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The Perk, Wednesday Noon

Life on Fandom was beginning to ease; Obi-Wan suspected his increasingly warmer detente with Anakin was part of it, but the truth was he was simply... settling in. The community was small, which had its drawbacks (though none quite as enormous as what he had experienced at first on Tatooine) but also its virtues.

For example, the fact he did not even have to place his order. The barista gave him a glass and a large container of hot water, and within minutes he was back at his regular spot, soaking his tea in the container.

As per habit now, he sat there quietly for the next few hours, watching.

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Atton had caught the guy sitting here several consecutive weeks now. Falling into a routine? Not usually a smart plan, unless you were doing it on purpose, but then again, who was he to talk?

... Yeah, he was Atton.

That aside, though, the bruises had finally faded enough that he was willing to leave the house. He made note of the guy sitting there, then popped into the Perk. Got a big, big cup of coffee, and then sank down across from him without any fanfare whatsoever.

Well. Obi-Wan couldn't say he wasn't wary. While the man had been helpful last time they met, he had also been repeatedly abrasive-- the likelihood of him sitting down here just to be a pest was high.

"Afternoon," he said, then sipped his tea and hoped they'd leave it at that.

"Guess it is, since it's Wednesday and you're sitting here," Atton agreed. Look, he had to say something, all right? "Thought you'd be getting tired of the scenery by now. Not that some of the baristas don't make for a nice view, mind you."

While Obi-Wan had recognized Atton Rand for who he was - a figure from Jedi history - a damn sight quicker than Anakin had, he had not exactly been a thorough study of the man outside of the Lost Jedi. Unorthodox, the texts had said. That... was certainly true.

In a frustratingly Vos-like way, so far.

"It's as good a place as any to get to know the locals," he said, "The baristas are kind enough, and they know their tea."

He didn't exactly make a habit of examining their view.

Hey, pretending to be shallow was just a basic instinct by now. Atton shrugged. "Never touch the stuff," he said, "It's disgusting. But hey, more power to you."

He took a sip of his coffee.

"You've been settling in all right?"

This was to be a civil conversation, then. At least, he hoped it would stay that way.

"So far, it has been a quiet but welcoming experience," Obi-Wan said vaguely. "Except for the odd bout of flying sea life, of course."

"Well, that's just part of the package," Atton said easily. "Anyway, you don't have to give me that look. I'm just here to chat. Your boy Skywalker's a friend of mine, figured I should actually introduce myself at some point."

For a moment, Obi-Wan considered the wisdom of pointing out Anakin was not his anything beyond his co-teacher and former apprentice. But no. That could only go somewhere irritating.

"I've some idea of who you are," he offered. "Both as Anakin's friend, and..."

Hey, it was an innocuous enough phrasing! ... For someone who didn't enjoy trolling as much as Atton did, from time to time.

"...You're actually a future Jedi who read the history books," Atton finished. "Mical's going to be ecstatic."

"Master Mical's holocron is one of the most detailed historical works the Temple has about your era. He should be proud," Obi-Wan said lightly. "But Anakin has never appreciated such things, no."

Not that he'd exactly spent his life in the archives, but at least he'd put in an effort.

"Hope you don't mind if I don't tell Mical that. Ever," Atton said. "His head would grow so big, it'd explode and leave crap all over the ceiling."

Lovely imagery, Atton.

"Not that anyone figuring this out would've done me much good when I got here. 'Hey, Atton, you're going to wind up throwing in with Jedi!' 'What the kark is wrong with you, get out of my room'..."

The corners of Obi-Wan's mouth slid up. "The Force works in--"

Atton groaned. "Don't finish that sentence," he said. "I swear, the worst part of this gig is all the stupid Jedi talk. Who came up with this poodoo anyway? Is it taught? Was there a class?"

Obi-Wan took a thoughtful sip of his tea as he waited politely for Atton to finish.

"--Is that what Jedi do when there isn't a war to fight? Do you guys just sit around and come up with stuff that sounds meaningful but doesn't actually say anything?"

"We simply say what we feel is true to us, and true to the Force," Obi-Wan said, setting his teacup down lightly.

Atton opened his mouth. Then he shut it. Then he opened it again, and said, "Oh, no. Oh, no no no, I'm not getting drawn into this again."

"You must do what you think is right, of course," Obi-Wan said.

The beard was handy, not in the least because it tended to hide any smiles that didn't grow too big.

Atton thumped his forehead against the table. Gingerly. "I swear it's like half the Jedi I meet think they're funny," he said. "Which you aren't, just so you know."

"I'll make a note of it," Obi-Wan said dryly. He tilted his head. "You were injured?"

Atton had not managed to quite conceal the care he was taking.

Oh, ugh. "Got my head punched in by a Dark Jedi, it happens," Atton said. "... Anyway, let's get back on track. You, Skywalker, the whole teaching thing, I hear that's awkward."

Let's not talk about my sore spots, let's talk about yours.

Obi-Wan repressed a sigh. "Is that what he called it?" he said. "I suppose it's as good a word as any."

He could think of a few more fitting, stronger words. But he'd rather not draw those into the conversation if he could at all prevent it. "But these last few weeks have been constructive. Thank you for your concern."

It was almost impressive: Atton had never heard anyone say shut up quite that way before.

"That bad, huh?" he said.

This was totally none of his concern and he didn't care.

"I could say the same to you," Obi-Wan said vaguely. "I hope your Dark Jedi has been dealt with, and no one else was injured?"

"He was dealt with right after I disarmed him," Atton said.

By which he meant 'made the guy's evil artifact explode ALL OVER ME', but nerf, nurf...

"You meet his wife yet? I hear she's great." Beat. "No, really, I do, he can't shut up about her, it's annoying."

Of course he couldn't. It was Anakin. Obi-Wan no more expected him to stop raving about something or someone he loved than he expected the Tatooine sun to stop pelting the desert with its rays.

"I'm getting around to it," he said. "Why this interest?"

He was getting the impression Atton was trying to distract himself from something. ... That, or he was trying to get a rise out of Obi-Wan again. Sigh.

Look, you try getting a chunk of dark side stuck in your gut for a few hours making you hallucinate and not come out not wanting to think for a while.

"Like I said, he's a friend," Atton said. "Don't like seeing him hurt, yadda yadda. Sometimes people are like that."

"I'm aware of that," Obi-Wan said dryly. "We are getting along fine, such as it were. That is all there is to it."

How much had Anakin told this one? Was he going to have to prepare for more of these conversations?

"Then we don't have a problem," Atton said. "I mean, both of us. That's not a threat... probably."

Unless he ever wound up really needing a distraction.

He got up, cup of coffee in hand. "Nice talking to you."

Obi-Wan wished he could say the same. Though he supposed it was... good, to know Anakin had friends concerned with his wellbeing.

He took a sip of his tea.

"You should be resting," he noted. "An injury like that is not something one should be walking around with."

Unless your name was Obi-Wan Kenobi, but that was different.

Atton rolled his eyes. "I'll live, thanks," he said.

And then adjusted his posture slightly so it was less obvious he was favoring his left side, damn it all.

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The Perk, Wednesday Noon

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