Dedication: To my brilliant Master, 'lion Flame, who knows the
proper uses of fire.
The first explosion occurred in the pantry, from whence came
two younger padawans in full flight, their heads and robes
covered in some aromatic purple liquid.
Obi-Wan Kenobi, who had risen and activated his light saber
almost unconsciously upon hearing the noise, leaped over his
table and started for the source of the sound. Above his head,
another explosion occurred, and another, and a purple rain came
down. Several other senior padawans looked up, as he did.
The main door to the Hall opened to admit Hogarth, and
something about his reaction to the events struck Obi-Wan as
wrong. When Hogarth, often the source of practical jokes, began
laughing until tears ran down his cheeks, Obi-Wan caught the
eye of another of his yearmates and nodded.
Thus, the Jedi Temple was treated to the sight of five purple
padawans chasing a sixth of normal hue through the Temple
corridors, lightsabers drawn, while Hogarth, amid his
uncontrollable laughter, gasped out things like, "It was
supposed to ferment into wine," and "Obi-Wan, anger leads to
the dark side!"
As they turned a corner, Master Qui-Gon Jinn grabbed Hogarth by
his braid, then stepped between him and his pursuers.
Coolly, Master Jinn instructed, "Deactivate your blades. You do
not intend to kill him, do you?"
Obi-Wan fought for breath as he fought for control of his
temper. "The temptation is ... grave, my Master." But the
pursuers put up their light sabers and sullenly dripped purple
on the marble floor.
A yank on Hogarth's braid caused that worthy young man to
whine, "I had no idea this would happen! Honestly, Master Jinn!
I was only trying to ferment some wine!"
Obi-Wan, still thrumming with the need to box Hogarth's ears,
fisted his hands and forced himself to stand still. "I think
this calls for an Honor Court."
It didn't help Obi-Wan's temper that Master Jinn seemed to be
having trouble keeping a straight face.
"Honor Court! You can't! That brings Council attention, Kenobi!
Please, please don't do this to me. I'll do anything you want.
I'll repaint Padawan Hall. I'll clean up the mess by myself.
Hell, I'll wash your hair, if you like, just don't call an
Honor Court!"
The tears in Hogarth's eyes brought Obi-Wan back to his senses.
He took a deep breath and looked down at his purple tunic and
leggings. And boots. Oh, Sith. His braid was purple! He glanced
at Master Jinn, whose delight was no longer so well hidden, and
burst into laughter himself.
"Hogarth, you're enough to turn a man to the dark side. But if
you really paint the Hall and clean up the mess, I think we can
forego the Honor Court. And I'll wash my hair myself."
Across their bond, he heard his master say, //No. I'll wash
your hair. And...other places. Don't be long, Padawan. I wonder
what it tastes like?//
With a feral grin at his Master, he growled at Hogarth just to
see him jump. Stomping back toward Padawan Hall, he was
resigned to getting a cleaning party started on the mess before
he rewarded himself for not killing the Sith-spawned Hogarth by
permitting his master to pamper him to the fullest extent he
could bear. A secret grin accompanied him as he walked. He
suspected that before the night was over, he was going to be
grateful for Hogarth's taste for homemade wine.
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