Before - Legends Same Time Next Year--the official thread for all Qui-Gon/Noela stories--Updated 1/30

Hi, all. I recently wrote a fun little piece for Valentine's Day called Cruel and Unusual Romance that introduced Noela Ovorp, Senator extraordinaire and the idea of Jedi going on one date every year to take away their urge to have romance. Thanks to Noelie, I not only have a billion plot bunnies but a prequel to that story. As a result, we thought that we should create a thread for the collection of stories involving Qui-Gon and this time-honored tradition.

So, to start it off, I'm going to post the story that started it all and we'll go from there. Here is "Cruel and Unusual Romance"
****
It was a time-honored tradition, but something that no one particularly wanted to acknowledge. Worst of all, like most time-honored traditions, it was both an embarrassment and a service opportunity. Nevertheless, every twelfth day of the second month, the Jedi could anticipate the arrival of their assignments.

They were delivered quietly sometime during the night without fanfare or knowledge of who dispersed the datacards. Some of the younger ones would anticipate the event with such great trepidation that they would wait until their Masters were asleep and then keep a silent vigil beside the front door.

It was said to be one of the greatest lessons that a Jedi could learn if he applied himself properly to the task at hand, but those who had experienced it knew that it usually ended in something equivalent to heartache and tears.

The older group was divided in its perspective, since most held sympathy for those who were not accustomed to it, but others gloated over the inexperience of their younger compatriots and took every opportunity to make the situation worse.

The assignments pleased no one, but they were normally accepted with both resignation and obedience.

For the most part, that is.

Obi-Wan could remember his first assignment as if he were still twelve years old. He had been chartered by the Chandrilan delegation and it was considered both an easy task and a great honor, but he had made the mistake of attempting to blot out the entire event in a most inappropriate manner.

To whit, he had accepted the Chandrilan cognac that was offered every few minutes in order to 'loosen up' as his Master had counseled. He had woken up the next morning half-dressed on the streets of Coruscant, head throbbing both from the hangover and the fact that he had run into Master Yoda sometime during the night.

In the four years since that debacle, he had learned both temperance and humility in facing this challenge, but it didn't make the event any easier.

"Stop watching the door," Qui-Gon commanded sternly. "Sitting next to it until the break of dawn won't hasten the delivery."

"No," Obi-Wan agreed gloomily, "but I'll get first crack at it, as they say."

He seemed to be more eager than the previous year, which suggested that he had an ulterior motive, but it was difficult these days to find a Jedi who didn't.

"You have your eye on anything in particular this year?"

"Not at all," Obi-wan muttered, peering intently under the crack of the door to spy the approaching messengers.

"There is nothing to be worried about," Qui-Gon soothed. "It wil be a learning experience to say the least."

Obi-wan turned a reproachful glare on him. "I'm sure you'd be just as anxious as I am if you hadn't been on the short-list of the Alderaanian delegation for the last thirty years."

It was true that his assignment had been almost exclusively Alderaanian since his days as a Padawan and that was one of the more enjoyable aspects of this much-anticipated fiasco. The administrative aide that he had met in his third year and who was now the senior Senator was a good friend in particular.

This is ridiculous.

"Padawan," Qui-gon barked, "if you don't move in three seconds, I'm going to have to assign you to minding the younglings for the next three months."

Within two seconds, Obi-wan had demonstrated remarkable agility in scrambling to the other side of the room.

"I'm up! I'm up!" he yelped

 

I did this just for Ish and the Provo Fan force chapter so that I will fit in.

Please don't sue me.

~~~~~
I am Noela Asenath Ovorp. I was born 15 years ago on the 24th day of the 10th month, galaxy standard years. My home world in my humble opinion, (this is an oxymoron, for most often my opinions are anything but humble) is the most beautiful of any, even Naboo.

I survey myself critically even as I write this in the old-fashioned hand my grandmother took great pains to make sure I understood, over all the technological advances of our worlds. I am not a great beauty, and as many mornings as I pray it will be different, I have come to accept that galaxy-shattering looks will never be mine. I am however, pretty in that wonderful non-descript way that allows me to indulge in my favorite entertainment of people watching. I have hitched my mass of brown hair up into a clip, and what I do see that I like are the eyes I was granted by genetic blessing from my grandmother.

Grandmother. Our family is of two minds on this extraordinary lady. Mine is the same as my father and grandfather. We adore her and believe her utterly, even if much of what she says has no context for our understanding. Others think she is merely a very charming, safe but insane eccentric. You see, my grandmother believes that she is from a place very far away, so far that we have not even been to her world of birth. It was from this world that she granted those in our family that asked, names from her tradition. My father of course asked, over the protestation of my mother, who loves my grandmother, but does not believe her and is still peeved that my father encouraged my belief in my grandmothers? stories, so my middle name became Asenath: She who belongs to Neir, goddess of Wisdom.

This is all becoming too serious; somehow I have to stop being fifty in a 14 year-old body. . Yes indeed, I can relate more of this as this journal proceeds, but it doesn?t match the flip-flop of happiness the flitterbugs in my stomach are accomplishing. I met someone today here on Coruscant and I have finished reporting the events to my grandmother by commlink. That venerable lady told me that something momentous had happened and if I did not have a journal just for this relationship, I would regret it in my future.

I have been working at an aide in the office of the Alderaanian embassy here on Coruscant, and I was informed last week that I was the perfect age for an agonizing tradition between the diplomatic offices and the Jedi Temple. I of course protested that I would be perfectly fine without this mercy date forced upon me, and that surely there would be some daughter of a senator or other such dignitary that would be far more appropriate.

No such luck. Said daughters had all refused, leaving various office staff, including myself and since I was deemed semi-presentable, I was the one chosen. I hate that clause ?other jobs as assigned? written into my contract. I swallowed my frustration and waited for the call. Who knows what I would find myself having to spend the evening with. I only prayed to the God of my grandmother that it wouldn?t be something that would mistake me for dinner.

The next several days the other office clerks regaled me with every tale they had ever heard about Jedi, and my presumed fate. At first I found it absurd, but then I could not ignore some of what they were telling me. Would my ?date? mind control me and make me do things I would not normally do? I had called grandmamma in a panic, and she reminded me that once she had been a member of a people that lies and myths were told about. ?Little one, you have been trained well to accept and make friends with all living beings. Just remember those rules of life I have taught you. You will succeed beautifully and you might make a wonderful new friend. Concern yourself with only being the best friend to all living things, and nothing will go wrong.?

Still I was nervous when my commlink went off on the 12th day of the 2nd month, and the other office clerks surrounded

 

I like the balance you struck between her being a young woman and someone who can be naturally awkward, but still loveable.

 

On to part two. None of this comes easily folks, so be kind to someone who swore she is not a writer!
~~~~~

I spent the next two days doing what all women in my predicament have done since time immemorial: Worrying about what I should wear and how I should act. If I was about to go to my doom as a fool of epic proportions, I wanted to at least look as well as I could. My best friend, Marjamne was intrigued by the upcoming event, and I would have given anything had my younger sister been old enough to be an apprentice in training so she could help to. I could always count on her for an honest opinion, called for or not.

?Honestly Noela, your white robe is perfect for you. Keep it simple and comfortable. You always look y our best if you stay away from too much extra frou-frou. Besides it is only a Jedi, and he is not eligible as a mate anyway.?

?Why?? I questioned absently, more interested in matching what little jewelry I had to the outfit, than in the little tidbit she was handing out like sweeties.

?I swear Noela, you are clueless about so many things. They are forbidden romantic attachments. The rumor even has it that they brainwash them away from love, although I know from a couple of girls at the university, that they are not necessarily celibate. Not that any of this is going to affect what is essentially a diplomatic affair.?

?No I expect not. We will probably do this one event, and I will bore him to tears, and that will be the end of it.?

She shook her head in consternation at me, and left for her course work at the University. I was to meet him in only a few hours, but until it was time for me to get ready, I had a few other duties at work to complete.

My co-workers despaired of getting my attention on work the rest of the afternoon, so they sent me early to get ready. Simple, my friend said, so simple is what I decided. I carefully took another look and deemed myself presentable, and gathered up my cloak against the cold winter evening air. I promptly crashed into the doorframe leaving my room. Rubbing my shoulder and the red mark I just caused myself, I kept repeating ?you go through door frames Noela, not into them. It is a simple rule, why have you never learned it?? Sighing, I knew it was useless. If we went through any doors this evening I was sure to repeat my performance.

Although it was winter out, the gardens were still gorgeous and frequented by many who found their presence calm and restful. I sank to a bench, to wait and closed my eyes, attempting to breathe deeply to calm myself.

?Noela??

Oh gods, it was his voice, and I opened my eyes to catch a glimpse of my escort. He was framed by sunlight, and so while I could not see his face, his height, although not the full adulthood length he would reach, was already impressive for a young age. As I moved to stand to get a better look, he held out his hand for me, again reinforcing that somewhere this young man was taught to be a gentleman. His stance and figure gave the sinewy impression of the warrior they were training him to be, and his poise was something I could only hope to emulate.

When my gaze reached his face however, I was stunned. It wasn?t that he was the most handsome young man I had ever met; it was simply that he was the most beautiful, and I again found myself praying silently to the god of my grandmother that if indeed she was right and he was the author of the universe that he do nothing to ever change this young man but to make him, well more him.

He was smiling at me, and I found the warmth of friendship in his eyes. ?Shall we go, lady? I have found a new little bistro The 23rd Hour tucked quietly away near the Temple. I thought we could share an adventure to begin a friendship, and try something no one knows anything about..? I nodded and he led me to where our waiting transport was parked.

I wish I could tell you I remember the trip, but mostly I was over-awed by his soul. As we arrived at the destination, he hopped out of the vehicle to help me out. I had forgotten in

 

Oh that was wonderful Noelie! just perfect. Great job, especially your first foray into writing here! Bravo, you should continue.

 

I agree. A continuation would be most appropriate. You had a very good grasp of Qui-gon in this last part, especially and set this up very well for what is to follow.

 

Thank you Katey I may try it again when I manage to catch my breath. All I know is my attempt made Ish accountably happy!

I hope you had a really good Birthday!

 

"I never thought I'd feel old."

Noela was halfway across the living room, but he could still see the roll of her eyes at his comment. "You're not old, Qui-gon," she protested. "You're just no longer..."

"Young?"

She grimaced. "Not the word I was looking for, Knight Jinn."

Now it was his turn to grimace. "And that title makes me feel younger than springtime," he groused.

"It makes you sound venerable," Noela corrected. "Dignified. Grown-up."

"Old," he repeated.

It was getting to be very difficult to keep a grin off her face. He could tell these things, especially with someone he'd known for as many years as the woman who had gone from a glorified secretary to a respected Ambassador for Alderaan.

"If Yoda heard you complaining about being a Knight at the ripe old age of twenty-five," she reminded, "you wouldn't be able to walk for a week."

"True."

She checked her watch. "All right," she said with mock severity, "you've had your ten minutes to grouse and if you continue in this vein, we're not going to make our reservation."

It was her typical, efficient way of dealing with things, but she knew him too well and therefore, her attempts to cut him off were more a product of her tendency to mother him. This, of course, included her tendency to rescue him from self-pity.

"All right," he sighed. "I'll forget for the rest of the night that I have every reason to complain."

She looked at him with one of the flatly disbelieving stares that never failed to exasperate him, but shook her head and headed for the door to the kitchen.

"I'll get my coat," she explained over her shoulder, "and then we'll remember that we're supposed to enjoy this one night a year."

With that, she officially made him feel guilty. They hadn't managed to arrange for her to be his escort in six years and they had sworn that Hoth and high water would not ruin this year's event. As a result, he'd made reservations at the 23rd Hour and consulted Dex, his friendly neighborhood fry-cook on where he should take a young lady for a night of dancing. Not that he could dance particularly well, but they were a perfect match with her tendency to run into things and his unnatural ability to step on toes.

All in all, it promised to be an enjoyable evening and he had looked forward to it.

Right up to the moment when the Council called him out of his sparring to Knight him.

It had been as much a shock as an honor, since they had clandestinely gone about the procedures of administering the Trials, but had followed his Master's counsel to avoid mentioning them for fear of making him nervous. They had also reasoned that he would perform better when he didn't know what was about to hit him.

The age argument, however, was a mask for the fact that he felt there was a severe error in thinking that he was ready for this role, even at the traditional age of Knighting.

He would not, however, let that stand in the way of treating Noela Ovorp as she deserved. Newly resolved, he headed for the kitchen to tell her so.

And headed straight into the swinging door.
*****
Qui-Gon hadn't made a single sound since she sought out her overcoat, but she suspected that he was calming himself rather than sulking. For all his bluster, it did not seem in his nature to dwell on things like this for long.

Especially when it was his annual duty to act the perfect gentleman.

The sound she encountered upon opening the door, however, was anything but what should come out of the mouth of a dock-hand on Sluis Van, much less a perfect gentleman or Jedi Knight.

He was nowhere to be seen, so she simply followed the sound of his fluent cursing to the other side of the door.

She immediately wished she hadn't been curious enough to look. There seemed to be blood everywhere and his head was lolling as if he had been knocked senseless.

"You..."

"I'm sorry!" Noela gasped. "I didn't mean to..."

"You..."

"I'll call the Healers," she promised, hand fumbling for her commlink.

 

The was too funny. My sons of course would wonder just what words he was using!

 

How to Handle a Woman.
-~~~~~~
Qui-Gon pretended that he wasn?t counting minutes, but he was well aware that it was time for the daily delivery and his attempt to gain back his place in her good graces.

He had almost given up hope that Dex was correct in his advice on how to handle the situation, but there really was no one that would be more qualified to help him work out the problem.

?Sonny, this time you really did it, and it is going to take patience and finesse to get yourself out of hot water. Don?t forget to send the flowers daily, and make a follow up call with each delivery.? Dex had patted him on the shoulder in male commiseration at that point, but then reminded forcefully, ?when she does finally start talking again you are going to face the female equivalent of a refuse dumpster. At that point remember only these three phrases, and repeat them until she has worn herself out: Yes dear, No dear, and I?m so sorry, dear. If you say anything else before that point you will be back to the same pile of poodoo you began with.?

Dutifully he began to send the flowers. Each day at the 3rd hour of the afternoon they were to arrive and he would just as dutifully call at the 4th hour. She refused to take his call for the first nine days and then on the tenth day came a ray of hope.

?Stop calling you misbegotten son of a Sith!?

So the conversation wasn?t long, but at least he was able to hear her voice once more. Four more days went by until now without another word. With trepidation the minutes grew closer to his 4th hour call. About the moment he decided it was time to call, his commlink went off with her familiar beep.

?Knight Jinn, tell me what I have to do to make you stop turning my office into a greenhouse!?

Knight Jinn. At least she was giving clear indication on just how angry she was. That hurt far worse than the ?son of a Sith? comment.

?Noela, J?m, just talk to me again. Tell me you forgive me,? he pleaded.

?Don?t gem me, you, you??

He braced himself for what would come next.

?Qui-Gon I can handle the fact that you use the code or the force as a convenient excuse to suit your purpose even when it directly involves us. I can handle the fact that you come complete with a little green gnome that doesn?t seem to find it problematic when you go home with the blonde of the week, but sees me as the mother of future Sith if I make the mistake of doing anything that leads to ?attachment?, whatever that means. It isn?t fair!?

?No, dear it isn?t.? He congratulated himself on passing that hurdle and now realized just how frightening the ?refuse dumpster? truly is. He found himself mentally bowing to every man that ever committed to any woman as the giants among men.

?I have even handled with grace your attempts to make any other man forget he actually knows me. I was patient with the fact that Michand thought I was some strange female stalker when I returned his personal items including his fathers shaving kit, because he didn?t remember our six month, moving-it-to-the-next-level relationship with that one little movement of your hand when you saw us at the Governor?s reception?

Okay so she had a point, but he couldn?t let anyone else mess up his yearly date, and besides Michand was a half-wit; a handsome, debonair, rich half-wit, but still a half-wit.

Still following Dex?s masterful advice he parroted, ?Yes dear, you have been most patient.?

?I am able to deal with the fact your little stunt put my newest aide in the mental trauma ward for post traumatic stress problems. I am even able to manage the ever-increasing consequences of you placing the Ambassador from SanaVi ?el in danger, with a lower percentage of interest on loan monies, and more outright grants for the damage and loss of life from electrical storms on their planet. I am able to deal with all of the ?pets? you feel free to bestow on me from time to time, because the Temple regularly threatens you with expulsion. What I can?t deal with is that 2 meter tall serpent that had the audacity to walk

 

::Laughing hysterically.:: When will Qui-Gon learn?

 

Hmmm, looks like Qui-Gon's in a bit of trouble.

This is so cute and funny, Noelie and Ish! As a clumsy person who occasionally walks into doorframes herself, I sympathize with and really like Noela.

Great work!

 

Thank you so much! I finally discovered that writing can be like playing with dolls You can take stories out, change their outfits and put them back when you are done!

 

Noelie! I'm glad you helped me find this. This is hilarious!

He knew it was a mistake the minute it left his lips. He knew that he had failed miserably in the consummate advice Dex gave him, but he couldn?t help himself. ?That it has amazing taste in women??

The connection went dead with a violent click.

Resigned, he called the florists and arranged for yet another delivery.


ROTFL!!!

Great job!!

 

Author: Noelie
Characters: Qui-Gon Jinn, OC's one of which is DarthIshtars and she lets me play with and one I am introducing today, Noela's younger sister Meredith.

_____



What little girls are made of

Noela?s commlink buzzed in that familiar tone, all too familiar after the last few weeks. She smiled knowing however that her wrath had now burned itself out, and that she could no more continue to be angry with him than she could one of her own family.

?Yes Jinn? What do you want now?? She inquired in her very best ?Ambassador about town? voice.

?Just tell me what I have to do. I don?t understand.? He pleaded. There was something deliciously right about having a Jedi Knight at your beck and call, but Noela knew it was high time to let him off the hook. Besides she would be leaving tomorrow to continue some of the negotiations and relief work on SanaVi?el. The myth of the monster serpent and the fair maiden was now a popular folklore on that planet, and had actually garnered some prestige for her office.

Besides it wouldn?t do to teach little Mere bad words to have to explain to Grandmamma when she returned to Alderaan.

?Nothing,? she said simply.

?J?m, please forgive me,? he intoned in that special wheedling way he had used over the last couple of weeks.

?I said nothing, because there isn?t anything required. I am sorry I was so angry, but I am not angry anymore.?

She could hear his smile, even though he said nothing. In the background the giggles of Meredith filled the air. Noela had brought her a brightly colored helioball earlier in the afternoon, and the little girl had been enraptured ever since.

?Arrange to accidentally meet me somewhere Noela.? She grinned in spite of herself.

?And have Yoda breathing down my back once more for causing you to become more and more attached according to him? No thank you! I would think the blondes are a far bigger source for such a thing as myself. We haven?t so much as hugged romantically, let alone anything else.?

As always when the topic came up, he got silent. ?Who do I hear in the background? Don?t tell me that you arrange for apprenticeships in politics right out of the crèche on Alderaan.? He inquired with curiosity.

?Not politics, music. That is my baby sister Meredith you hear, natural musical genius extraordinaire. She is staying with me while she is being evaluated by masters in music.? She explained, pride clearly lining her voice.

?You and your sisters are frightening Noela. No, wrong wording, intimidating. Did you know that??

She snorted, ?Yes, this coming from a Jedi. Besides it was poor Tatiana you had flustered when she saw you over your nose. She felt she was nowhere in the league of the Jedi Healers and only did us that favor so that we wouldn?t miss our evening because you were sure the Jedi healers would keep you locked up over that little mishap.?

?Well you try thinking you are seeing double of a woman, when it is only her sister that looks exactly like her.?

?You won?t have that problem with little Meredith, unless you think I have flaming red hair and brilliant green eyes. Besides she is only 6 years old. She is my best excuse for not meeting you, as we have a sister date this afternoon at the Coruscant Flora and Fauna Preserve Center, before I have to return her to Alderaan and Grandmamma?s care, so I can continue on to my diplomatic junket.?

?Ah, well I suppose then I will make myself useful and repack my tunics for my journey. Should I bring you anything when I come back?? He always asked, and she always refused, so he was surprised to hear: ?Just make sure that whatever you do bring isn?t slimy, green and 2 meters long.?

~~~~~
He had done as he said, and packed and repacked his sparse assortment of clothing, and personal care items. He had looked at the data files and knew beyond the law that states that anything that can go wrong will go wrong, he was as ready as he would ever be.

He could have gone sparring, or studying or even to visit Master Yoda and brave his cooki

 

Very Funny Noelie!
Made me laugh even more.

 

Delightful! Where do I start? It's all so wonderful. I chuckled over the lizard and laughed at Qui-Gon mind tricking Michand into forgetting Noela. Her anger and his attempts to placate her were wonderful. Dex needs to open a business coaching more men about women!

Noela's wonderful--very human and very likeable.

 

Souderwan: I am glad you came. Sometimes the sense of humor bug hits and you just can't resist. Okay so you were right and I wasn't thinking so much when I wrote it. ::wink::

Araxie: Hello, I hope you continue to enjoy the stories

Ara-gon: Thank you for coming by. Even when I first saw Dex in the movies I couldn't shake the impression of 'Wilson Wilson' from 'Home Improvement' fame. So I agree, he should open exactly that sort of business! Ish and I really want to keep Noela human and likeable, and you can really thank her, because she did a good basis for the character, so we are glad to hear it is working.

 

First Encounters

"I'm not sure I understand, Master."

Qui-Gon had never expected the experience of training a Padawan to be particularly easy. After all, he had been anything but a model Padawan. Headstrong and inquisitive, he had often tried the patience of Master and teachers alike.

Obi-Wan, on the other hand, was a meticulously obedient thirteen-year-old who questioned anything that violated the Jedi Code.

That was never more apparent than today, when Qui-Gon first mentioned that the Noela he had spoken of frequently was something a little more complicated than a diplomatic contact.

"You are familiar with the yearly event of escorting a member of the opposite sex," Qui-Gon said patiently. "Noela Ovorp of the Alderaanian Senatorial delegation has a long-standing relation with the Jedi in that regard."

Obi-Wan scowled as if facing a particularly obstinate foe. "She has a long-standing relation with you," he corrected. "I thought that was counter to the purpose of that activity."

"The purpose of the activity is to maintain diplomatic ties and improve the image of the Jedi," Qui-Gon recited. "Noela would..."

"You don't even call her Senator, Master," Obi-Wan protested. "That's improper."

"I call her Senator in the appropriate situations, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon insisted. "In more informal settings, however, I certainly am at liberty to treat her as the friend that she is."

This clearly was something that flew in the face of whatever lecture the crechemasters had given his Padawan when facing this situation last year and, not surprisingly, it was more than Obi-Wan could tolerate.

"She's not a friend," Obi-Wan stated. "She's an...an..."

His face screwed up rather dramatically into an expression of horror that would have been comical on anyone else.

"An attachment," Obi-Wan accused at last.

Qui-Gon blinked in what he could only honestly describe as confused indifference as his Padawan seethed silently in anticipation of his response. Feeling some sort of response was warranted, he clasped his hands serenely in front of him and regarded Obi-Wan with an open stare.

"You take that back," he offered politely.

"Master," Obi-Wan burst out, "she's an attachment!"

"You're an attachment if it comes to that," Qui-Gon reminded. "I've grown rather attached to you despite your inability to understand basic principles of friendship."

"I'm an attachment because of the will of the Force," Obi-Wan countered. "Why hasn't Yoda stopped this?"

"He's tried!"

That was certainly not what Obi-Wan had expected. He rocked back on his heels, looking as if he'd been slapped in the face. It was a rather unnecessary reaction to the fact that the Council recognized what Obi-Wan could not.

?He?s tried?? Obi-Wan stammered. ?You overrode??

?I did nothing of the sort,? Qui-Gon assured him. ?The Council deemed that I should be assigned to another party several times and I have abided by their wishes on every occasion. Moreover, I have never comported myself in an unseemly manner or had any inclination to do so.?

Allowing himself a small smirk, he looked Obi-Wan straight in the eye and the younger man at least had the decency to flinch. ?I?ve gained Master Yoda?s trust in this matter,? he explained at last. ?I would hope that it would be enough for you.?

Obi-Wan sighed heavily at last and with obvious reluctance, but nodded. ?It just doesn?t seem right,? Obi-Wan admitted.

?I know,? Qui-Gon soothed, ?but perhaps this ?attachment? as you put it is just as much the will of the Force as your apprenticeship is.?
*****
As always, the day of assignments came with great anticipation, but Obi-Wan managed to pass out well before the datacards were delivered. Qui-Gon managed to haul him to bed and then retreated to the repulsorchair closest to the door with a hot mug of tisane.

Certainly, he was not alone. Even the youngest of the chosen had the tendency to wait with great anticipation for the assignments, as other children might want to stay up until mid

 

I still love how the "attachment" sounds like a swear word, and I would love a world where "you take that back" is the ultimate in threats.

 

To a Jedi who thinks that attachment leads to the Dark Side and is very scrupulous, it is probably the closest thing to an obscenity you'll ever hear. And I loved writing "You take that back" because it was so clear that Qui-Gon didn't mean it!
*****
It was strange enough to see Obi-Wan looking unnerved, but having him in exercise clothes as well as a state of abject misery was truly something to behold. The word 'fidgeting' didn't even begin to describe it.

Even worse, Noela wasn't due to arrive for another hour.

"What's your sentence again?" Obi-Wan asked impatiently.

Qui-Gon cast a disapproving look on his Padawan, but Obi-Wan was obviously too preoccupied to notice.

"I am privileged," he corrected, "not sentenced and I am privileged to be escorting the concertmistress of the Coronet Philharmonic."

Obi-Wan made a noise that suggested he'd swallowed his own tongue, drawing another reproachful glare from his Master.

"What now?" Qui-Gon inquired.

"Typical," Obi-Wan said grouchily. "You'll always find yourself with some high-born or overachieving beauty while I'm consigned to a fate of cast-offs."

He was surprised to find himself so flustered so immediately. "Noela is not a cast-off!" he protested.

"Fine," Obi-Wan grunted unhappily, "but last year, I was assigned to the Gand delegation's resident nymphomaniac."

"Obi-Wan!"

"What?" he protested. "It's true!"

"Be that as it may," Qui-Gon spluttered, "you're too young to pass that kind of judgment on anyone, much less a diplomat."

"Yes, Master," Obi-Wan said emotionlessly.

"And moreover, you're too young to know that word!"

"Well, you're not setting the best example, either!" Obi-Wan shot back.

"It's not that kind of relationship!"

The door chimed, interrupting the argument and Qui-Gon's brow furrowed immediately as he sensed Noela outside.

"What is she doing..."

It was too late to wonder, however, since Obi-Wan palmed the door open to welcome their guest...

And froze dead in his tracks.

In hindsight, Qui-Gon reflected, it was probably entirely his fault. He had warned Noela to put Obi-Wan at ease, not dressing as if she were off to a Senatorial recpetion. Obi-Wan, for his part, had wisely come up with an activity--tandem swoop-biking around the Senate and Temple districts--that would allow both of them to be comfortable. They'd even decided on a restaurant that wouldn't require him to remember which fork to use first.

She was trying a little too hard to put him at ease, though. That could be the only explanation for the skin-tight black exercise pants and abbreviated green sleeveless tunic that she had donned for the occasion. Her hair was coiled into a bun high on her head, exposing every inch of skin that she had left bare from hips to head.

He suspected that Obi-Wan would have gone thoroughly cross-eyed if the Force hadn't been with him. As it was, Noela had to take the initiative and shake his hand.

Obi-Wan said nothing by way of greeting to her, only turned a glare on his Master.

"That," he hissed, "is not 'that kind of relationship?"

Noela, with too many years of diplomacy behind her, pretended not to notice his comment. "Noela Ovorp," she introduced herself. "You must be the Obi-Wan that I've heard about."

"Hrggh," he responded.

Qui-Gon was quickly reconsidering his plans for the evening when Noela stepped aside to reveal that she had not come alone.

"I figured," Noela said smoothly, "that if the both of us had to come, we might as well do it together."

He hadn't seen Meredith Ovorp much since the first time he'd met her, but it had obviously been too long. She'd gone from a gawky pre-teen to a young woman whose elegance of stature that rivaled her older sister's.

That was, until one or both of them ran into the door.

"Uncle Qui," Mere greeted with a broad grin.

"I'

 

Okay: Mere looks wonderful, if overshadowing her older sister!

But I have to know what is going on in that 13 year old's head!

 

Noela smiled at the slight form tucked under the blankets. Sweet dreams indeed.

Awww! Noelie, that was another wonderful post. I loved when Noela decided to forgive Qui-Gon after all, and their visit at the Centre was great! And Meredith's behavior is perfect younger-sibling.

And Ish, your posts were fantastic too! I almost died laughing at Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan's discussion about attachments.

"She's not a friend," Obi-Wan stated. "She's an...an..."

His face screwed up rather dramatically into an expression of horror that would have been comical on anyone else.

"An attachment," Obi-Wan accused at last.



And Obi's reaction to seeing Noela was priceless!

Great work, you two!

 

Glad you're enjoying this. Mere is definitely perfect younger-sibling. And we're very fond of the obscene "attachment" comment.

LOL, are you jealous? And don't worry, all will be revealed.
*****
"We'll be back in a few minutes," Qui-Gon promised. "Just make yourselves comfortable."

He could hear the murmur of voices that suggested that Noela was, as usual, ignoring the suggestion. Instead, she was giving Mere an unnecessary 'tour' of the living room to explain all the things that she'd mentioned in passing over the years. Given the amount of information that Mere seemed to know about him, their conversations had not entirely avoided the subject of the Jedi Temple.

Obi-Wan, on the other hand, was following with a kind of resigned dutifulness as any teenaged boy would when asked to do chores. As the father figure, Qui-Gon had to keep himself from dragging Obi-Wan by the ear into the kitchen with a good degree of difficulty. After all, only so much could be blamed on hormones.

The rest could only be blamed on Obi-Wan getting a taste of his own medicine.

"She's an attachment," he began in a frank and accurate impression of Obi-Wan's persistent whine.

"Master, I am not..."

"Padawan," Qui-Gon said patiently, "is she a Turagi?"

Obi-Wan's brow furrowed at this, since a human woman in no way resembled a thirty-foot sea monster with its oral cavity in the middle.

"No," he said in obvious puzzlement.

"Then the face that you should be looking at will be nowhere below her neck!" Qui-Gon snapped. "If your chin goes anywhere towards the floor in looking at her, I'll have to take some drastic measures. Understood?"

Obi-Wan looked openly stunned at the thought of anyone taking drastic measures with him within the Jedi Temple, since he was a letter-and-spirit-of-the-law obedient adherent to the Jedi Code at this point.

"Master," he repeated weakly.

"Understood?" Qui-Gon hissed in a low, dangerous voice that suggested that he would get an appropriate answer, even if it took the entire week to do so.

"Master," Obi-Wan protested, "you can't say you've never thought of her that way!"

"As a piece of meat?"

"As a...well..."

Obi-Wan was as red as a julaberry and at a complete loss for words. Perhaps they should have this sort of conversation more often.

"I have always considered her to be lovely and charming," Qui-Gon explained, voice returning to a more normal tone to spare his Padawan the humiliation of suffering a cardiac arrest in the middle of the kitchen. "I have always considered her to be a worthy and loyal friend. It never even entered my mind to wonder what her navel looked like!"

"Well, sure," Obi-Wan sniffed, "but you've outgrown your hormones. I'm still thirteen. You can't fault me for thinking of her that way."

It was a good thing that the wooden spoons were across the kitchen because if Qui-Gon had been inclined to abuse the Force, he might have smacked Obi-Wan over the head with one. The boy needed some sense knocked into him in one way or another.

"Oh, yes I can."

 

He could hear the murmur of voices that suggested that Noela was, as usual, ignoring the suggestion. Instead, she was giving Mere an unnecessary 'tour' of the living room to explain all the things that she'd mentioned in passing over the years. Given the amount of information that Mere seemed to know about him, their conversations had not entirely avoided the subject of the Jedi Temple

Sisters talk about almost everything. Avoid the Jedi Temple? That would be first topic on the list!

Well, sure," Obi-Wan sniffed, "but you've outgrown your hormones. I'm still thirteen. You can't fault me for thinking of her that way."

Looks like all young ones have a hard time realizing that they are not the first generation to discover such things.


"Glad to know I have my own vocabulary," he said dryly. "Care to translate anything else?"

All Good men deserve their own vocabulary.

He shook his head with a crestfallen expression. "I think I'll be guilty of it in another five minutes."

"Good," she pronounced. "We just don't have to tell Qui-Gon."

Yet one more huge open secret that no one knows. We sure aren't going to tell!

Good Job Ish, right to keeping Mere as I hoped she would be! Now if I can flesh out the other sister(s)