A disturbance in the Force

[avaricious]

Who: Greed, Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Ahsoka
Broadcast: None
Action: The Huntress
When: Immediately after this thread, ambiguously dated to when it's done??

[The Philosopher's Stone inside of Greed was an unpleasant place to be and few truly had the strength of will to last their long. That Ling had lasted there for months was beyond unusual. When Ahsoka went inside the stone to find him, she proved less fortunate when lost and vindictive souls dragged her into the torrent. For all that Greed might have been, he lacked the empathy to truly interact and distinguish between the well of souls stored inside him and so she became lost.

It was these very circumstances that led to a frantic Greed carrying the young Togruta woman the short distance from his own room to nearly kicking down the door leading into Obi-Wan Kenobi's own chambers. He didn't say anything, but he'd found himself in a second disaster just as devastating as the one that started all of this. It was his expectation that the Jedi would be able to fix this. If he couldn't - then who could?]

Comments

[beardstrokes]

[ Well.

That was unexpected.

Perhaps he should take the lead. But he was floundering as it is, trying to maintain his grip on Anakin and Ahsoka. His body trembles, near exhaustion. But he does not let go.

Anakin, calm your mind. We have her. Now we must be gentle. ]

[sandhate]

[ Calm?

Obi-Wan's voice in his head is barely above a whisper. He feels like he's drowning; in the fear, the hate, all those negative emotions--

But we have her.

He grits his teeth and sets an iron determination - they can and they will leave here. Every last one of them. The energy from him dissipates into something else, something he hasn't felt since Mortis. Calm, control, there is no fear. Ahsoka's words finally filters through and he tightens his hold on her as he makes a desperate push and reaches through the souls -- for Greed.

Get us out of here. ]

[resnipstance]

[Ahsoka tries her best to project calm as well, but at the end of the day it's all she can do just to hold on to Anakin as she feels herself on the verge of fading out of consciousness.]

Wait--

Greed! Do you have Ling?

[She's not having gone through all this for nothing.]

[avaricious]

[Greed can do nothing to break through the torrent of souls. Anakin may have calmed, but it's too little too late because he has already been noticed. Greed tries for blunt force by simply trying to tear through them, but it's a useless gesture.

Instead a different hand is able to reach through the chaos and latches onto Anakin's hand. This soul has the same face as the owner of this body. His expression is muted, though his eyes ring of determination. He can feel Anakin's iron resolve. It will be enough. Together they can do it.

I'm here, Ahsoka.

And then he pulls. Having spent over a year living in this hell, he is able to navigate them out. Though the souls collide into him attempting to tear and pull him apart, he continues onward until all of them are free. The effort threatens to break him apart and burn out his soul, so it's only with their combined efforts that he even has the strength to do it.]

[beardstrokes]

[ With one final tug, Obi-Wan drags Anakin and Ahsoka out of there, his posture breaking as he presses his hands against the floor breathing heavily.

Did it work? He couldn't tell. His head was full of sorrow and despair, remnants of lost souls. But the Force answers in the affirmative and he relaxes instantly. ]

[sandhate]

[ He re-enforces Ling's efforts and pulls them out. It was reckless and desperate, as many of his rescue attempts seems to be, and he knows without a doubt that there are burn marks dragging across his back and legs, marks he can feel only in his mind.

But they are out. That's all that matters.

Anakin fights for the strength to not fall on his face. Without thinking whether he can or not, he push himself up and over to Ahsoka. His legs still feel sluggish but he holds her shoulders with a grip that doesn't seem real enough yet, not after what they went through. ]

Ahsoka?

let's all just split off threads here where we want to okok

[resnipstance]

... Anakin.

[Ahsoka looks exhausted. But she's there. Alive.

For possibly the first time ever, she doesn't wait for Anakin to initiate a hug. She needs one that badly. She just pulls him close and Force be damned if he wants to make a fuss about it.]

[beardstrokes]

[ Relief spreads through his body, wrecked as it was. He leans back, glancing at Anakin and Ahsoka. They'll be all right. He coughs lightly, turning his attention to Greed. ]

And how are you holding up?

[avaricious]

[While the three of them return to where they belong, both Greed and Ling still are among those countless souls. They are both silent, if only because their own confrontation takes place from within. From outside, the Jedi will only see Greed's head lowered and his shoulders hunched.

Inside the two are having something of a heated reunion. Greed isn't one to let on about how he feels about anyone and isn't quite sure what to make of how pleased Ling is to see him again. There's a lot to be said between them - like the confrontation with Father, Ling's time in a place called Luceti, the failed transmutation and what had happened to Alphonse, and why the hell Ahsoka and the others were even inside the Philosopher's Stone in the first place.

At first neither of them seems to notice Obi-Wan. Finally though, it's Ling who speaks up.]

Exhausted. I'd be lying if I said otherwise. This is the Huntress, right?

[He starts to look around, not immediately recognizing the room he's in - even though he's pretty sure this is a spaceship. It's been a very long time for him since he was in space.]

[beardstrokes]

[ Obi-Wan nods. His hands were still trembling. This kind of technique was draining and who could say what it might do to Anakin and Ahsoka, who spent longer periods of time in . . . that place. If all he got was a little shaky and weaker, he'll consider that a fair bargain. ]

It's my room.

[ He pauses, with a tired smile. ] Welcome back.

[avaricious]

[Ling nods, managing only a weak smile.]

It looks like that took a lot out of all of us. [He presses finger and thumb to rub the corner of his eyes.] ... I don't really understand what this is all about, though. Why was she inside the stone?

[beardstrokes]

You were missing.

[ Though Obi-Wan's not sure how Ahsoka reached the conclusion that Ling was still in there. ]

I'm guessing Ahsoka and Greed must have realized you were in the stone.

[avaricious]

[That seems... strange to him. He shakes his head.]

No, that doesn't seem right... I was somewhere else. Back in Amestris... and somewhere else. But not in there.

[Yet, he'd woken up back in that maelstrom, only to be alarmed to see people he had thought he'd forgotten present there with him. A sudden thought occurs to him and he suddenly around to feel at his back - but there's nothing there.]

okok

[sandhate]

[ He holds on as tightly, squeezing his eyes shut for the feel of her solid, steadily climbing presence in the Force. The cold discomfort, doubling dread is still there, burrowing deeper and away from the calm and relief spreading across his being.

He pushes the looming threat away. She's here, they're all here. It'll be okay.

my son my son my son

Anakin manages a faint smile as he pulls away, getting a better look at her. ]

You're okay, Snips. You're okay.

[resnipstance]

[His words are a balm, but still-- she can't help but feel slightly guilty. At least Ahsoka had a vague idea of what she was getting herself into. Anakin shouldn't have had to see that. Shouldn't have had to come get her, either. Too tired to shield properly, guilt seeps into the Force around her.]

... I'm sorry.

[sandhate]

I know.

[ When they inevitably argue about her recklessness, Anakin's overbearing and hypocritical scolding will come barging in. For now, he places a hand on top of hers and offers slight reassurance. ]

How are you feeling?

[resnipstance]

[Ahsoka attempts a weak smile when she pulls away from him.]

Oh. You know me. Never better.

[sandhate]

Don't start. [ He snaps, hint of that frustration coming through in his firm tone. It softens all too soon when he remembers her guilt. ] I mean it. You're weak. You need-- I don't know what you need, I'm not a healer. Do you need a healer?

[resnipstance]

... I'll be fine. I just need to rest.

another spinoff for you

[avaricious]

[Eventually Ling staggers out of the room. Just now would be an ideal time to go outside to soak in some fresh air, but he's remembered already that he never had a whole lot of that while in the fleet. So instead he waits in the narrow hallway separating the individual rooms while slumped up against his own door.

He's not quite meditating, but he's struggling with how jarring it is being back. Greed may not be saying much to him at the moment, but it's astonishing how much more peaceful a philosopher's stone is when there is a homunculus present to keep them corralled. But mostly, he's waiting for Ahsoka.]

yay :D

[resnipstance]

[Once she's done with Anakin's crushing bear hugs and admonishments, she looks over at Greed to find it's-- not Greed at all.]

... Ling.

[avaricious]

[He raises his head to catch her gaze. His smile is for once rather small and muted.]

I heard you came looking for me.

[resnipstance]

[Ahsoka rubs her forehead.]

Yeah... but in the end it was you who had to save me.

[avaricious]

I shouldn't have put you in that position. [He grimaces while his fist tightens.] I should have never suggested that transmutation.

[resnipstance]

[She blinks at that, surprise showing on her face.]

What...? You didn't-- that is, Ling, you aren't responsible for my decisions.