video.

[ventifact]

[rey is sitting in the gardens, legs crossed, staring at something off-camera. a low whistle and a few beeps makes it clear that bb-9 is doing the recording. despite the intensity of her gaze, her breathing is slow and regular and her muscles are entirely relaxed.

for a couple seconds, the video is just fixed on her--then, then frame zooms out so more of the garden is visible. a few feet away from where she sits, her lightsaber is stuck into the ground. such a suitable place for such a dignified weapon. but to be fair, her staff is stuck next to it. with the zoom-out, it becomes clear that rey is staring at the lightsaber.

a few more seconds of nothing.

then, as if tugged by an invisible string, the lightsaber twitches towards her. it lifts into the air and floats a few inches--before tumbling to the ground. rey, whose face holds a slight sheen of sweat from her efforts, lets out an extremely frustrated groan and an even more frustrated expletive. bb-9 beeps sympathetically.]

Kark it! I just want it to karking fly towards me when I--

[and she makes a violent pulling gesture--and then her staff comes flying towards her head. she reacts just in time, letting herself fall backwards to avoid being impaled in the face. the staff skids into the ground behind her. bb-9 screeches in alarm, and the video starts to bump as the droid rolls towards her owner. the camera zooms in and focuses on rey's face, still caught in surprise. and then, she laughs. not a restrained laugh, but a real, arms-around-her-gut laugh. and then she winces because ouch, bruised ribs. but back to business.]

Well, that's half right! Progress is progress, right? [then, she addresses the droid.] You caught all that? I want to watch it later.

[a beep of affirmative relief, and then the video cuts.]

Comments

[ventifact]

[the struggle is real, man. she does not take well to this kind of struggle]

Make one more joke, and I'll show you impalement.

[ex_forcechoke292]

In what way-- [He can tell the threat at least sounds serious, even if the intent is mostly hyperbole. Regardless, he quickly sobers; it's amusing enough, but he's been here before.] I don't want to know.

But you should start smaller. Until you get used to it. [Though a lightsaber is smaller, and that suggestion is a bit misplaced.] If you want help...

[ventifact]

[she drops it, because a lingering threat is better than one that needs an explanation. but to be fair, she's only half serious. he's supposed to be one of her trainers, right? she should probably be at least mildly respectful. ha.]

That's sort of why I came to you in the first place. So help away.

[mildly respectful]

[ex_forcechoke292]

Ha-ha. [But there's still a smile in there, no matter how sardonic it sounds.] It's going to take a lot of practice.

[But they're past the point of warning now, and he lets it drop. Instead, he nods back at the video feed, and by proxy, the droid doing the recording.]

I used to have Ahsoka record her saber training like this and analyze it later, that's...not a bad idea. Start small, something you're more familiar with so its signature is easier to pick up. Like...your droid.

[All right, so "small" is a matter of opinion, but it's certainly no astromech.]

And then we can move on to avoiding impaling yourself with a weapon.

[He's not the only one who has to worry about it. He isn't worried about it.]

[ventifact]

The droid?

[rey gives bb-9 the up-and-down. she is rather fond of the droid, but she isn't sure she has the same kind of... feelings towards it as she does her staff.]

I don't really want a recording of her flying towards my face.

[ex_forcechoke292]

That isn't what I mean. The idea is to have nothing flying at your face. Focus on lifting first. Once you can see how the Force moves around it, and how it moves through you...

Moving is step three when you're still on step one.

[He does then stop to pause, looks behind him the still empty space, and gives a face as he turns back.]

Can we not tell Obi-Wan I said any of that?

[ventifact]

[her brows raise a bit; she's impressed. but her expression takes on a hint of mischief when he says that]

Why not?

[ex_forcechoke292]

Because he'll be insufferable.

[Which is true to a point, perhaps, but it's more a question of him facing his own pending adulthood (and the responsibility that comes along with it.]

[ventifact]

Because you're actually teaching?

[just let the man tell you you've done a good job]

[ex_forcechoke292]

No, because it'll prove him right and--

[Praise is strange, and for all he complains he doesn't and hasn't ever gotten enough of it, even the imaginary concept still leaves him deeply uncomfortable. He's embarrassed more than vindicated, and it hasn't even happened.]

Never mind. Start smaller, and I'll expect a report back.

[Just please let's not make that a trip to the medbay?]

[ventifact]

Right about what?

[nah brah now she's curious]

[ex_forcechoke292]

It's complicated. Like a giant "I told you so," except it isn't just him, and--

[Damn it, Rey.]

I just want my destiny to be my own, not some...prophecy no one believes. It doesn't matter, pride is just--we're not supposed to want it. Or care for it. Or about it. It's hard to explain.

[ventifact]

We? As in, Jedi?

[man she has a lot of pride in what she does, even if it's subconscious]

You aren't supposed to feel pride?

[ex_forcechoke292]

To a point. You're supposed to feel and acknowledge and let go.

[This doesn't at all sound bitter. And certainly not with that sigh attached. The Order isn't here, and he still feels guilt.]

There is no emotion, there is peace. It's part of the first lesson we learn. The Code. I...just don't think they have to rule each other out.

[ventifact]

Everybody feels pride--and emotions in general. Asking them to ignore it is stupid.

[a beat]

Seems like an impractical code to me.

[ex_forcechoke292]

You're not the only one. It isn't all bad, but it doesn't leave any room for reasonable control. Or even learning it. Obi-Wan is the one you have to worry about with rules.

[ventifact]

I guess there's still a lot I don't know about you Jedi.

[ex_forcechoke292]

There's a lot the Jedi don't know about the Jedi.

[He snickers like this is an in-joke that thoroughly makes sense. But in a way, perhaps it's true: the Jedi and Sith aren't all there is to the Force. The Order wouldn't be looking for a Savior otherwise if what they were doing was perfect...right?]

The Code was probably about control once. That's all that's really important.

[ventifact]

I'm not good at being controlled.

[ex_forcechoke292]

Self control. I'm not talking about slavery. [Never. Again.]