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[ezra_of_lothal]

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[ezra_of_lothal]

Ezra raises his eyebrows, and says slowly, sounding severely unimpressed, "I think I see now why Anakin kinda threw a fit when I told him that in Temba Master Kenobi was doing his best for three of us who were padawan level."

[hasmuchtolearn]

Obi-Wan goes quiet and looks down again. A sigh coming from him.

“Like I said. I’m not the one for this.”

[ezra_of_lothal]

Another frown.

"....that's not remotely what I meant. I was more thinking that moment would have made an impression on Anakin. Both that the one padawan, one master rule was important, and that his natural talent made him important enough for Master Jinn to make that pronouncement, anyway. And look, I'm not sure not training him was really an option. That would have, what, potentially put him in a position that Sidious could have been his sole major influence, so much earlier, right? What I was thinking is - Master Kenobi took us on because we were all half trained and he was the one who was there to step up. Not because any of us were extra special. I can't speak for Grogu or Padawan Kestis-"

Ezra's tone firms to steel lined convinction, "But, in every time and place, he always did his best to look after me and he never steered me wrong."

[hasmuchtolearn]

Oh. Obi-Wan runs a hand through his short hair as he listens with a thoughtful frown.

“It seems to me that your group had extenuating circumstances. We have our rules, but the masters are not without reason and understanding. Sounds like Anakin wasn’t nearly so forgiving.”

He’s trying to direct the conversation away from himself now. Because he’s not Master Kenobi. He’s Padawan Kenobi. A version that lacks wisdom and experience. There was no certainty he wouldn’t steer someone wrong.

[ezra_of_lothal]

"No, he-" Ezra outright grimaces. "Honestly? He's the only person who ever tried to tell me I was being lied to, or lying to myself, in believing that I could be a Jedi. Can't help but think there's some major projection, going on there."

[hasmuchtolearn]

Obi-Wan just gives Ezra a horrified look, that then turns pained.

“Why… how could anyone say such a thing?”

[ezra_of_lothal]

"I can't say for sure." He tilts his head thoughtfully.

"But Maul's the only person who told me - not that my temper could just be a problem, but that it was 'unbecoming of a Jedi' to be even momentarily angry at him. So I have to wonder if it was some nonsense Sidious fed both of them. That Jedi have impossible, rigid, hypocritical standards, so why even try to rise above the pull of the Darkside."

[hasmuchtolearn]

“Maul wouldn’t have the first clue what it’s like to be a Jedi. Anakin though…”

Obi-Wan sighs in despair, because Anakin should know better. Why… why was he like this? If he had been raised a Sith that would be one thing. Even with Palpatine’s influence, Anakin should have been surrounded by Jedi. It distressed him so that he ended up like this. The more he heard about it the worse it seemed to get.

[ezra_of_lothal]

Ezra offers a rueful smile. "I shared a house with him for over a year, on and off, and I still couldn't tell you what was going on in his head most of the time. But Leia is willing to trust us, I think. That's important."