Obi-Wan had just returned from teaching one of his assigned initiate classes: "The Art of Negotiation," removed his cloak and entered the kitchen area. As he fixed himself a cup of his favorite tea, the chime from the front door rang out. He palmed open the door and immediately stepped aside as the small, huddled form of Master Yoda moved past him.
This was highly irregular. He couldn't remember Yoda visiting him in his assigned quarters. Ever. Maybe something was wrong. Obi-Wan did a quick study of the Force, but he sensed no disturbance. Everything apparently was in order. But standing here in his common room was Yoda himself. He decided he had to ask what was on his mind, just in case.
"Is everything okay? Anakin isn't in any trouble, is he?"
A small grin creased the green, withered face. "All is well." Croaked the Senior Council Member as he levitated himself up and onto the leather couch on the far side of the room.
Obi-Wan watched him in confusion, forgetting all about the tea he held in his hand.
"Is there something I can do for you, Master Yoda?" He asked.
"Offer me some refreshment, you should." The diminutive Jedi pointed his gimerstick at the mug that Obi-Wan was holding.
"Yes, of course."
The young Knight rushed to the kitchen and prepared a similar mug. He wasn't sure how Yoda liked his tea, so he made it the same as his.
He re-entered the room and placed the cup on the table in front of the Jedi Master, and then sat himself down on a chair next to him. Obi-Wan was at a complete loss as to the reason for this visit.
Yoda apparently was going to take his time in providing any answers. He first took a sip of the tea, his nose crinkling slightly. Apparently, it wasn't to his liking, and the cup was promptly deposited back onto the table. The wizened Master propped his hands upon the handle of his walking stick and glanced about the room, seemingly taking in every piece of furniture, object, and mission momento. When he did start speaking, it startled Obi-Wan slightly.
"Worried about you, your apprentice is."
Obi-Wan could not disguise the surprise on his face. Anakin had been talking to Master Yoda? And not only that, he had been talking about him?
"Why?" Obi-Wan asked as calmly as he could. "I assure you that I am quite well."
"The last time you went out, when was this?" The kindly green orbs focused on Obi-Wan's face.
"I go out all the time." Obi-Wan replied hastily. He wasn't sure he liked where this conversation obviously was headed.
"Know what I mean, you do." Yoda prodded his thigh with his gimerstick. "Know I do how difficult it is to move on after loss. Lost many Jedi during my time here at the Temple I have. Need, you do to pursue other things. Take your mind off responsibilities once in a while. Your own Master, your happiness he desired."
This has nothing to do with Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan thought, but he kept his thoughts to himself. Losing his Master had saddened him greatly, but as a Jedi, he had prepared himself for that loss. Qui-Gon wasn't dead after all. There is no death.
No. It wasn't Qui-Gon's passing that had hurt him so. Changed his life. It was something that had cut him much more deeply, and he simply couldn't move past it.
But then again, he hadn't really tried, had he?
"I appreciate your concern." Obi-Wan responded at last. "I will take into consideration more pleasurable pursuits in the future."
"Hmph." Yoda replied as he hopped off of the seat. "Youth is wasted. Think you do that I sit in the Council Chambers all hours of the night? All my spare time, meditate away?"
The small Jedi Master moved along slowly toward the exit.
"Almost nine-hundred years I am here. Old I am, but not that old. Not too old for a good time." And with that, the ancient senior council member winked and exited Obi-Wan's quarters.
What? Obi-Wan rubbed his face with his hand. Did he just hear that right? Did Master Yoda just admit to going out and having sexual relations? Obi-Wan shuddered at the thought as he leaned his head out of his doorway, watching Master Yoda hobbling down the hallway.
"Thank you for stopping by."
He received a clawed wave in return.
Obi-Wan turned around and entered his quarters in a slight daze.
Fine, he thought. It seemed that everyone was conspiring against him. His apprentice, the wisest member of the Jedi Order. Who else? Probably the entire Temple, down to the youngest crechling knew about his private life.
This was ridiculous. What would it hurt? It was just an online dating service. No one even had to know his real name or anything else about him for that matter. He could sign up, get to know a few people, and maybe make a few friends. No harm in that.
First things first though. He needed to find Anakin. There were a few things he needed to say to the boy.