[ He turns away and twirls the saber a few times. ]
I think better when I'm moving. [ He keeps twirling, an easy set of movements that he uses to focus. ] How do you feel about your former Master being a disgraced Jedi Knight?
[ His eyes flicker over to Ahsoka just once, but he doesn't stop moving. ]
For ages, hmm? I think...
[ He stops, exhaling a long breath. ]
If I had to give up one of the two, Padme or the Order, I wouldn't hesitate to leave the Order. I'm only worried about Obi-Wan-- About how he might feel if I do. It's not easy to lose someone ... in that manner.
[The subtext of that comment doesn't elude her, but she doesn't think it was designed to be a dig. So she lets it pass without comment. This is about Anakin and his relationship with Obi-Wan, not her.]
... Well ... if I were the master here, I'd say ... first of all, you're doing a lot of worrying over a scenario that hasn't even come to pass, yet. We don't know how the future is going to unfold.
But second, even if it does happen this way ... I'd say that leaving the Order doesn't mean you've died. You can still see each other. Just ... the nature of your relationship has changed.
[She's talking about Anakin and Obi-Wan, so ... why does it feel like she's also talking about Anakin and herself?]
[ But it isn't in the future. He has already decided. He cannot remain a Jedi and betraying the teachings. Obi-Wan might not be able to report him but he would know- they would both know that he is a fraud and a liar. Someone only pretending to be a Jedi.
He's lived in secret for so long and now that it's out, he can't help but need a clean separation.
Anakin buries all that deep, until the time is right. He flashes Ahsoka a quick smile before resuming his Form III stance. A gesture with his head beckons Ahsoka to come at him. ]
Hey. It's a valid concern. Sometimes. How many times have I heard, "Don't worry, Ahsoka!" [she says in her best Anakin voice] shortly before something went south?
[Ahsoka resumes her opening Jar'Kai posture too, then, and launches herself at Anakin for another round.]
[ He rolls his eyes at that awful impression of him and blocks her blows as they come, his grip slipping slightly only for a twist of his wrist to place it steady again.
He does something he hasn't in a while, he does his impression of Master Yoda: ]
"Trust and faith in your Master, you must have, yes? Failed you, he has not, has he?"
[ His smile drops momentarily and he has to force himself to focus on his counter-strike. ]
[Ahsoka has to duck and roll away for that counter strike, because that impression was awful and she's laughing too hard to block it. It's a good sound-- full of mirth. Something that hasn't been heard in a while.]
Oh man. You should do that in front of Dooku. He wouldn't know what hit him, you'd have the upper hand instantly.
[ He gives a flat but amused look. Then Anakin straightens his body and his face falls to neutral, his mechno-arm tucked behind him and his saber held forward, as if to salute her.
The stance of Makashi.
He has studied the man who took his arm off, his impression of the Count's clipped voice bares too much of the Coruscanti accent in it. He sounds like Obi-Wan with a cough. ]
"Hasn't anyone taught you manners, young one?"
[ He moves, two fancy steps and forces a jab and strike at her. It doesn't last long. Makahsi requires hours of practices and a patience that Anakin does not have, however talented he is with a sword. He falls back to Soresu naturally. ]
[Don't get distracted, Ahsoka. Stay focused. She chides herself mentally before moving in for another set of strikes again.]
... Oh. Right. Yeah, I suppose that does... make sense.
[It's a thought she's had before, but it comes to her again anyway, unbidden: How could she have been so stupid? How could she have missed it? Barriss doesn't even look anything like Ventress!
She missteps for a moment and her next strike is clumsy and awkward.]
[The saber goes flying out of her hand again and Ahsoka makes a disgusted noise at her own lack of focus. She walks over to where the saber lands on the floor to pick it up.]
Why? What good is that going to do? Talking about it isn't going to let me magically go back in time and stop Barriss from killing all those people! It isn't going to save Barriss from the death penalty, or change the fact that she betrayed me! I just have to ... move on.
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Well, yeah, but-- look at you. I mean, most of this stuff affects you more than me, but you're totally focused.
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I think better when I'm moving. [ He keeps twirling, an easy set of movements that he uses to focus. ] How do you feel about your former Master being a disgraced Jedi Knight?
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I... hadn't even thought about it, to be honest.
I mean. I've known about you and Padme for ages, and I still like you just fine. How the Order reacts isn't gonna change anything.
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For ages, hmm? I think...
[ He stops, exhaling a long breath. ]
If I had to give up one of the two, Padme or the Order, I wouldn't hesitate to leave the Order. I'm only worried about Obi-Wan-- About how he might feel if I do. It's not easy to lose someone ... in that manner.
[ He pointedly doesn't look at Ahsoka. ]
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... Well ... if I were the master here, I'd say ... first of all, you're doing a lot of worrying over a scenario that hasn't even come to pass, yet. We don't know how the future is going to unfold.
But second, even if it does happen this way ... I'd say that leaving the Order doesn't mean you've died. You can still see each other. Just ... the nature of your relationship has changed.
[She's talking about Anakin and Obi-Wan, so ... why does it feel like she's also talking about Anakin and herself?]
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He's lived in secret for so long and now that it's out, he can't help but need a clean separation.
Anakin buries all that deep, until the time is right. He flashes Ahsoka a quick smile before resuming his Form III stance. A gesture with his head beckons Ahsoka to come at him. ]
And you all say I never worry.
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Hey. It's a valid concern. Sometimes. How many times have I heard, "Don't worry, Ahsoka!" [she says in her best Anakin voice] shortly before something went south?
[Ahsoka resumes her opening Jar'Kai posture too, then, and launches herself at Anakin for another round.]
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He does something he hasn't in a while, he does his impression of Master Yoda: ]
"Trust and faith in your Master, you must have, yes? Failed you, he has not, has he?"
[ His smile drops momentarily and he has to force himself to focus on his counter-strike. ]
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Oh man. You should do that in front of Dooku. He wouldn't know what hit him, you'd have the upper hand instantly.
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Who says I wouldn't have the upper hand to begin with?
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[She looks pointedly at his mechanical hand. Is it too soon for hand jokes?]
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The stance of Makashi.
He has studied the man who took his arm off, his impression of the Count's clipped voice bares too much of the Coruscanti accent in it. He sounds like Obi-Wan with a cough. ]
"Hasn't anyone taught you manners, young one?"
[ He moves, two fancy steps and forces a jab and strike at her. It doesn't last long. Makahsi requires hours of practices and a patience that Anakin does not have, however talented he is with a sword. He falls back to Soresu naturally. ]
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No offense, but maybe you should stick to what you know.
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That's no fun, Snips. When did you get boring?
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I don't think I can imitate Ventress well enough to carry the charade.
Besides, she's actually not a completely terrible person any more. I'd feel bad.
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She ... isn't. It's weird to even say it.
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This might surprise you, but... she helped me out. After I left, I mean. I didn't have anywhere else to go, so...
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[ He moves back; she might have speed but he has reach. He strikes, a low sweep at her feet. ]
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... Wait. She helped you find Barriss?
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She did. She said that you contacted Barriss for help. Not hard to piece it together after that.
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... Oh. Right. Yeah, I suppose that does... make sense.
[It's a thought she's had before, but it comes to her again anyway, unbidden: How could she have been so stupid? How could she have missed it? Barriss doesn't even look anything like Ventress!
She missteps for a moment and her next strike is clumsy and awkward.]
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Do you want to talk about it?
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I don't know. It wouldn't change anything.
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Ahsoka. I know it's ...difficult but if you ever need to, you can talk to me about it.
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