fandomhighdorms | The Salle, Monday Morning

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The Salle, Monday Morning

The lack of classes meant Arthur would be spending more time in the salle than usual (if that was even possible), and he hadn't wasted too much time getting there that morning. His arm was coming along nicely, and so he took a practice blade for his left.

Might as well get some simple drills in while he waited.

[[ and open, but mild sp warning ]]

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"It's definitely interesting," Ben said. "It's hard to believe that I'm getting trained by Anakin Skywalker, and it's been going on all semester. He's a bit of a legend at home."

Understatement. Ben was good at it.

"Cool," Dinah said, happy for him. She grinned, then shook her head, thinking about that, reminded of the guy she'd met at CopCon. And the superhero teasing her after she asked questions. They'd known a different Dinah Lance though. Maybe? "I met someone from my maybe-future. He knew a way older me. We weren't sure if it was me-really-me, or another me, or ... Time travel makes my head hurt. That sounds like one of the neater reasons for it, though."

Ben shrugged a shoulder. "It's best not to think too much about the future," he said. "Trying to making something come true because it sounds neat can be as much of a disaster as trying to stop something from happening because it sounds awful."

Then he blushed. "Sorry. Jedi thing. Some of us can see the future and that tends to bite us in the rear more often than not."

"No, that makes sense," Dinah agreed, switching to low blocks and slower swings, her muscles starting to tire a little. "I mean, Professor Atreides said the same thing to me, 'cause people in her family can do that if they work on it. She's never really wanted to." She bit her lip, and added, "I have dreams. Sometimes. Not precognitive, though, just clairvoyant. Friends in trouble, that kind of thing. And, well. It sound like you can't pick and choose what you see of the future." She gave him a searching look. "Does that make me smart or just chicken? Not wanting to look too hard?"

"Smart," Ben said firmly. "My father can see the future. So can my grandfather. Neither of them have ever been happy with what they've seen."

Which was a relief to hear from someone else who ought to know. "Good. It's been a while since I've had a dream like that. I'd hate to think I should be trying, you know? Professor Atreides said I didn't have to. Which helps." She tilted her head. "You don't see the future, hunh?"

"Not yet," Ben said with a little wrinkle to his nose. "I'm kind of hoping this particular gift passes me by. I don't want that kind of power."

Dinah nodded, did a quarter-turn, watching her footwork, and did a series of sweeping passes. "What kinds are you hoping for? Or have you already got all the ones you think you're likely to get? Tahiri said something about healing, as well as the stuff she can do being possible..."

"It's all a matter of concentration," Ben said with a shrug. "I'm pretty good at self-healing when I need it, but I don't have Master Cilghal's level of interest or patience in healing as a profession. I learn what I need when I need to know it." He smiled. "It's maddening, but it's the will of the Force."

"Hunh," Dinah said, not skeptical, just bemused, eyes still on her practice sword. "That makes it sound like a religion, kinda." She frowned, then admitted, "Tahiri's explained about the Force? I'm not sure I understand it all. Although she said that's not that unusual, even Jedi debate the details a lot."

"It's the Force," Ben said. "It's not a matter of worship--it doesn't care--it's more a matter or respecting what is."

Which didn't make more or less sense of it, but was something Dinah could be more comfortable with, in a way. Not, as Ben had pointed out, that it (It?) would care. "And sometimes the Force wants to show you the future, and sometimes it's there to heal things," she checked, "and it's all good with moving stuff and letting you move yourself. Right?"

"The Force is energy," Ben said. "It surrounds us and binds us. It holds the universe together. It links us to each other. A Jedi can just...see the connections better than most. So when we heal, we see what parts are broken, or sick and can convince them to fix themselves. Since time is not a concept the Force would understand, a Jedi, properly motivated, can see the future, the past..."

Another brain-breaker, in its own way. "So all time is the same to it, and ... so it's like that physics stuff," Dinah said, thinking of various things Barbara had said, "with it's just our perception that makes time linear?" She was quiet a minute, finishing her drill, then admitted, "I think I'm glad I'm not a Jedi, but I'd probably feel different if I grew up as one. It sounds like something that takes a lifetime to really get it."

"Or we could just be making it up as we go along," Ben said, eyes sparkling.

Dinah stared at him a second, then giggled. "Do you guys do that to confuse people? 'The Force wants a cheeseburger. Here on this plate?' And keep a straight face until they believe you?"

"Not where any of the Masters would find out about it, that's for sure," Ben said.

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The Salle, Monday Morning

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