Prompt #211: Old Acquaintance
Theatrical Muse Prompt #211 is: Old Aquaintance.
I noticed him sweating before we'd even stepped into the elevator.
At first I thought it might just be a trick of the light. The lights at 500 Republica have always been a bit ... bright. I can't imagine how much power they must waste. But once we went into the elevator there was no mistaking it. Anakin was sweating. I decided to attempt to make light of it.
"You seem a little on edge," I commented.
He jumped as though I'd just prodded him with a training sabre. "Not at all."
The elevator continued to whiz upwards, carrying us toward the very top of the building, where we would rendezvous with Padmé Amidala.
Padmé Amidala. Just the thought of her name brought a funny feeling to the pit of my stomach. Of course, there was no reason why it should. We had maintained a cautious, sometimes-awkward friendship ten years ago, and had occasionally written one another since then, but gradually our letters had dwindled as I became involved with training Anakin and she threw herself into her Senate duties. I'm not even sure what you'd call us now. Acquaintances, perhaps? Yes. Acquaintances.
So if I was only going to rendezvous with an acquaintance, why did I feel so jumpy?
Beside me Anakin seemed just as jumpy, if not more. I tried to soothe him even though I felt quite ill-equipped to do so. "You're sweating. Relax."
"I haven't seen her in ten years, Master," Anakin replied. "But I've thought of her every day since we parted. Do you think she'll remember me?"
I paused. Padmé had mentioned Anakin often in her letters, asking how he was doing and how his training was progressing. I had always responded honestly, but now I was beginning to wonder whether her good memory might not be a disadvantage. Anakin needed a certain measure of professional distance if he was to fulfill the parameters of this assignment. And yet, they had been friends, just as I had been friends with Padmé. What was I to do?
"Obi-Wan? You're blushing."
That of course only caused me to blush more. "No, I'm not!" I insisted. "I - Anakin, I have no idea. I suppose so. When we wrote to each other she asked after you often. But remember, this is an assignment just as any other has been. We must not allow the fact that Senator Amidala is an old acquaintance of ours to colour our perceptions when it comes to her protection. Treat this as you would any other assignment."
"But it's not any other assignment!" insisted Anakin. "It's - well, it's Padmé."
"Precisely my point! If her assassins were to learn she has a personal connection to us she might be placed in even more danger."
"Then why did Master Windu assign us to this mission anyway?" Anakin grumbled. "He should have picked someone else if he was so worried."
I swallowed hard. This situation must be smoothed over quickly if we were to appear professional when arriving at Padmé's - no, no, Senator Amidala's - apartment. "Anakin, I cannot pretend to know why the Jedi Council selected us. Perhaps they believed Senator Amidala would feel more comfortable in our presence. However, irregardless of the reason, my advice to treat this as you would any other mission stands. I shall endeavour to do the same."
And I drew myself up to my full height, which still put me several inches below Anakin, and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. I could not afford to be the weak link in this chain. No matter my latent feelings of friendship towards Senator Amidala, no matter how my stomach lurched when I thought of her name, no matter any of that. I must look the part of the calm, conservative Jedi bodyguard.
Ding! The elevator had reached the top floor, and we prepared to exit.
"You're still blushing," Anakin remarked as the doors swished open.
Obi-Wan Kenobi
Star Wars
660 words
I noticed him sweating before we'd even stepped into the elevator.
At first I thought it might just be a trick of the light. The lights at 500 Republica have always been a bit ... bright. I can't imagine how much power they must waste. But once we went into the elevator there was no mistaking it. Anakin was sweating. I decided to attempt to make light of it.
"You seem a little on edge," I commented.
He jumped as though I'd just prodded him with a training sabre. "Not at all."
The elevator continued to whiz upwards, carrying us toward the very top of the building, where we would rendezvous with Padmé Amidala.
Padmé Amidala. Just the thought of her name brought a funny feeling to the pit of my stomach. Of course, there was no reason why it should. We had maintained a cautious, sometimes-awkward friendship ten years ago, and had occasionally written one another since then, but gradually our letters had dwindled as I became involved with training Anakin and she threw herself into her Senate duties. I'm not even sure what you'd call us now. Acquaintances, perhaps? Yes. Acquaintances.
So if I was only going to rendezvous with an acquaintance, why did I feel so jumpy?
Beside me Anakin seemed just as jumpy, if not more. I tried to soothe him even though I felt quite ill-equipped to do so. "You're sweating. Relax."
"I haven't seen her in ten years, Master," Anakin replied. "But I've thought of her every day since we parted. Do you think she'll remember me?"
I paused. Padmé had mentioned Anakin often in her letters, asking how he was doing and how his training was progressing. I had always responded honestly, but now I was beginning to wonder whether her good memory might not be a disadvantage. Anakin needed a certain measure of professional distance if he was to fulfill the parameters of this assignment. And yet, they had been friends, just as I had been friends with Padmé. What was I to do?
"Obi-Wan? You're blushing."
That of course only caused me to blush more. "No, I'm not!" I insisted. "I - Anakin, I have no idea. I suppose so. When we wrote to each other she asked after you often. But remember, this is an assignment just as any other has been. We must not allow the fact that Senator Amidala is an old acquaintance of ours to colour our perceptions when it comes to her protection. Treat this as you would any other assignment."
"But it's not any other assignment!" insisted Anakin. "It's - well, it's Padmé."
"Precisely my point! If her assassins were to learn she has a personal connection to us she might be placed in even more danger."
"Then why did Master Windu assign us to this mission anyway?" Anakin grumbled. "He should have picked someone else if he was so worried."
I swallowed hard. This situation must be smoothed over quickly if we were to appear professional when arriving at Padmé's - no, no, Senator Amidala's - apartment. "Anakin, I cannot pretend to know why the Jedi Council selected us. Perhaps they believed Senator Amidala would feel more comfortable in our presence. However, irregardless of the reason, my advice to treat this as you would any other mission stands. I shall endeavour to do the same."
And I drew myself up to my full height, which still put me several inches below Anakin, and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. I could not afford to be the weak link in this chain. No matter my latent feelings of friendship towards Senator Amidala, no matter how my stomach lurched when I thought of her name, no matter any of that. I must look the part of the calm, conservative Jedi bodyguard.
Ding! The elevator had reached the top floor, and we prepared to exit.
"You're still blushing," Anakin remarked as the doors swished open.
Obi-Wan Kenobi
Star Wars
660 words