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[Leia, on the other hand, while relieved, is a bit surprised at how quickly Ezra seems to have found his saber. As well as the distinct lack of the word "found." because saying he got it back is a bit different than saying he found it.]

You did? Where was it?

Vad... Anakin...?

[What does he even call this man now? This is so confusing.]

He had it. But he gave it back.

[Whatever you want to call him, there's worry creeping back up in Leia's response. Not just because of Anakin and Ezra's last encounter, but because Anakin in general makes her wary.]

That explains why we couldn't find it.

[And it's also sort of what she expected, but--]

Why did he give it back?

[Can you feel the face that Ezra's making, Leia? Because he is definitely making one here.]

I don't know. He said he was trying to apologize, that he's trying to fix things, but...

I don't know how much to believe. He's Vader.

I don't know what his angle is, but there's little reason to trust him.

[because, you know, he's vader.]

You've made sure there's nothing wrong with your lightsaber, haven't you?

Of course I did.

[Honestly, Leia, do you even need to ask?]

I took it apart and put it back together, and Master Kenobi looked at it, too, when I went to talk to him. Nothing's wrong with it. He just...

[Ezra grumbles something under his figurative breath. Really, it's probably garbled because he's not sure if he actually wants to communicate it to Leia or not.]

[SHE JUST HAS TO CHECK. It's Vader, and Ezra doesn't have the best record with him already.]

He just what?

[There's a reluctant silence for a very long moment before Ezra finally gives in. It's just not something he wants to admit, but he can't tell Leia what's really bothering him here unless he tells her the whole story.]

He fixed a power imbalance. My design's a little different from normal lightsabers. I'm not very good at deflecting blaster fire yet, so I wanted a ranged component that I could use to buy myself time. Unfortunately, that meant wiring the power source to basically two different weapons. Even if I'm only using one at a time, it always felt like there was a chance it might short circuit. Except now the problem's gone.

I didn't know lightsabers could be built that way.

[Not that she knows much about how standard lightsabers work beyond what Galen and Kylo have told her in the past. But she's silent for a moment as she takes in his response and thinks over what it might mean. Whatever the case is, she doesn't really trust it, always thinking the worst of anything Anakin might do.]

So you can use both at the same time now?

No, it's still one or the other. I just don't have to worry about maybe frying the circuits when I switch. [He stops, then hastily adds-] Not that I was that worried. It wasn't a bad a design. Maybe not traditional, at least according to Kanan, but he wouldn't have approved it if there was a real problem with it.

And I didn't see a reason why it couldn't be built that way. It's just a power source and wiring and components that you can arrange however you like. Let me tell you, it's handy, being able to use it without people realizing I'm a Jedi.

[Leia of all people should understand why he'd want to hide that fact.]

Same goes for surprising someone who doesn't think I can blast them back.

I should have thought of something like that myself.

[It's not something she means to send, but it's sent anyway thanks to the magic of telepathy. Because she certainly would've been more comfortable with something that could also serve as a blaster instead of just a lightsaber.]

So he didn't actually do anything to your lightsaber? Did he explain why?

[Ezra starts in surprise, strongly enough for Leia to feel it. Did she just...?]

You're making a lightsaber?

[Why would she...?]

No, he didn't. He just... I don't know why he did it.

[He didn't really give Anakin the chance to explain.]

Unless it was part of his apology.

[Her surprise matches his own--both as a reaction to his surprise, and because she hadn't meant for that bit of information to be released. And it's a long story, and not one she wants to have to explain in detail just yet. But she knows Ezra likely won't let it go, so she offers the most simple response she can--]

It's already made.

[--before changing subjects.]

But that doesn't make sense. Darth Vader wouldn't apologize even if his life depended on it.

Wait, that means- Are you Force-sensitive? Like me?

[You're right, Leia. Ezra's not going to let it go. But not because of the weapon itself. More for what it means.]

Now you get why I'm so confused. I mean, I get that he's from before I met him, but I never thought about what Vader might have been like before he killed the Jedi. I guess I always thought he was always like that. I never thought he used to have anything good in him.

...I am. But it's not something I've explored back home.

[And even here, were she not convinced she could use it to defend herself and her family here when needed, she likely wouldn't have considered learning about it. She's not fond of the Force and doesn't like relying on it or using it at all, since her direct experience with it outside of Luke is from Vader.]

I'd be careful if that's how you're planning on thinking about this. I can't believe he doesn't have an ulterior motive with this apology, and I wouldn't let your guard down merely because he returned your lightsaber.

Are you exploring it here? Because I could help you.

[Does Ezra sound like an excited kid there? Because that's definitely what he is. Finding out you share something this big with someone you know is a pretty big thing for him!]

Oh, don't worry, Leia. I'm still going to be careful. But... You know, maybe he's like Maul. Maul's this old master I met who used to be Dark, but he changed and now he's helping us. Maybe we can pull Anakin away from the Dark Side, too. We could defeat Vader without having to fight!

I was training with Obi-Wan Kenobi for a while, but I haven't had time for lessons lately.

[And by lately, that means since like October when Hurricane Ren made landfall. Her response is a bit hesitant, because that really is some excitement, Ezra, and she's not entirely sure how to take it. She understands his excitement, certainly, but Ezra is someone who wants to be a Jedi. Leia is the opposite.

And that hesitation doesn't disappear with his answer about helping pull Anakin from the Dark Side. Not just because she believes the worst in Anakin, but also because something about Maul sounds questionable to her. She doesn't know the name or who he is, but it sounds almost too good to be true.]

He changed. You're sure of that?

Edited (wrong month) 2017-01-02 04:36 (UTC)

Oof, I know about being busy. If you want, we could double it up and do something else at the same time. Consider it the same as hanging out with me. Or... You ever sign up for stuff on the Task Board? We could do that together sometime.

[He is not to be deterred! If he can find time to train as a Jedi while fighting with the Rebels, he's sure they can work out something here!]

I'm sure. I had to trust him with my life, literally, and he didn't let me fall, and right before I came here, he was helping us fight the Inquisitors who found us on Malachor.

It certainly sounds more fun than meditating.

[She's teasing, naturally, her tone lighter and more friendly when she replies with that. Because it doesn't sound like a bad idea, if only for the chance to spend more time with a friend. Not that she doesn't see the value in meditating, but she had done so much of that with Obi-Wan, and it's not her most favorite activity. She'd rather actually be doing things instead of sitting still.

But that friendly tone drops to one more cautious and more closed off as soon as the subject of the dark side comes back.]

I don't know Maul, but as far as I'm concerned, with Anakin, the Dark Side is always there, underneath whatever face he's putting on. I have no reason to think otherwise, especially after everything he's done in our times. It has to come from somewhere.

Way more fun than meditating.

[Ezra says that with all the fervent passion of a padawan who's been assigned all too many of his own meditation exercises.]

And it'll be useful in more than one way. We'll have fun and we can both learn, and we'll get paid for it!

[There is absolutely no downside that he can see.]

As for Anakin, I'll handle it. If there's something he's hiding, I'll just keep my eyes open. But if there's even a chance here, I want to take it. [Some of his enthusiasm fades at this point, replaced with something more sober. Despite his optimism, he is still taking this seriously.] I've faced Darth Vader before, Leia. I can't take him. Not on my own, not with Kanan. Maybe not with anyone here. But we have to stop him somehow. If there's another way, I'm willing to do what it takes.

[Teasing and joking about meditating and taking on tasks is forgotten in favor of focusing on Ezra's latest horrible idea. Leia easily falls back into a more stern, no-nonsense sort of tone. Because that's what this is: nonsense. And Leia won't stand for it from Ezra.]

I've faced Darth Vader before, as well, on more than one occasion. Do you know what happened?

[It's a rhetorical question, since she knows for a fact Ezra can guess if he doesn't already know what happens when you meet up with Vader back home.]

You will not handle it. He already attacked you once, who's to say what he'll do next? I don't want you getting injured again.

[Ezra can guess, and his eyes flicker with worry over her, even though she's clearly fine now.

Worry or not, though, he's not going to just give up before he's even started. Leia may not know him very well, but she should know him better than that.]

So I should just back down and keep running every time I see him? Instead of doing something about it? Leia, I can't- I won't live like that.

Besides, this isn't just about what he might do to me. It's about what he might do to everyone here. If someone doesn't do something, who's to say who else he might end up hurting?

[Well that's the advice she gave to Luke before, so it's not like she thinks that's completely outrageous advice. Even if she knows it's different here and that there are only so many places you can run to hide from Vader, as opposed to thousands upon thousands of planets back home.]

And how long will you be living if you run into him and try to fight him on your own?

[Because realistically if Anakin were ready to fight, there's not much time to call for help.]

Death may not function the same way here, but that doesn't mean you should freely risk your life that often. He hunts the remaining Jedi, doesn't he? He may be acting almost kind now, but how long before he falls back into those orders?

I'm not looking to fight him at all! That's the point!

[Deep breath. He's earnest, but he's not looking to pick a fight here. Leia's just trying to look out for him. That's what friends do for each other.]

Look, think of it like this. We joined the Rebellion, both of us, because we were tired of the Empire pushing us around, tired of seeing people hurt and scared, tired of putting up with everyone suffering. [There's an underlying anger that heats his voice for a moment there, but stubborn determination's more prevalent.] This is just more of the same.

But there wouldn't even be a Rebellion if people weren't willing to take any risks. This is me, taking a risk for something that could make such a difference if it works. Don't I owe it to everyone out there, and at home, to at least be willing to try?

[It's not that she doesn't know how Ezra feels, because she does. She feels the same way herself. Putting aside her more complicated reasons for joining the Rebellion in the first place, she still feels the same about the Empire. But that said--]

Being willing to take risks is only half of it, Ezra. The other half is knowing when to take those risks and when to be concerned about your own safety.

[Not that she thinks other people here that don't know about Anakin and may unwittingly put themselves at risk aren't important.]

It's not just a game. Billions of people have died during the Rebellion, and we may not like it, but difficult calls have to be made. Do you really think Darth Vader can be held off without a fight?

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