✮ ( 001 ᴠɪᴅᴇᴏ / ᴀᴄᴛɪᴏɴ )

[uprightness]

I knew I should have looked up 'reality shows' a few months back.

[ The man who appears on the screen is currently looking at what seems to be a little notepad before adding the word 'space' next to the words 'reality tv'. Really, he could have done this space setting if it included an inter-galactic war or helping planets in peril.

But in all honesty, Steve Rogers: entertainer has never been his career choice and it's not his forte, either. At least now the whole thing doesn't include singing and girls in scandalously short skirts. ]

My name is Steve Rogers, currently aboard the SS Pathstone. I've done a little bit of reading while aboard the Marsiva. I understand there are those who are trying to help the people on the moon we're visiting, if there is anything you need, I'd do whatever I can do to help.

[ you might catch a glimmer of red and blue and silver just behind him. A wink as the light hits metal ]

The same goes for going home. I imagine people have already looked into ways for us to leave this place. No one should be taken anywhere against their will. I'd like to hear about the information you have managed to collect and I'll do everything I can to make sure everyone will be able to go home safely.

[ you all get a little smile. he's so awkward at these things, can you tell by now. ]

I heard I've missed quite a party.

Comments

[uprightness]

I'm sorry.

[ again. he isn't sure exactly what's going on. only that he hates seeing her this sad on his behalf. ]

I would have wanted to remember you. Are you - sure? I was here before?

HOLY SHIT I THOUGHT I REPLIED TO THIS im the worst sorry

[resnipstance]

[Ahsoka shrugs, lets it roll over her.]

It's okay. It's happened before. You are the same Steve Rogers that got super strength and speed and stuff from an experiment, right?

To be honest, I was closer to James. Mostly you and I-- we just sparred and argued about the Jedi. So I don't mind starting over, if you don't.

you're good!

[uprightness]

That's me. I - I'm sorry if I made difficulties for you in the past.

[ he has to smile a little. So few people call Bucky 'James' but it's nice that someone does, it's nice that someone knew he had a name beyond the title of the Winter Soldier that later became Winter ]

I promise I'll try not to make the same ones again.

[resnipstance]

That's okay. It was never hostile arguing, or anything. More like debating! We just had different opinions, and I can respect that. If everyone in the world had the same opinions about stuff, it'd be pretty boring, right?

[uprightness]

And dangerous.

[ there is always the potential of dangerous. the war had taught him that much of one-way-thinking. in a way, it's almost comforting that the avengers don't seem to always agree on everything. ]

What are they? The Jedi?

[resnipstance]

We're-- [oops] They're an intergalactic order of peacekeepers. They value the pursuit of knowledge, balance and diplomacy above else, and operate independently from and outside the jurisdiction of any one government.

Supposedly, anyway. The reality of it is a little more... complex.

[She still makes that slip up from time to time. A lifetime of habit is hard to break.]

[uprightness]

Somehow it always is with things like this.

[ he smiles a little ]

It's not very different than a group of people I'm familiar with.

[resnipstance]

Oh yeah? I never heard about that one before. What's the deal there?

[uprightness]

The Avengers. The team was put together to defend our world from hostile forces that wish to hurt its people.

[ he gestures towards her ]

Not entirely unlike your Jedi.

[resnipstance]

Huh! Pretty cool. I feel like this suddenly explains some of the context I was missing last time...

Though, being a Jedi isn't so much being part of a group as it is an entire way of life. You grow up with it.

[uprightness]

How?

[ he puts down his notepad to get a better look at her ]

they train kids?

[resnipstance]

That's right. If you're strong with the Force, you have to start young. Most of us go to the Temple when we're toddlers. Five human years or it's equivalent in other species is the cut-off point.

[Since Steve is getting a better look at her, he may notice that although she looks skinny, she's actually just wiry. Ahsoka has a small bone structure that does well to disguise just how fit she actually is.]

It's a hard way of life to adjust to if you've grown up as a civilian. Being a Jedi means... constant discipline. Training every day. Disavowing all material possessions and desires for personal gain. A Jedi's desire is one and the same across all-- to maintain balance across the galaxy. No more, no less. As such, a Jedi must also always be unbiased. That means you can't hold any loyalty or bias towards one planet or person over another.

[uprightness]

They don't teach them to fight when they're so young, do they?

[ since that would be entirely wrong. it's the chicken and the egg question, does preparing for war and having power brings it to your doorstep or will it come either way ]

sounds like it's very demanding. Can they really expect a child to choose a lifestyle like that?

[resnipstance]

[Man. EVERYONE has that exact same reaction. That same question. Every time. Not just Steve. Ahsoka still doesn't understand the problem. She didn't suffer for being taught to fight young.]

Why shouldn't they? If I hadn't been taught to fight young, I wouldn't be alive today. It's important to know how to defend yourself!

And it's not like you're not allowed to leave. The mandatory portion is only until age twelve. If you decide at any point after that you want to leave, you can. And you'll have gotten a better education than anywhere else in the galaxy. Most choose to stay. Being a Jedi is-- it's a huge honour. And you never have to worry about-- where you're going to sleep, what you're going to eat, what you're going to do with your life. [All things Ahsoka has only just learned the true terror of.] The Temple provides all of that. Shelter, food, family. Education. Control over your powers. And a purpose.

[uprightness]

But where is the choice?

[ it's a gentle question, he's not arguing, merely offering an idea ]

I mean, you give up your childhood without knowing you did.

[resnipstance]

[Ahsoka leans in to the video feed, squinting, a quirk to her lips like she's half amused and half annoyed.]

Hang on. That's pretty condescending, isn't it? I mean, I know I'm only seventeen and all, but I don't feel like my childhood was lacking in anything. I liked growing up in the Temple. Sure, it was disciplined. But most schooling is! It isn't like we never had free time, or got to mess around.

[uprightness]

But did you choose to go? I mean - can a child choose a path so early on? it seems like a very particular lifestyle. When I went to protect my country, its people, I was even older than you. I don't know if anyone could have made this choice as a child or if they should even make choices choices.

[ but then he smiles ]

...we're doing it again, aren't we? and I promised not to.

[resnipstance]

[She can't help it-- she laughs despite herself.]

Yeah. We are, huh. I guess it's just one of those things we're never going to agree on.

But in answer to your question... no. Obviously a three year old can't possibly make a properly informed decision about whether or not to become a Jedi. But I don't know if there's a better solution. Anakin, my mentor-- he was an exception to the rule. He came to the Temple at nine. And... I see the effect it has on him. I mean-- he actually chose, he wanted to come. But... he struggles with it, too. With his attachments, with letting go. It's hard for him.

[uprightness]

I didn't mean to question your upbringing.

[ only the world's standards regarding education of young children. but she seems to care for the temple, for the way she grew up and he knows better than to doubt her own experiences ]

Decisions like this will always have a bit of a struggle, I think.

[resnipstance]

It's okay. Like I said-- agree to disagree, right?