sithkabobed | IC CONTACT

As someone who's done his own fair share of wanton use of the Force, Qui-Gon doesn't call any attention to Ezra's little parlor trick. Instead, he waits until he's set up the tea just right before he turns around to address the younger of the two Jedi in the kitchen, his tone mild and warm, if not teetering on the edge of chastising.

"I'm sure I don't have to lecture you on the dangers of choosing to enter the forest of all places while dealing with such a handicap," Qui-Gon says in a way that, for all intents and purposes, is already lecturing Ezra on exactly that. His raised eyebrows and crossed arms betray that even further.

The scolding has its intended effect. Ezra flushes, shoulders hunching a little bit. "Hey, I thought it would be safe," he defends. "It's just a forest. I didn't think I'd need to talk to go through it. How was I supposed to know someone had been setting traps out there?"

Qui-Gon's eyebrows raise even higher.

"To call it 'just' a forest means you don't have a true respect for what it can hold, Ezra."

Everything about Qui-Gon's voice remains gentle, except for the way its tone confidently strikes, however conservatively, at the core of the issue.

Already on the defensive, Ezra scowls at that tone, no matter how gentle it is. "I have plenty of respect for it, Master Jinn. I was looking out for animals, and I wasn't traveling at night. All the dangers that are in it, though, don't have anything that would need my voice to deal with."

Except clearly there had been one thing that did. Ezra huffs and clarifies, "That's how it should have been, anyway."

"True respect would have told you that you cannot predict what a forest holds and that you would have needed all available faculties to traverse it."

Qui-Gon sighs as he tempers himself, evident by the flame below the tea kettle dying down to gentle licks.

"Perhaps we're overdue for a trip outside of the city. One where we can both meditate and reconvene with the nature surrounding us."

Frustration fumes and bubbles inside Ezra - and that's probably the source of the wisps of steam rising up from the cracks between the floorboards. Qui-Gon's just not getting it. And while he's a Master, and that should earn Ezra's obedience and respect, Ezra didn't grow up the way a typical Jedi Padawan did. It's not in him to just quietly give in.

"Can we meditate on how often people actually need to talk nature?" he says, and even if the world wasn't reflecting his emotions, they're still painted clear as day in his posture and his voice. Seriously, he's willing to bet Obi-Wan never had to put up with this kind of refusal to see the point when he was Qui-Gon's Padawan.

"I think that's a wonderful idea," Qui-Gon responds, his grip on more calm emotions superceding Ezra's rising temper and his own aggravation.

It doesn't help that his suggestion was made with no small amount of a tongue-in-cheek attitude.

"We can begin tomorrow morning at dawn, if you feel it so important."

He's technically leaving the choice up to Ezra: either he simmer down (literally, if the steam coming through the floorboards is of any indication) or he incur extra work tomorrow. Either way, he stands to learn a lesson.

Oh, is that a choice? Sure doesn't sound like a choice to Ezra. Not unless Ezra backpedals on his feelings that he shouldn't have expected problems from not being able to talk in the forest, and he's not willing to do that. That leaves him no choice but to scowl defensively, crossing his arms.

"Yes, Master Jinn," he mutters, absolutely not looking forward to defending his convictions so early the following day.

"Alright. Then I'll make the preparations tonight," Qui-Gon nods. At the very least, Ezra won't be traveling alone (then again, based on his attitude, that may not be good news).

He turns back to brewing his tea, his shoulder angled just enough to still hold eye contact with Ezra and address the uneasiness between the two.

"This isn't a punishment, Ezra."

Ezra barely refrains from huffing at that claim. "Of course it's not. I asked for it, right?" That's the line of logic he's pretty sure Qui-Gon's using right now.

Never mind that Qui-Gon probably would have found some way or another to drive home the scolding he just gave. That's what adult authority figures do.

Edited 2018-06-11 01:01 (UTC)

"That isn't what I meant."

Qui-Gon pours the tea into two cups, placing one in front of Ezra first before placing the other at the opposite end of the table.

"This is a multiple-level learning opportunity. Nothing more and nothing less."

"Doesn't mean you're not making sure I learn my lesson," he grumbles, hands wrapping around the cup though he doesn't take a sip. Sorry, Qui-Gon, you're just doomed to get some lip from a teenager today.

"And all that means is that I'm doing what I'm supposed to."

While it's not okay for Ezra to give Qui-Gon as much lip as he has, the fact of the matter is that the old Jedi has dealt with plenty of surly teens throughout his life. Enough that he has an arsenal of comebacks and enough patience to deliver them without too sharp a wit.

And just how is he supposed to argue with that? It is an adult's job to make sure a kid learns, especially if the kid screwed something up and put his own life at risk - even if it had been an accident. Ezra huffs, but it's as much one of concession as irritation.

"I'm gonna go get dressed," he says, swallowing down his tea before he stands up, because you just don't waste food. "I've got stuff to do today."

Translation: he's going to retreat while the retreating is good.

"Alright, Ezra."

Qui-Gon makes no move to stop him, understanding full well that some space is needed between the two for the time being. Their little... discussion isn't anything permanently damaging, and he takes solace in that, but he also respects its delicate nature.

"Be safe."

It's not a final barb, but a sincere request.

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