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]

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.]