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That would make some sense. [ "We're not entertaining if we sit around and do nothing," she thinks viciously.

She pushes that thought away, ignoring the anger that bubbled up. It's a sensitive subject with her right now. ]

The planet we're on seems to be interesting enough, however.

It's certainly very vibrant around here.

[ He's mostly kept to the forests and the life, tapping into the Living Force. ]

It reminds me a little of home.

[ She takes a sip of tea, taking a moment to prepare. ]

Sharing feelings and memories here took a little getting used to.

Naboo? There are certainly similarities.

[ He's avoided that like the plague and he's discrete enough to pull it off. No one has accused Obi-Wan of being "touchy-feely" ]

I never realized how unique Naboo is until I started traveling.

[ She sets her teacup down. ]

I asked you to come here because of the... unique feature of this planet.

[ He's quiet for a while. ]

If this is about Satine . . .

It is... and it isn't.

[ She cups her hands around the teacup, even though they don't need warming. ]

I have memories of Master Jinn and of... Satine... that you do not.

[ His expressions flickers into something vulnerable before it vanishes. ]

Those are yours, not mine.

Yes. But I'm offering them to you. They both meant a lot to you.

[ A twitch of a smile. ] Some of them will stay entirely mine, though.

[ Obi-Wan hesitates. It had been so long . . . and yet, memories are sacrosanct. He certainly upholds his memories strongly, locked and tucked away.

But he couldn't dismiss this offer. ]

All right. If you're sure.

[ She gives him time to think it over. Once she shares her memories, she can't take them back. It should bother her more, perhaps, but it doesn't. He'll treasure them, protect them, carry them long after she dies. That's enough for her. ]

I'm sure. I have fewer memories of Qui-Gon. Shall we start there?

[ He extends his hand delicately. ]

[ She takes his hand and closes her eyes. It takes her a moment, but she conjures up an image of Tatooine. She's walking behind Qui-Gon, trying to match his long stride and not quite succeeding. She notes his expression-- calm and unsurprised in the way one is when they've seen this scene before. She, in her youth, absorbs their surroundings with intense fascination. That's where her memory of him blurs slightly in favor of her assessment of Mos Espa. Qui-Gon points out an out-of-the-way shop that Padme is clearly wary of. Watto greets them. Qui-Gon leaves to talk business with a parting admonition not to touch anything. Anakin sits on the counter, watching.

"Are you an a--?"

Padme pushes the memory forward with a graceless lurch. Not out of distrust, but because Anakin's right-- some things are better when they're the only two who know it. Well. Jar-Jar wasn't paying attention, so he doesn't count.

Then there's an image of Qui-Gon's thoughtful frown and slightly faster pace when they leave. Qui-Gon assures them that a solution will present itself. (Obi-Wan need not be able to see her face to imagine the frustration written on Padme's face.) Then Anakin saves Jar-Jar from Sebulba and gives them a tour of Mos Espa. Then shelter from the sandstorm. Shmi greets them with surprise and thinly-veiled exasperation. C3PO. Dinner. ('You must have Jedi reflexes,' he'd said. Padme didn't realize how clearly she remembered that until now.) A gamble she'd hated. The resignation on Shmi's face. The rest of her memories are just a blur of fixing up Anakin's speeder (that looks like it shouldn't work but, shockingly, does). Here there are only faint memories of Qui-Gon, glances she'd given him or movement out of the corner of her eye. But each time, he's watching them work. Particularly Anakin.

Then there's the Boonta Eve race. ('The Queen wouldn't approve.' 'The Queen need not know.' 'Well I don't approve.') She'd watched Qui-Gon help Anakin prepare for the race, picking him up and putting him in the speeder and giving him (she assumes) a pep talk. Maybe advice. She hadn't been within earshot. Then the race begins and Padme's memory shifts away from Qui-Gon. But there's a memory of his hands resting on hers and Shmi's shoulders, brief glimpses of his expression. While Shmi looked terrified, Qui-Gon looked intense in a different way. Calm, confident. Perhaps even fascinated. Then there's the memory of the celebration after Anakin wins. After that, her memory winds down as they return to the ship. Obi-Wan knows the story from there. And that's the end of everything she remembers that he doesn't. ]

[ Obi-Wan had never met Shmi Skywalker and his acquaintanceship of Anakin at that age had been brief before they were pushed together by fate. His fingers tremble. It has only been a month since he relived the most harrowing time of his apprenticeship, the time spent on Melida/Daan, Qui-Gon's quiet hurt and Obi-Wan's quiet desperation. The perfect Jedi Anakin and Ahsoka had echoed, as if the title gave him pride and joy, and not a memory of aches, groping for acceptance and deliverance.

The memory of Qui-Gon's fingers brush against his face, but Obi-Wan wasn't crying. Obi-Wan stopped crying on Melida/Daan.

He wrenches his hand away, sweat caking his brow. ]

Edited 2016-07-18 08:39 (UTC)

[ It startles her to see a memory that isn't hers. She doesn't even quite register that he's pulled his hand away as she turns the memory over in her mind. Qui-Gon's last moments. She closes her eyes and swallows hard.

She takes a deep breath, trying to pull herself back to the present moment. Padme sees Obi-Wan from the corner of her eye, but she says nothing. Sharing memories was more intense than she'd expected. ]

[ He remains for a while, cradling his palm. ]

Thank you.

[ Softly: ] You're welcome.

[ Padmé stands in one fluid motion and takes her teacup. ]

I'll be right back.

[ She departs to order a refill. But it's not about the tea. She wants to give Obi-Wan a little time alone to turn it all over in his mind. ]

[ Obi-Wan sits there, rubbing his palm quietly as he looks out into the horizon. His thoughts had been dominated by Qui-Gon of late. His younger self hadn't painted the best picture of his legacy and Obi-Wan had felt guilty. Guilt for so many things.

Promise me you'll train the boy.

He kept his promise. He did the best he could. Anakin doesn't need him anymore, having found his own path.

But where does that leave Obi-Wan? ]

[ Padmé takes as much time as she can without it being awkward. She returns with two cups of a fragrant herbal tea, one of which she sets next to Obi-Wan. She takes her seat again. When she looks at him, she can't keep the concern out of her expression. ]

I saw a memory that wasn't mine.

Edited (Wtf was that icon) 2016-07-19 16:43 (UTC)

I can probably hazard a guess as to what you saw.

[ He takes the cup gratefully. ]

[ Padme is grateful that she doesn't have to decribe what she saw. She takes a sip of tea to give herself time to compose herself a little more. ]

This was more intense than I'd expected. I'm sorry-- perhaps I should have practiced first.

[ She'd shared memories with Anakin, but that was easy. ]

Most of my memories are quite . . . buried for the most part.

[ He has let go of many of the feelings attached to them - but Obi-Wan isn't perfect. ]

[ She can't help but wonder if that's a good thing. The thought clearly crosses her mind, but she doesn't voice it. ]

I'm still willing to continue if you are, thought perhaps not right now.

[ He blinks, surprised. ]

There's more?

Not of Master Jinn. But I also offered memories of Satine.

[ That will hurt more, be more personal. And she'll have to brace herself for emotional feedback on either end. For her, Satine is alive and well. But the thought of her death still hangs over Padme. ]

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beardstrokes - 2016-07-31 01:13 (UTC) - Expand