Archive: Master Apprentice and if anyone else wants it, just
ask.
Category: Humor, possible sentimentality -- so sue me, I'm old
and sentimental
Rating: G
Paring: Q/O implied
Summary: Obi-Wan mocks his master in public!
Feedback: It's my first time posting anything in this fandom
and I would appreciate it greatly.
Note: If anyone thinks it's worth my writing them down, I have
several other ideas set in Padawan Hall, or proceeding
therefrom. Wanna see 'em?
Disclaimer: I don't own the guys. Doesn't mean I can't fall in
love, does it?
The jedi master settled into his seat, certain it was no
accident that Master Mace Windu was next to him. Was that
actually a smile lurking at the corners of his mouth? Qui-Gon
turned his attention to the stage, where one of the younger
padawans was doing a fair imitation of Yoda attempting to
purchase a used landspeeder from a salesman who simply could
not understand the master's convoluted speech pattern. Yoda had
been Qui-Gon's master. The huge blue goggles and very large
stick were funny. Qui-Gon wondered if Yoda thought this was
funny. Probably, he found it mystifying.
Looking around, Qui-Gon was pleased to find that almost every
knight in residence was here, not just those with padawans.
Barring emergencies, Padawan Hall was only open to knights and
masters once a year, and this was it. The summer solstice
celebration always ended with the padawans roasting their
masters with humor. It was not only good for morale, it was
vital for weeding out people with no sense of humor. A jedi who
could not laugh at himself was in danger of the dark side.
Qui-Gon knew that Obi-Wan would in some way lampoon him, but it
was hard to imagine how. they hadn't been on Coruscant for
solstice festival in four years. He grinned, remembering a skit
about a young padawan who received a rock for his birthday
present. He'd been ready for that one, and produced a huge
crystal for Obi-Wan at the end of the show.
Master Jinn knew that his reputation usually kept others at a
respectful distance, only Yoda, Mace and now his padawan coming
close enough to just drop by for tea and if not sympathy then
lively conversation. Most people had no idea how full of
laughter the reserved jedi was. He realized that if Obi-Wan
could get his master to laugh out loud in Padawan Hall, it
would be a triumph for him. His social standing among his peers
would rise quite a bit. Well, it remained to be seen.
The next act was a music and dancing number consisting of
several very young padawans dressed in Master's cloaks and
singing about grace and flowing with the Force while they
performed a meticulously planned tumbling act which on the
surface looked clumsy and almost dangerous. The props they
carried suggested the masters involved. The audience was in
tears of laughter.
When the stage cleared, several padawans re-arranged things to
look like a master's quarters. As they cleared into the wings,
the master arrived, moving with erect, stately grace. Removing
and hanging his cloak, the Master tossed back his long hair and
settled for meditation. Qui-Gon leaned forward. The hair was
perfect. Obi-Wan had even managed a false beard. A few
heartbeats later there was the sound of a door opening and a
young padawan entered, clearly angry. The master didn't look up
from his serene meditation. Braid flying, the young learner
proceeded to destroy the room. He smashed the master's
sculpture, ripped up the throw decorating the single chair,
pulled down the wall hangings and decimated the tea set. All
the while, the padawan was shouting nonsense about patience and
serenity and stupid rules and masters who didn't remember what
it was like to be young.
Qui-Gon was not unaware that many of the audience were watching
him as much as they watched the stage. When the padawan finally
ran out of things to wreck, he stood defiantly before his
master, breathing hard. He was actually red in the face.
Slowly, the master stood. Calmly, he regarded his student.
Kindly, he said, "You seem...upset, padawan." The room exploded
with laughter.
On stage, the younger padawan had nearly collapsed with relief
that the audience laughed. Obi-Wan, however, maintained his
"Qui-Gon face" and waited, arms folded into his sleeves,
radiating serenity but also leaking near hysteria. Qui-Gon
rose, and those nearest him fell silent. The tension level
skyrocketed as Qui-Gon left his seat and approached the stage.
One deep step up brought him face to face with his padawan.
"You seem...amused, padawan."
Obi-Wan lost control and rolled on the floor laughing.
Qui-Gon's shoulders began to shake, and finally the roar of his
laughter could be heard throughout the Hall. Qui-Gon got back
enough breath to speak, and said, "After the show, the first
ale is my treat." The cheers were deafening.
Qui-Gon stepped down from the stage pulling Obi-Wan with him,
where Mace joined them. The young man was still tearing up with
laughter. Qui-Gon wondered how much of it was relief.
Mace bowed deeply. "Master Kenobi."
Obi-Wan started laughing again, leaning against his master, who
smiled at him fondly and reached up to remove the beard. he
then fondled a few strands of the wig. "Where did you get this,
Obi-Wan?"
For a moment, Obi-Wan seemed unable to answer. At last, he
managed, "It's w-wookie hair."
That set Qui-Gon off again, and even Mace was chuckling, though
his expression suggested he was not sure why that was funny.
"Thank you, my master," Obi-Wan said. I'll never forget it."
Qui-Gon opined, "Neither will anyone else. Who is that young
man who played you?"
"Wiggin, sir. His master died in a flyer crash a month ago. I
hoped he'd be able to laugh again."
"Soft-hearted padawan," the master said, hugging his student.
Qui-Gon then looked at Mace. "Is the boy going to find another
master?"
Mace bowed. "Soft-hearted master. I have the honor. Excuse me,
I must go and compliment his performance."
Qui-Gon touched his friend's arm. "Mace, join us for a drink.
Our old seat." Mace nodded and went off, robes trailing behind
him, a smile on his face.
Obi-Wan observed, "I often imagine you here in Padawan Hall. I
wonder how much time you spent here, what you liked to do."
Walking his student toward the bar area, Qui-Gon shrugged.
"Same as anyone. Gossiped, drank ale, competed at rocketboy."
Obi-Wan gaped. "You? Were you, I mean did you...uh--"
"My eloquent padawan," Qui-Gon teased. "I was always bigger
than everyone else, so I launched other boys, usually Mace." He
smiled, remembering Windu's fury at being grabbed upon entering
Padawan Hall and launched toward the lofty ceiling with a
combination of muscle and the Force which gave him barely
enough time to orient himself and avoid cracking his head open.
Sharing the image with his padawan brought on another bout of
laughter. They settled side by side in a corner booth, and
Obi-Wan fairly purred when his master put his arm around his
shoulders.
Distracted by a pair of knights who had accepted a challenge at
a game called, for some reason, spear chucker, which seemed to
involve impaling a hologram with a thrown lightsaber, Obi-Wan
basked in his Master's presence. His master observed him with
love and anticipation. His student had become a man unafraid to
seek his master's friendship as well as his wisdom. Soon,
Qui-Gon thought. Soon he will realize that what he is feeling
is more than filial love and friendship. And when he
does...well, then we will be a jedi pair unlike any other.
Obi-Wan was destined to be a great jedi. Qui-Gon wanted to he
there when it happened. He knew how old he was by comparison to
this still smooth-cheeked boy. And since he would never
hesitate to trade his life for Obi-Wan's, it was possible they
might never have the time together for which his heart so
yearned.
Qui-Gon sighed. It would be as it would be. He would live in
the moment and embrace the future when it arrived.
Archive 