driftfleet | these are the days, it never rains but it pours...

No, you don't.

[ mildly, and han places whatever part he was messing with on the console behind him, straightening up slightly.

and, because han has had it up to here with talking about his own feelings: ]

How's your apprentice doing with his kids?

[ spoiler: han does not give one iota of a shit about anakin's feelings on his kids, but he is a little curious as to how obi-wan feels about it. ]

[ He lets that slide.]

It is not for me to say.

[ What Anakin has confessed to him should remain with him. To reveal anything would be a gross abuse of trust. ]

It is against our Code, to have children. Families. There is a lot he needs to come to terms with.

Sounds like an outdated Code.

[ mildly, but han honestly doesn't sound too combative. and he hadn't been expecting much, out of obi-wan, but it's interesting to know anakin is weighing it against the jedi code.

he really is before the fall, after all. ]

What's the big deal if he does? Does he get kicked out if your Order or whatever finds out?

[ He almost opens his mouth to protest, before he shakes himself out of it. ]

That would be the end result. The Council would deliberate on it . . . but I don't see them changing that decision.

[ han doesn't say anything, though he sinks a bit more into his chair to think.

someone faced down with getting everything he's ever worked for stripped away because he fell in love with someone and had a family would probably hold a bitter sword for the organization who did it.

han still hasn't managed to work up an ounce of forgiveness for anakin, but darth vader is starting to make a bit more sense. ]

... what's the point of defending the galaxy if you don't have anything to fight for?

[ or die for. or stand for. no attachments. that's just fundamentally stupid. ]

[ He raises an eyebrow at that. That was a familiar sentiment, but right now, he finds that it rankles. ]

Are you saying because I don't have any blood relations of any kind, I don't have anything to fight for? To die for?

Or are you saying that the Jedi have no love in their hearts because we choose not to possess? Choose not to subject others to a life that can be quickly lost?

[ He looks him straight in the eye. ]

Do you defend the galaxy because every life in it is precious and deserving or simply because there are people in your life who choose to fight for it?

[ ordinarily, han would get indignant at the argument, but the question just gets a slight grin out of him. finally, a human conversation. (and, honestly, it's comforting to know obi-wan can be outwardly annoyed. even a little.)

so he shrugs, but stares back. ]

Do you really want the honest answer?

[ 'cause he'll give it. ]

There's no need. You're practically transparent.

[ He crosses his arms, letting the anger flow out of him. It helps . . . a little. People don't know the Jedi, he tells himself. They don't know. ]

Any loss of life is as great as a personal one.

[ this is precisely why luke is his favorite jedi, because luke is the worst jedi, and tosses all of this nonsense out of the window. sir.

but han respects obi-wan enough to answer his question seriously, even if obi-wan apparently already knows his answer. and he has no real shame in his answer, because luke and leia probably already know, so -- ]

If I hadn't met you and Luke on Tatooine, and if I hadn't met Leia, I wouldn't have joined 'Team Save The Galaxy'. Over my dead criminal body. I wasn't about to play hero.

[ he had wanted to leave -- he had to leave, even after the death star had been destroyed. but he had only come back for luke. and he had only stayed for leia. it really wasn't until after cloud city, after darth vader had tortured him, after lando had betrayed darth vader's deal in order to save leia and chewie and luke, that han had decided the empire was enough. but even then, that decision had been selfish, and he had only given up his own life because he had found something much better.

but something is bothering at him. ]

How much of the future have you figured out?

[ that way, han can be much more honest. ]

[ He really does not want to have this conversation. Having already heard of the fate of the Jedi and everything else, he's barely had enough time to process it, much less repeat what he has heard to someone else.

He feels . . . tired. There's a weariness that cuts to the bone. ]

I was informed of what happened after the Clone Wars. The rest is conjecture.

[ probably hera's fault. ah well. she doesn't know any better. ]

... I joined up with the rebellion to save Luke's skin, and Leia...

[ well, that's complicated, and han considers that for a moment before just MOVING ON ]

-- I got captured by the Empire on a mission, with Leia -- and I wasn't treated too nicely. They didn't hurt her, but they put me through the ringer. Put a bad taste in my mouth about how they treat their citizens. I became a leading pilot in the resistance, and we just finished winning the war, before I got dragged here. Emperor's dead.

[ he pauses. ]

I didn't join up to fight or defend the galaxy to be a hero or protect the Force, I did it because I have people that I care about, that I want to protect. And if Anakin...

[ god this is literally like pulling teeth ]

-- if he found something worth defending, outside of some vague code, then maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea to just let him have it.

[ maybe the future would be better that way. ]

[ He would agree if he could. Being on the Council doesn't make him an authority in any way. So Obi-Wan simply folds his arms together. ]

It is not my decision to make. For any other person, perhaps . . . But Jedi have fallen because of their attachments. It is not a rule simply put into place because they feel a need to deprive themselves. Once a Jedi turns to the Dark, they are a maelstrom of destructive power.

. . . And it is always the people who suffer from it.

[ He turns his gaze back to him. ]

Here, he's allowed to choose. To think and decide for a future he never knew existed. Whatever Anakin wants, I will not stop him.

[ As for Obi-Wan's future . . . well, he could care less. The Jedi are dead. There's nothing else in a future he could want. ]

{ once a jedi turns to the dark. ]

I'm thinking he wants me a little dead.

[ SORRY WERE YOU HAVING A TOUCHING MOMENT ]

So if you could stop that, I'd appreciate it.

[ xo obi-wan.

edging further down this path of conversation will make it difficult for han to mask what he's feeling, and luke already does enough of the jedi mind trick with him. he's not leaking anger and frustration out onto you. ]

[ Hmm. That's an interesting turn of conversation there. He files it for later. ]

And I'm thinking that you're over-dramatic. But if you really need my help, you should attempt to get on my good side.

I am not overdramatic.

[ han is totally overdramatic ]

And in the future, I am on your good side. We've got lots in common. It's not my fault you haven't aged yet.

[ JEEZZZZZ ]

[ He raises an eyebrow at "lots in common". ]

Do tell.

Well, we have Luke.

[ and

that's

it really. ]

-- we're working on the rest.

Well, I'm certainly impressed.

You should be, that's more than I've got in common with most people.

In that case, I'm most curious to see where it might lead.

To great and glorious things, I'm sure.

[ or obi-wan being dead.

whichever. ]

Perhaps for you. I find little interest in a glorious future.

[ Especially the one he's heard. Sure, they won a victory, but it's still the end of a life Obi-Wan has known. ]

Right, Jedi Master and all that.

[ glory isn't really in the cards for space wizards, apparently. ]

Great future, though, I could get into that.

[ His lips quirk but he doesn't correct him. ]

What do you plan on doing, now that the Empire is defunct?

Rebuild the Republic.

[ it's said easily, and han looks up at him, arching his eyebrows. ]

Can't just let the loyalists take over again.

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