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[Dec] [Star Wars] Self-righteousness
Title: Self-righteousness
Theme: Its breath kindles flames
Series: Star Wars
Characters: Obi-Wan, Padmé
Rating: PG-13
"I intend to request to not be teamed up with Anakin anymore--"
"Oh, that'll never do," she said. "You must work with him."
"Senator?"
"Do you think I'm stupid? I know the both of you are alive only because you're such a pair. If it were with anyone else, Skywalker, he'd... no, General, you will do no such thing."
"If you insist..."
"I do. Though you're right, in a way, we do have something to address. Now, I know most think that politicians could not say a direct statement to save their lives, but I never was one to beat around the bush. I do not approve of your fucking Skywalker."
Obi-Wan chocked. "You don't so much avoid beating the bush as you tear it to shreds, Senator."
"If I didn't, I'd have been buried, as a politician, long ago. While the Jedi carry lightsabers in order to deal with their enemies, we are armed with but our wits."
"Kindly do not view us as such aggressive beings, Senator. Brute strength is a last resort, we prefer to use our intelligence."
"And how admirably that intelligence is backed up by the implicit threat of violence. If you cannot convince your opponent, you bring out the swords. They have no choice but to agree."
"You sound as if you dislike the Jedi."
"Not all of them, General. To return to the subject at hand, I think you are acting disgracefully."
"I am not convinced that my relationship with Anakin is any of your business."
Padmé frowned. This was a good card to play; indeed, as officially just a friend of Anakin's, she was walking into territory that was beyond her scope. She could not declare herself Anakin's original and principal lover, though they both knew it was the case, without endangering his career. But she could broach the subject in ways other than of a jealous woman. "Not directly, perhaps, but your conduct is reprehensible. As a speaker for the Republic and democracy, I wish for the Jedi to have as strong a voice as the senate and the Chancellor. It is essential that you do not sully your institution’s reputation. As the war's champions you are enjoying the height of popularity, but something like a Jedi Master carrying on an illicit affair with his own ex-Padawan? Would drag the Jedi through the dirt."
"Would you leak this information to the HoloNets?"
"I would not. However, it is only a matter of time before gossip this juicy is ferreted out. The wisest course of action would be to cease while it is still a secret."
Obi-Wan glanced outside, behind him, for a moment, before staring straight into Padmé's eyes. "I never disapproved of your closeness with Anakin. Admittedly, my mere disapproval wouldn't have stopped him, but it would have complicated matters. It is unheard of, senator, for a Jedi to spend so much of his time in any apartment other than their own, yet I have not only looked the other way, I have distracted others' attention from the two of you."
"It almost sounds as if you support our friendship, General."
"'Support' is a strong word."
"'Do not disapprove of,' then, as you put it."
"And?"
"As Skywalker's friend, I think you should end this affair."
"And, also as Anakin's friend, I think that's up to him."
Padmé leaned forward. "I'm surprised, General. You're such an exemplary Jedi in all the other ways. Surely you do not think it is right for a teacher and an apprentice to sleep together."
Obi-Wan stood up. "It is getting late. Thank you for your hospitality. You need not get up, I know my way to the exit."
"Wait." She stood up as well. "Obi-Wan. Please. I know you know what I can't say."
"I don't disagree with you, Senator. But my answer is the same: it's up to Anakin."
******************
Notes: *clears throat* It isn't my intention to make Padmé into an evil! manipulative! bitch, and I hope that that is not the impression one would get from reading these. I've been trying to maintain a consistent faithful characterization of everone, Padmé included. So I'm not having her be angry because I want to cause conflict, I have her angry because that's how I see her reacting. I asked her how she felt about Anakin sleeping with Obi-Wan, and had her reaction been to sigh and say "oh well," I would have let her do that. What she said, though, was "fuck that! Anakin is my husband, I'm not taking this sitting down!"
Obi-Wan puzzled me here. He starts of basically telling her that he's going to do his best to end his affair, and before long he starts acting that it's none of her business. I think he found it distasteful and offensive the way she broached the subject, and became stubborn when faced with her agressivenss.
Theme: Its breath kindles flames
Series: Star Wars
Characters: Obi-Wan, Padmé
Rating: PG-13
"I intend to request to not be teamed up with Anakin anymore--"
"Oh, that'll never do," she said. "You must work with him."
"Senator?"
"Do you think I'm stupid? I know the both of you are alive only because you're such a pair. If it were with anyone else, Skywalker, he'd... no, General, you will do no such thing."
"If you insist..."
"I do. Though you're right, in a way, we do have something to address. Now, I know most think that politicians could not say a direct statement to save their lives, but I never was one to beat around the bush. I do not approve of your fucking Skywalker."
Obi-Wan chocked. "You don't so much avoid beating the bush as you tear it to shreds, Senator."
"If I didn't, I'd have been buried, as a politician, long ago. While the Jedi carry lightsabers in order to deal with their enemies, we are armed with but our wits."
"Kindly do not view us as such aggressive beings, Senator. Brute strength is a last resort, we prefer to use our intelligence."
"And how admirably that intelligence is backed up by the implicit threat of violence. If you cannot convince your opponent, you bring out the swords. They have no choice but to agree."
"You sound as if you dislike the Jedi."
"Not all of them, General. To return to the subject at hand, I think you are acting disgracefully."
"I am not convinced that my relationship with Anakin is any of your business."
Padmé frowned. This was a good card to play; indeed, as officially just a friend of Anakin's, she was walking into territory that was beyond her scope. She could not declare herself Anakin's original and principal lover, though they both knew it was the case, without endangering his career. But she could broach the subject in ways other than of a jealous woman. "Not directly, perhaps, but your conduct is reprehensible. As a speaker for the Republic and democracy, I wish for the Jedi to have as strong a voice as the senate and the Chancellor. It is essential that you do not sully your institution’s reputation. As the war's champions you are enjoying the height of popularity, but something like a Jedi Master carrying on an illicit affair with his own ex-Padawan? Would drag the Jedi through the dirt."
"Would you leak this information to the HoloNets?"
"I would not. However, it is only a matter of time before gossip this juicy is ferreted out. The wisest course of action would be to cease while it is still a secret."
Obi-Wan glanced outside, behind him, for a moment, before staring straight into Padmé's eyes. "I never disapproved of your closeness with Anakin. Admittedly, my mere disapproval wouldn't have stopped him, but it would have complicated matters. It is unheard of, senator, for a Jedi to spend so much of his time in any apartment other than their own, yet I have not only looked the other way, I have distracted others' attention from the two of you."
"It almost sounds as if you support our friendship, General."
"'Support' is a strong word."
"'Do not disapprove of,' then, as you put it."
"And?"
"As Skywalker's friend, I think you should end this affair."
"And, also as Anakin's friend, I think that's up to him."
Padmé leaned forward. "I'm surprised, General. You're such an exemplary Jedi in all the other ways. Surely you do not think it is right for a teacher and an apprentice to sleep together."
Obi-Wan stood up. "It is getting late. Thank you for your hospitality. You need not get up, I know my way to the exit."
"Wait." She stood up as well. "Obi-Wan. Please. I know you know what I can't say."
"I don't disagree with you, Senator. But my answer is the same: it's up to Anakin."
Notes: *clears throat* It isn't my intention to make Padmé into an evil! manipulative! bitch, and I hope that that is not the impression one would get from reading these. I've been trying to maintain a consistent faithful characterization of everone, Padmé included. So I'm not having her be angry because I want to cause conflict, I have her angry because that's how I see her reacting. I asked her how she felt about Anakin sleeping with Obi-Wan, and had her reaction been to sigh and say "oh well," I would have let her do that. What she said, though, was "fuck that! Anakin is my husband, I'm not taking this sitting down!"
Obi-Wan puzzled me here. He starts of basically telling her that he's going to do his best to end his affair, and before long he starts acting that it's none of her business. I think he found it distasteful and offensive the way she broached the subject, and became stubborn when faced with her agressivenss.