered. So Obi-Wan dropped that name and used his given one instead. Nobody here called him Ben anymore.

So it’s with his brow creased in confusion that he turns to look. Seeing one who he have seen here before. And all Obi-Wan can do for several moments is stare. Looking at this young man he was certain he didn’t know. And yet he looked so familiar. That dirty blonde hair, those clear blue eyes, the way his face angled just so. It took him back. To moments that were long gone, but were happy ones. Of walking side by side through marble halls, exchanging witty banter as their sabers clashed in sparring sessions, of a hand on his shoulder in his most difficult moments. He saw Anakin and it nearly took his breath away.

But no, this wasn’t Anakin at all, no matter how much he resembled him. But there was still familiarity, especially in the Force. A bright light, a beacon of hope. A bond that thrummed between them that had been formed on a flight into hiding. He knew who this was.

“Luke?”

[hisfathersimage]

There were ways that Luke was his father's image. Especially right now, with his hair growing out a bit and rumpled, dressed in familiar blacks.

He nods and starts moving again towards Ben, not quite running. "Ezra told me you were here but I didn't think you'd be so- young!"

[hadthehighground]

He's a little misty eyed when Luke approaches, but there's a smile. The Jedi tempted to throw his arms around him, but well, his arms are very full at the moment. Still cradling that mass of burning crystals.

The comment of him being so young draws a chuckle. "I admit I didn't think I would ever see you here, and certainly not so grown up."

[no_applause]

Padme had been traveling to Not-Temba to explore the new city. But she never spent more than a week at a time there. That was as long as she could bear being away from her children.

The weather was beautiful so she'd decided the twins could use some fresh air. She'd spread a blanket over the grass with some toys and a basket with a small lunch for herself. Her skirts were spread around her as she watched the pair. Leia had rolled over onto her belly and was currently blowing a raspberry as she tried to grab hold of a colorful toy in front of her. Luke was laying on his back, kicking his feet in the air as he seemed to watch the clouds.

[hisfathersimage]

Luke is aware of the twins. Of course he is. There's an almost magnetic pull to go and see them, meet them, the empty spot that he had never known was filled before this place crying for Leia's presence and recognising it.

But even now, he's standing back, well back, watching Padme and her babies and torn between approaching and running away like a cowardly coward to deal with it at some other point.

The flutter of his emotions must be loud, because both babies shift their attention to him for a moment before he smothers it down to quiet, peace.

[no_applause]

It's hard not to notice the twins both looking in the same direction. Padme looks up, following their gaze. When she sees Luke, her face lights up. "Luke! It's wonderful to see you. Please, come join us."

The infant Luke rolls over, lifting his head unsteadily to look at the newcomer. A stranger, but he can sense the connection between them.

[hisfathersimage]

Luke hesitates a moment longer and then starts to make his way over. He's hyper aware of the babies in the Force, so familiar it aches and so familiar that it's like waking up in the morning and still being yourself.

"Hi, Padme." He pulls off his gloves and very slowly settles on his kneels, then his heels next to the babies. "They're so little."

[no_applause]

It's strange, knowing he's her son and hearing her name on his lips. But she can only imagine how strange it must be for him. She's happy just seeing him, no matter what he calls her.

"Four months old. They're not crawling yet, but I can tell they're eager to move." She smiles at him, "How are you? I imagine all of this is a lot to take in."

OTA

[thesepreciousthings]

[Clarice liked to come and visit the temple, to see how things were coming along ... and to sit near the sapling in its sacred space and meditate. That had become even more important to her in the days since she sprained her ankle in the mines: it was a way to keep her mind off the pain, and even more so the frustration she felt at being limited in her actions while everyone else was out exploring.

However, at the sound of approaching footsteps, she shelved her current train of thought and calmly opened her eyes, smiling up at whoever had come by.]

Afternoon.

OTA

[ezra_of_lothal]

Ezra gives her an overly formal bow with a flourish, and hint of grin to show he's being deliberately ridiculous.

"Afternoon. Mind if I join you?"

He's actually feeling pretty restless himself, and isn't sure how successful attempting to meditate with her with be. He's not always sure when the better tactic is distraction and burning energy until he's ready to settle.

[thesepreciousthings]

She laughs softly at his ridiculous formality, though the laughter in her eyes is less restrained. Ezra will be able to sense just how happy she is to see him: and see him happy, at that.

"Pull up some grass, Ezra." She shifts a little to make more room. Normally she'd ask how he is, but ... if he's here to meditate, she can respect that, and they can talk when he's ready. She watches to see what he does, and will take her cue from him.

[ezra_of_lothal]

He nods and folds himself into a sitting kneel, and yes, for the moment, closes his eyes to actually join her meditation.

He has no illusions that he's going to be able to sort through all the emotions that have swirled up since he spotted Luke's message to the network. And that's ok - for the most part they aren't what he'd call distressing feelings. (Although there have certainly been some of those, too; he's trying not to dwell whether Obi-wan here and now is fated to same end Luke reported.) Mostly they're just complicated.

Right now he's just trying to let it all wash over him and settle a little.

[thesepreciousthings]

Instead of closing her eyes right away, she watches him for a moment, studying his body language. She's not empathetic like him, but she can see the microexpressions that betray his inner tension as he tries to fold himself away into his mind: she was trained to spot them, after all, the tiny little tells people make whether they want to or not. Nodding a bit to herself, she finally settles into her own meditation, and tries to ground herself in the moment, in the reality around them. She thinks about the new city, the startling amount of new folks who'll need help and homes, how so much is happening at once. It's probably a lot for someone sensitive to the Force. She wonders if there's a way she can help ... and how.