"What if there isn't time to call for help, though?" Ezra presses. "What if I have to do something right then?" Technically, that hadn't been the case this time, but there have been times before where time wasn't a luxury he had. The comforting squeeze assures him that Qui-Gon has forgiven him, but still. But still. Something like this could happen again in the future, and he doesn't want his teacher to think he just didn't listen.
"If that's the case, then it's safe to assume you didn't go to find trouble, and that trouble has found you instead. This is also an innate trait of a Jedi."
Yes, that's a joke he's cracking. Just a tiny one, though.
"In such a scenario, you do what you can to contain the situation. That includes securing the safety of anyone around you and calling for help, whether it be through the Force or through the amulets."
Qui-Gon pauses for another moment as he removes his hand, confident that Ezra understands this has gone from chastisement to real advice for a very real possibility.
"You said before you didn't want to see me hurt again. The same goes for you, Ezra. I don't want to discover something terrible has happened to you when I could have done something to prevent it."
Qui-Gon may have thought he was done chastising Ezra here, but he still manages to make Ezra duck his head with another twinge of guilt. "I didn't think of it like that.
...I'm sorry."
Sometimes it's still a bit of a foreign feeling to have people worry about him.
It's a good thing Ezra's head is ducked down, because that certainly is a wince that crosses across Qui-Gon's face. It wouldn't do well for the boy's pride to see his mentor pity him so overtly, that's for sure. As such, Qui-Gon's hand returns to Ezra's shoulder, this time briskly rubbing at the blade. This isn't the time for pedantic nomenclature correction, so he lets that 'try' slip. He understands Ezra's intent just fine without it.
"I know you will."
Qui-Gon's hand reaches down from the young Padawan's shoulder to gently raise his chin so Ezra's eyes can meet the old Jedi's warm gaze.
No, just as well that Ezra missed the pity there, and even better that he didn't lecture about 'do's and 'try's. Neither would have done anything but make Ezra defensive.
Not expecting gentle commendation, though, Ezra blinks in surprise, caught off guard enough to allow Qui-Gon to lift his chin up. It takes another second for it to sink in - really sink in. Did he really hear Qui-Gon right?
"I do?" A beat. "But I still keep making mistakes."
“If you know of someone who’s never made a mistake, please let me know. I’d very much like to meet them,” Qui-Gon laughs.
His hand retreats to his side, where it hangs relaxed, much like the rest of his posture. The tension from the start of the conversation has ebbed away, leaving the Jedi Master’s more familiar compassionate side at the forefront. Anger and negativity don’t tend to linger when it comes to Qui-Gon. He’s learned to let go of such things a long time ago, the rare outlying situation aside.
“You’re still learning, Ezra. As you experience more, your instincts will develop and you’ll grow from the moments they lead you astray.”
Stars above, Qui-Gon’s instincts have provided him with plenty of those learning opportunities. The smile on his face says as much.
“That said,” he continues, “I expect you to exercise more caution in the future. Understood?”
A small, hesitant smile tugs on Ezra's lips, as much in response to Qui-Gon's smile as to the light jest-that-wasn't-a-jest. Or maybe it was just the unspoken faith in that expectation, that Qui-Gon really thinks he can do better.
"Yes, sir," he says - and if that title of respect is one he used more in the other memories than he's ever done in the real past, well, maybe it's not so bad to be respectful every once in a while, even to someone who's not his adoptive father. "I'll do my best."
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2018-01-06 12:10 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-01-06 05:13 am (UTC)Yes, that's a joke he's cracking. Just a tiny one, though.
"In such a scenario, you do what you can to contain the situation. That includes securing the safety of anyone around you and calling for help, whether it be through the Force or through the amulets."
Qui-Gon pauses for another moment as he removes his hand, confident that Ezra understands this has gone from chastisement to real advice for a very real possibility.
"You said before you didn't want to see me hurt again. The same goes for you, Ezra. I don't want to discover something terrible has happened to you when I could have done something to prevent it."
no subject
Date: 2018-01-09 12:13 am (UTC)...I'm sorry."
Sometimes it's still a bit of a foreign feeling to have people worry about him.
"I'll try to do better next time."
no subject
Date: 2018-01-09 05:50 am (UTC)It's a good thing Ezra's head is ducked down, because that certainly is a wince that crosses across Qui-Gon's face. It wouldn't do well for the boy's pride to see his mentor pity him so overtly, that's for sure. As such, Qui-Gon's hand returns to Ezra's shoulder, this time briskly rubbing at the blade. This isn't the time for pedantic nomenclature correction, so he lets that 'try' slip. He understands Ezra's intent just fine without it.
"I know you will."
Qui-Gon's hand reaches down from the young Padawan's shoulder to gently raise his chin so Ezra's eyes can meet the old Jedi's warm gaze.
"Because you always do."
no subject
Date: 2018-01-17 03:14 pm (UTC)Not expecting gentle commendation, though, Ezra blinks in surprise, caught off guard enough to allow Qui-Gon to lift his chin up. It takes another second for it to sink in - really sink in. Did he really hear Qui-Gon right?
"I do?" A beat. "But I still keep making mistakes."
no subject
Date: 2018-01-17 04:00 pm (UTC)His hand retreats to his side, where it hangs relaxed, much like the rest of his posture. The tension from the start of the conversation has ebbed away, leaving the Jedi Master’s more familiar compassionate side at the forefront. Anger and negativity don’t tend to linger when it comes to Qui-Gon. He’s learned to let go of such things a long time ago, the rare outlying situation aside.
“You’re still learning, Ezra. As you experience more, your instincts will develop and you’ll grow from the moments they lead you astray.”
Stars above, Qui-Gon’s instincts have provided him with plenty of those learning opportunities. The smile on his face says as much.
“That said,” he continues, “I expect you to exercise more caution in the future. Understood?”
no subject
Date: 2018-01-29 02:17 am (UTC)"Yes, sir," he says - and if that title of respect is one he used more in the other memories than he's ever done in the real past, well, maybe it's not so bad to be respectful every once in a while, even to someone who's not his adoptive father. "I'll do my best."
What his best would actually be...
Well, they'd just have to find that out together.