lucetilogs | Dad...you're a Sith Lord waiting to happen...

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Dad...you're a Sith Lord waiting to happen...

Who: Anakin, Luke, Obi-Wan, Leonardo, Ami, and Adele
What: Discussing Anakin's future
When: March 25th, Around 7:00 in the evening
Where: Community Building 5, Room 24
Summary: Trying to tell Anakin about Palpatine without him flipping out...
Rating: PG/PG-13 Possible strong language...

[Luke's been preparing this for some time now. He's taken time to talk to quite a few people a bout this and its been almost unanimously agreed that Anakin needs to know whats coming in his own future. Someone undoubtedly would tell him, and by all accounts it was best if the bad news came from Luke rather than a stranger.

Earlier in the day, he had sent messages to Anakin, Obi-Wan, Leonardo, Ami, and Adele, asking each of them to arrive around 7:00, and that they had something extremely important they needed to discuss. He'd laid out tea, cleaned up his droid-related mess, and had stashed his lightsabers in his bedroom. However, against one wall he had left his cortosis fiber staff, as a hopefully last resort if something went much worse than he expected. As another precaution, Luke's journal is open in an unobtrusive corner, set to an Unhackable filter to Lupin.

Settling in to wait, Luke sank heavily into a chair...hoping everything would go alright]

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[He wants to feel relief, that they've told him the worst of it, but... they had not been specific. They had avoided details. Left them for him, and he feels almost certain that hearing them now will bring forth that torrent of anger.

Yet he had to hear it.]

"... Anakin, it is important to note that none of us blame you. Everybody here is here because they wish to help you. To help you deal with the pain, and the betrayal. To accept what has been done and make peace with it."

[All of them speaking up gives Anakin a moment to stop and think, to try and process it all. Even with all of their kind words to try and deflect all the blame on Palpatine, there was still the fact this man, the one Anakin was so close to, was going to manipulate him and the Republic so terribly. There was shame in it, and it hurt.

This wasn't part of the prophecy. He's supposed to be the Chosen One, not... this, what they're telling him he becomes. He failed them. He failed the other Jedi, he failed Obi-Wan... He failed himself. He can't look at Obi-Wan anymore when the man speaks. He turns his attention down to his lap, trying to ignore all the eyes watching him.

If it's one thing, though, it's that Luke seems to have a way of keeping Anakin's emotions in check. Because despite how distraught Anakin feels right now, Luke knows how to say the right things and is keeping this from getting a whole lot worse than it could have for the moment. He's staying calm. Well, as calm as he can be anyway. He's managed to keep from lashing out in anger so far.]

I know, and I am thankful. I just... I want to know everything—how it all happens, what all happens. If this is my future I have to know, even... even if there's terrible things I've done. [Because if he turns to the Dark Side, he probably has done some things he's not going to be proud of. But he has to know. He looks up at Luke again.] Wait... you said sister.

[There she goes again, Leia bailing him out of a really sticky situation]

Yes. I have a twin sister. You have a daughter. She's not here, though...maybe someday if we're lucky and she's terribly unlucky, she'll wind up in Luceti. Her name is Leia. Leia Organa Solo. After the Emperor took over the Republic, she was adopted by Bail Organa of Alderaan, as a means to hide her from Palpatine. He treated her as his own daughter, and raised to be an extremely skilled diplomat.

[He pauses, letting that sink in]

She fought in the Rebellion, and was extremely brave. Without her, I'd be dead a hundred times over. Now, in my timeline, she is married to a dear compatriot of ours, Han Solo. And...yes, in my timeline you are a grandfather. To the twins Jacen and Jaina, and...most suitably, their third child is named Anakin.

[He honestly smiles now. Hopefully, at least some of this will give Anakin the fortitude to accept that he did leave a good legacy, and not bad]

[It does. Anakin was already quite proud of Luke, and to now know he has a daughter as well. Twins. Padmé has twins. And he's going to have grandchildren, one of which is named after him. That's... astounding. Anakin can't hide the smile that creeps up on his face with that news. It even eases the pain of everything else.

Luke and Leia. He bets she looks just like Padmé.

...Padmé. Why wasn't it her that raised Leia? Leia being put into the hands of Bail Organa didn't concern him, it was the reason why. Was that something Padmé wanted? That doesn't make sense. He wants to just stay in that moment, forget all the bad things, but unfortunately it has to be short-lived. This is concerning him. He starts to frown.]

That's great. More than great, but... I have to ask, why was it Senator Organa that adopted her? You said it was to keep her hidden from Palpatine, was that something myself or Padmé decided?

Due to the situation, you and Padmé were not involved in the decision. It was done between Yoda, Obi-wan and Bail. You were not there when it was made.

[He glances at Luke and then Obi-wan before he looks back to Anakin and keeps going. He's keeping his voice even and calm, though he's watching Anakin's reactions to everything he's being told.]

Padmé...she died shortly after having Luke and Leia.

Edited 2012-03-28 01:20 (UTC)

[And suddenly it's like ice running through his veins. He can't process Leo's words.]

...w-what?

[He looks at Obi-Wan. Please, say that's not true. Please.]

[The easy way. He wasn't ready yet.

He wasn't ready.]

"She... she died in childbirth. There were complications. She lived long enough to name the children."

[... Long enough to tell me there was good in you. Long enough to give me a piece of her that I was too blind to understand the significance of.]

[He can't breathe. It can't be true. He would have saved her somehow, had to have saved her somehow. He'd never let her down like that. He wouldn't lose her like he lost his mother.

No. Nononono. He... failed. Again. Why could he never be powerful enough to save them?

He can feel himself start to break and for that moment, the Dark Side starting to rise within him is a welcome feeling. He can't live without Padmé. It's too devastating to even comprehend and there's a piece of Anakin that dies with those words. He cradles his head in his hands, choking on a sob. He wants to scream and to rage and to reach through the Force to break things in a tantrum. And it's starting to build within him to do just that. All the emotions begin to burn inside him, causing a few objects in the apartment to being to shake.]

[And there. It had happened, as Obi-Wan had feared it would. Anakin had lost control.]

"Anakin."

[He calmly reaches over and rests a hand on Anakin's shoulder, meeting his eyes, stern yet even, calm.]

"Listen to me. I know it hurts, but you can control your rage. You are better than this."

[The room! Ami's head snaps towards a few of the shaking objects, then back to Anakin, hurriedly. Her voice is still mild, but very firm, somehow able to carry through the room easily despite not seeming to use force.]

Listen to me. It's painful to hear this. But your chance of stopping it isn't this way. Your chance of stopping it, is to change something. And you can only change your own decisions.

[You can't save her by breaking this room and going into the Darkness that contributed to the tragedy in the first place. You can only stop it by a new path.]

You can't walk the path they told you about, if you want to stop the tragedy.

Edited 2012-03-28 04:05 (UTC)

Merde.

[It doesn't matter what is said now. No matter what changes Anakin makes, no matter his choices? It will play out as it already has, as it must. But telling him that would not keep him calm, and telling him to be calm will not make him calm. Forcing control? Will not help. He wishes to vent, he wants a target and considering who is closest? It would be Ben.

Shit. And this wasn't helping. Fear begets fear, anxiety reinforces paranoia. Death here lasts only a week.]

For you, she yet lives.

[Better to focus on when he would return, rather than what would happen. Especially since he would remember none of it.] When you leave this place? You return to her. And you might be happy for some time.

[He hears Ami and Adele speaking, but their words barely register. Happy for sometime? How can you be happy if when you go back home you'll be waiting for the woman you love more than anything to die. The future may not be set in stone, but knowing that that is the path it's going to go down is difficult. He's still going to try to do everything to stop it, but what will be the cost?

Anakin slowly lifts his head, turning his attention to Obi-Wan. Maybe he wasn't better than this, Master. You know he turns to the Dark Side—is that why you avoided him all these weeks? Will you just up and leave him again once they're done here? Maybe he doesn't want to control his anger.]

Am I? [It's like the hand on his shoulder almost burns. A distraught yell is the only warning given before Anakin lashes out at Obi-Wan, shoving the man away harshly with his mechanical arm and also the aid of the Force.]

[Obi-Wan is not a master of Soresu for nothing, but the blow catches him completely off guard nevertheless. He reels back, but manages to absorb the bulk of the blow, taking a step back but keeping his footing, torso turning to redirect the momentum.

His expression does not change. He turns to face Anakin, still serious, but still calm.]

"Yes. You always have been."

[This is quickly going south, fast. Luke knew something like this was bound to happen when the topic of Padme came up. Silently, he cursed Adele for her insensitivity, all the while asking the Force for guidance.

When Anakin's tantrum began, Luke did nothing, merely allowed his father to vent. He knew that Anakin would need to vent, and didn't think he could stop him. When he struck Obi-Wan, however, Luke stood up for the first time since the others had entered the room. He stepped between his father and Obi-Wan and laid his own mechanical hand on Anakin's shoulder.]

Father. You must quell your anger.

[Luke's tone was even, warm, and gentle. He knew far better than Obi-Wan just what it was like to lose control, and that sometimes anger was appropriate. But to strike another in a rage for trying to help wasn't acceptable.]

Obi-Wan is right. Ami is right. If you give in, then you risk undoing even the possibility of a happy ending. You are better than this.

Edited 2012-03-28 05:21 (UTC)

[He didn't want Luke to be right. He just wants to give into that anger and let it take control of him. His rage made him more powerful and that's what he needs. He needs more power to save Padmé. He was going to be strong enough to stop people from dying, he promised her that years ago.

But Luke's hand on his shoulder gets Anakin to stand down, even if his emotions were still burning within him like a furnace. He cradles his face in his hands again, ashamed and upset and just... lost.

He wanted them all to just go away.]

[Crap. He knew it would be coming. Yet he still feels some guilt that he was the one that started it. It's hard to keep calm in this situation, but he manages it. He gets to his feet too, willing to help. Even if he won't be much of a match against the force.]

They're right. You are better than this Anakin. It's hard but...don't give in to the anger.

[Luke's eyes meet Anakin's, trying to get him to listen. Responding with more pressure would just make it worse, so Luke again tries the warm approach of an estranged son.]

Its alright, Anakin. I know you're feeling lost, and confused. Believe me, I've been there. But you don't have to give in to the rage. Here, you've been given a chance to do the right thing, and walk the Light path. Be strong, Anakin, and things can be set to rights. The Dark Side can't save Padme, but if you let go of your anger, and don't let fear cloud your judgement then you can find a way.

[A pause]

We. Together, all of us. WE can find a way.

[...oh, Luke. Anakin could have never asked for a greater son than you. No matter how dark things seem right now, Luke manages to shine through it and keep Anakin from completely falling. He's not sure how much of a father he was, or if at all with how bleak his future looks, but he's so truly grateful for Luke's presence right now.

He takes a deep breath, nodding slowly.]

It's hard. All I can do is try—for her. And for you and your sister. I just... I don't even know where to begin. [He's so lost right now. How much time does he even have?]

[Still bearing that warm smile, Luke just nods and keeps his gaze steadily fixed on Anakin]

You've already taken the first step. Learning from, and focusing your anger into something productive. Thats the most important step, letting go of your fury, and channeling that into a conduit for the Light.

[Yes, he said that Obi-Wan. Gape away!]

There is a furnace in you, Anakin, as there is in me. The Force is strong in our family. But managing that power isn't something that comes easily. Release that anger, let it go. This isn't the place for it. In time, I'm sure the Force will guide us towards a solution.

For now, all we can do is accept that we are fortunate to have each other. [He gestures to everyone in the room] I asked the others to come not because I was worried you'd lose your temper, but because I wanted you to know that these are people who can help you, and that you can count on. Each one of them has something special. Wisdom, insight, experience, serenity. I feel that together, we can begin to take steps to prevent the bleakness of my past and your future.

Edited 2012-03-28 07:30 (UTC)

[As Luke speaks Anakin takes that moment to try and calm himself, just trying to focus on his words over the hurt and the anguish. He's not even sure how he's going to be able to let that anger go, suppressing any of his emotions was always something he couldn't do, let alone rage. It was a lot to ask, but... maybe there was hope.

He is fortunate. So very fortunate for Luke, and for all of them, really. Though he doesn't turn his attention away from Luke, Anakin can still sense the others' presence in the room and he acknowledges it. He hadn't even known most of them for very long, but here they were to offer some support. He doesn't really know what to say anymore. They all had to witness that outburst as he started to break. And Obi-Wan... he didn't deserve to be lashed out at like that, at all. How could he have done that to the man who was his best friend?

He's emotionally drained and can't really muster up more than a murmur when he speaks again.]

Thank you. All of you. I don't know what more I can say.

[Leo slowly moves to sit down again as he watches. Keeping his own emotions in check, they certainly won't help. He nods to Luke's words, he really doesn't need to add anything. What's being said, and what has been said, were the right things. Not much else needs to be said.

He nods at Anakin's murmur too.]

You don't need to say anything.

"I cannot speak for anybody else present, but you never need to explain yourself to me."

[Obi-Wan tries to meet Anakin's eye. Tries to find some hint, however small, of the trust that Anakin used to have in him.]

"You're my brother, Anakin. I love you."

[He feels like he does, though. Now more than ever. Obi-Wan was just as important to him as Padmé was but he hasn't been very appreciative of him, not at all. Anakin has defied and even at times resented him, because he's selfish. Too selfish to see Obi-Wan really did care about him. And that's all he wanted. Those words almost sting to hear because he doesn't deserve them, not anymore.

He's really screwed everything up, hasn't he? And now here he was, in a pathetic, miserable mess from his own decisions.

Anakin looks up at Obi-Wan, meeting his eyes. His face contorts into anguish again and he's barely able to hold his composure. He's so sorry. Sorry for being such an ungrateful brat, sorry for completely failing you and letting you down. He can't hold the gaze for long, having to drop his head in shame. It takes him a few seconds before he's able to speak again.]

How can you even still say that? I've let you down. If I just would have listened—[If he wouldn't have been so selfish and egotistical. He took everything for granted.] I'm sorry, Obi-Wan.

With love comes understanding. Forgiveness. You are all but kin to him Anakin. Brothers in all but blood and name; he has not, and will not blame you for anything.

[Her voice is soft, gentle. Kinder than her earlier statements. Adele doesn't approach, this is something between Luke, Ben, and Anakin. This family that fate rent asunder.]

We cannot change the past. No one can, nor should we wish to do so. All anyone can do work to do better in the future. And here? You will not be alone in this.

[Luke nods, smiling and glad that Adele had found a gentler voice]

No Adele, thats not quite true. Anakin, Obi-Wan, and myself? We are a family. A family united by the Force.

[Taking some initiative, he offers a hand to both Anakin and Obi-Wan]

Dad...you're a Sith Lord waiting to happen...

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If this is too much, let me know and I'll edit

nah, you're good!

Ohohoho, man.

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ohhhhhhhdear and we take the downward turn

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