Prescribed Recreation part 3: Chillax'n with a Vengeance

[fleurdesel]

Who: House 44, House 46, House 3, Saori, Steve Rogers, and whoever wanders in
What: Movie night on the beach
When: September 9th, in the evening
Where: The Beach
Summary: After an unfortunate tussle with a Chaos God, work on a farm, a swarm of refugees and stress piled upon stress, sometimes all anyone wants is to sit back and watch classic movies.
Rating: PG for possible adult language
Something that everyone could agree on was this: the past three weeks had been several shades of stressful. What they needed, what they all needed was something mindless and relaxing shared in the company of those they care for in a neutral environment. The beach works well enough, and it's not that far a trip for anyone involved.

Comments

[averybadfeeling]

[He pauses in his work and turns to face her.]

"Yes, Adele?"

[fleurdesel]

[She's quiet, almost uncharacteristically tentative. Be direct, take your time, she simply isn't certain how to go about discussing this in the slightest. It doesn't help.]

I had a question, if you've time to answer.

[averybadfeeling]

"I am hardly a busy man of late, Adele, and I've always time for you."

[fleurdesel]

[It's something she knows, bu hearing him state it plain has her smiling, soft and fond.]

I was wondering what you made of Luke's relationship with Ami. How it stands against your own interpretation of the tenants of the order.

[averybadfeeling]

"Oh, I trust Luke's interpretation. It... differs, from what I am used to, but I can hardly argue with Nomi Sunrider, can I?"

[fleurdesel]

Then Master Sunrider spoke to you about allowing oneself attachments?

[averybadfeeling]

"She did. She suggested I do the same, but old habits are... difficult to break."

[He glances at her.]

"I believe I meant to mention it last time we were here. Before our conversation was interrupted."

[fleurdesel]

The Malnosso always do seem to have the worst sense of timing.

[She checks the beach around them out of habit. Once was bad enough, really.]

Did you come to any satisfactory conclusions?

[averybadfeeling]

"... Logically, the idea struck me as sound. Emotionally..."

[He averts his gaze again.]

"I believe you recall how that incident affected my emotions."

[fleurdesel]

...I am sorry, Ben. I should have continued to run.

[It's easy enough to reach across and brush his hand with her own slender fingers.]

[averybadfeeling]

[He holds up a hand to interrupt the train of thought.]

"Don't... don't start that business now, Adele. It's such a lovely evening, and self-recrimination will only spoil it."

[... The other hand, though, takes hers with the casual ease that has by now become second-nature.]

[fleurdesel]

[She goes quiet at that, lips curling into a smile. So he's as equally aware of their patterns as she. After a moment she squeezes his hand, looking back up at him with eyes brightened by amusement.]

As you wish, Chevalier.

[averybadfeeling]

"Good."

[He chuckles, his gaze sliding back out to the ocean.]

"Might I ask what brought on that sudden curiosity?"

[fleurdesel]

Contemplating attachments, and how they align with what you and Luke have been teaching me. My previous experience with them, mulling over my failed marriage, what happened with Irving though that counts for terribly little, and what happened with Rick, brief as it was.

I'm trying to...compartmentalize less.

[averybadfeeling]

"Ah, I see."

[He shrugs.]

"Our code is not meant to be universal. It is meant to channel our gifts into total devotion to preserving peace and order, without falling to our lesser nature. It comes at the expense of a normal life, rather than to enhance or enrich a normal life."

[fleurdesel]

Ben, terribly little in my life has been normal, even by my own standards.

[A faint attempt at humor, though it does give her pause. How to phrase this next.]

And love, that is considered to be falling to one's lesser nature?

[averybadfeeling]

"Certainly not... to most. For some, however, the emotions it brings can take a toll, as happened with Anakin."

[He's not as reluctant to speak of Anakin as he once was, but the subject does bring up a pang of regret that even now, with all of his composure, still causes him to falter.]

"... Luke is a man who has run the gamut of emotions in his time, and we can see he has emerged a noble man. Not all are so strong."

[fleurdesel]

[She should have known that name would come up in their discussion. It was inevitable, but not her intent to bring up those memories for Ben. For a moment she's still, then she reaches over with her other hand, adding it to their entwined fingers. Cradle's Ben's worn palm against hers and gives it a squeeze.]

Do you doubt your won strength, Ben?

[averybadfeeling]

[He pauses, considering the question for a moment.]

"... I'm honestly uncertain. I attacked in anger when Qui-Gon was killed, and I nearly killed in anger when Siri Tachi was killed. And when Anakin fell... my love for him distracted me. It made me vulnerable, and my reluctance could have been my undoing.

For all that those around me may consider me overly disciplined, I believe it entirely possible that my emotions are not disciplined enough."

[There was another, more recent example of his emotional over-involvement, but-

Well, best not to bring that up.]

[fleurdesel]

I am sensing something of a trend. When you care the most you react with greater volatility. What happened with your Master...there was no other path to be taken. With Siri, you could have, but did not kill. Anakin you loved too well, and to him you extended a necessary mercy.

[Her voice is low and soft, honest but gentle. Kinder than she normally offered anyone when discussing matters of anger and loss.]

I think you are as disciplined as you should be.

[averybadfeeling]

"I hope you're right."

[He laughs slightly and shakes his head.]

"Oh, honestly, listen to me. We know already how my story ends, we watched it with our own eyes. Once I return to Tatooine, there will be no fall to the dark side, no temptation. No emotional disturbances.

I suppose that what I once told you is true of myself, as well. This place, this is what remains of my life. After this, it is simply a matter of fulfilling my final duty to Anakin and to the Republic."

[fleurdesel]

[It seemed, for a moment, that they were on the same page. That she could take the next step in their discussion and bring it from a general musing on attachment to a personal one.


And then the unconscious redirection of the topic. Inadvertent Soresu. Merde. perhaps a different angle if attack.]

Would it not be better, then, to make the most of the life you are to lead here?

[averybadfeeling]

"I should hope that I already am."

[fleurdesel]

There is...[How to phrase this?] Nothing more you might wish for to make your life more fulfilling while you are here?

[averybadfeeling]

"My needs are met, I am surrounded by those I care about... I suppose the only true trouble in my life is the Malnosso, and even they, I know, can only maintain their power for so long."