Second Floor Common Room [Thursday Morning]

[bridge-carson.livejournal.com]

Bridge was bored. So he'd dragged the telekinesis ball out of his room, since he hadn't practiced in a while, and sat down crosslegged on a couch in the common room to do so.

After a few minutes, he had the ball floating in a lazy circuit around the room.

Comments

[nadiathesaint]

"What's with the braid thing, anyway?"

[emo-padawan.livejournal.com]

"Symbol of my apprenticeship," Anakin explained. "I can't cut it off until the Council decides I'm fully trained." He rolled his eyes. "So I have another decade to look forward to of this particular haircut."

[nadiathesaint]

"That's . . . a really long time. They get to tell you what haircut you can have? That kind of sucks."

[emo-padawan.livejournal.com]

"I think it's supposed to teach us humility, personally," Anakin said. "I mean, why do I need a braid and a ponytail? It looks completely stupid." He smiled. "At least at home I'm not the only one who looks like this--all of the apprentices who can grow hair have this same haircut."

[nadiathesaint]

"It does look kind of silly. But you carry it off, well. Some of the others can't grow hair?"

[emo-padawan.livejournal.com]

"Becoming a Jedi isn't limited to humans," Anakin explained. "There are dozens of different species in the Temple, all studying to do the same thing."

[nadiathesaint]

"So anyone can use the force and get trained?"

[emo-padawan.livejournal.com]

Anakin shook his head. "Not exactly. Force-sensitivity is something you're born with, like the color of your eyes, or the ability to dance or whatever. If you live in my galaxy and are born Force-sensitive, you're sent to the Jedi Temple shortly after you're born and grow up there. You can be Force-sensitive all your life, but without training you wouldn't be able to control and manipulate the universe around you." He shrugged. "You wouldn't be Jedi."

[nadiathesaint]

"But how can they tell when someone is?"

[emo-padawan.livejournal.com]

"They have a different presence in the Force," Anakin explained. "They're pretty easy to pick out once you know what you're looking for." He yanked at his braid again. "I mean, they have instruments to double check, too, confirm the gut reaction with their midichlorian count, but Jedi are big on going with their feelings."

[nadiathesaint]

"Midi-whatsits?"

[emo-padawan.livejournal.com]

"Microscopic organisms that can be found in blood," Anakin said. "The higher your midichlorian count, the more sensitive you are to the Force." He blushed. "Mine's kinda the highest the Order has ever seen."

[nadiathesaint]

Nadia blinked. "Do you realize that that makes it sound like sensitivity to the force is a disease?"

[emo-padawan.livejournal.com]

"Does it?" Anakin frowned. "I suppose it does." He raised an eyebrow. "But it's a disease that lets me do cool things with glitter. So I think I'll keep it."

[nadiathesaint]

"Sounds fair to me."

[emo-padawan.livejournal.com]

Anakin grinned. "Good. Because I don't think there's a way to get rid of it, even if I'd want to. Which I don't."

[nadiathesaint]

"No, I wouldn't think you would. It must be amazing, to have that kind of power."

[emo-padawan.livejournal.com]

"It's always been there for me," Anakin said. "I'm not sure I'd know who I was without it. But it's a trained power. I'm not going to go around moving the buildings around or anything." He stared at the wall. "And at the end of the summer I go back home and continue my training, use these powers to do some good."

[nadiathesaint]

"I'm glad. I have no idea what I'll do when I leave here."

[emo-padawan.livejournal.com]

Anakin rested his hands on his knees and turned to look at Nadia. "What do you like to do?"

[nadiathesaint]

"I don't know. Help people, I guess? I'd like to be a spy, some day, but I don't know if I'd be any good. I haven't had a lot of success being sneaky."

[emo-padawan.livejournal.com]

"They can teach sneakiness," Anakin said. "And getting reliable intelligence is absolutely invaluable." He smiled. "Jedi do some of that kind of stuff, too."

[nadiathesaint]

"It must be pretty easy for you guys, considering how much power you have."

[emo-padawan.livejournal.com]

"Depends what we're trying to get," Anakin said. "We've been around for 25,000 years, so beings who want to get away with something have learned how to adapt to what Jedi can do, too. More sensitive alarm systems, lightsaber-proof doors, droids that can shoot faster than a living being, stuff like that."

[nadiathesaint]

"Sounds dangerous. Do the Jedi ever fight each other?"