quigonejinn: (qui gon - speak truth speak light)
quigonejinn ([personal profile] quigonejinn) wrote2007-11-20 01:16 am
Entry tags:

Burial.



One of the few standard training exercises that Qui-Gon subscribed to and valued was repeated discussion of death and injury: he did not like to be argued with, nor did he enjoy extended philosophical inquiry, but he had no objections to cold, hard discipline. It was an exercise to conquer fear; he began at the prescribed age of nine and the exercises continued, growing in difficulty and clinicism, until he felt that Obi-Wan had achieved the proper attitude towards death.

"What do you imagine death to be like?"

Or.

"What are the proper procedures for my burial when I am dead?"

Assigned reading was not to be quoted. Obi-Wan usually had to fight the urge to quote and analyze, and the struggle showed on his face. If Qui-Gon was in a temper where he was tolerant of being amused, he would smile a little. If not, he would continue with that faint, slightly expectant expression.

Qui-Gon had Obi-Wan do the exercises once or twice a year, and once, when Obi-Wan was fifteen, Qui-Gon returned in a particularly vexed state from a Council meeting. He set himself to dissembling his lightsaber, meticulously cleaning the components down to the individual circuit boards, and re-assembling them under a magnifying lens with nano-tools. It had always been Qui-Gon's least favorite chore, and Obi-Wan was, in fact, surprised to see Qui-Gon going directly to it and with such concentration.

Finally, after an hour of this, Qui-Gon raised his head from the screen and spoke. "Obi-Wan," he said. "What should you do if I lived to a ripe old age and became senile, outliving my wits and usefulness?"

Obi-Wan looked up from his studies and stared. After some period, Qui-Gon smiled, faintly, and they went back to their respective tasks.

And that was all the comment Qui-Gon ever made about Dooku.

OMG!

[identity profile] randomalia.livejournal.com 2007-11-23 07:54 am (UTC)(link)
*EPIC FLAIL OF LOVE*

You had me all gleeful at the prospect of the Tree Master and the confused Ambassador but then, oh, sadness. That's the first time I've thought of the burning of the temple as vicious.

I love this so, so, so much. <3333333333333333333333333