I'm not thrilled with the beginning of this chapter, but I LOVE the middle and end, so that makes it all good, right? Yes, yes it does. And also, the Senate Ball will be NEXT chapter, because Ventress needed this chapter to learn how to dance so she doesn't wreck havoc at the ball. My guess is she will anyway, but I wanted another "Ventress asks Obi-wan questions he doesn't know the answers to" chapter.
Time flew by. Christmas was fast approaching, and for once in her life, Asajj was actually excited for it. The Temple was aglow with lights and tinsil, and athough she still had no idea why, she enjoyed it anyway. The whole atmosphere had changed, and it seemed as though everyone was suddenly extra nice, extra giving, and extra hyper.
"Hey master, Sithy." Anakin greeted cheerily.
"It's not very nice to call her 'Sithy', Anakin." Obi-wan chided. His words fell on deaf ears, as was the norm.
"Whatever. Ahsoka!" at his call, a young Togruta female came walking across the center of the Temple, several cookies in her hand. "Have you met Obi-wan's new Padawan yet?"
Ahsoka wrinkled her nose. "I believe I've already had the pleasure."
"You two talk for a minute. I want to ask Obi-wan about something."
As the two older Jedi turned away, Asajj heard Obi-wan mutter, "Are you sure that's the best idea? They don't exactly get along."
"I've been putting out my best effort to accept her, for your sake. Ahsoka can just do the same."
"So. Obi-wan finally has you as an apprentice, huh?" Ventress's focus snapped back to the girl standing in fron of her.
"Yes."
"Why does he think you'll ever be a real Jedi?"
"Because I will be, Padawan."
"Touchy. But guess what? I outrank you here."
"Perhaps you do." Ventress muttered, determined not to let Anakin's Padawan bother her. "But I could still beat you in a fight under any circumstances."
"Is that a challenge?"
"If you want it to be."
"Alright then. But good luck fighting me without any sabers." Ahsoka's face curled into a wicked grin. "You don't have sabers yet, do you?"
"No, I don't. But when I get them, you are in for a world of defeat." Asajj was surprised at her own level of calm. Perhaps being out of Dooku's influence was good for her.
"I'd suggest you not do that, if you want to keep training."
"Look, child." Ventress said, "If you're trying to bother me, than it's not working. I don't know what your problem is-"
"What my problem is? My problem? My problem is that you nearly killed me only a few months ago! Remember that?"
"Yes, I remember. Maybe you should learn from your master and try to get along for Obi-wan's sake."
Ahsoka scowled but said nothing.
"Thank you."
"Oh, and by the way, I do know exactly how to bother you."
"Try me."
Ahsoka stated calmly, "My master is better than yours."
Something inside Ventress snapped. Most likely her self-control. "No, he's not. Anakin skywalker will forever be below Obi-wan."
Ahsoka smirked. "Anakin's so much of a better teacher."
"No. Shut up."
"Aayla said it bugs you when she calls him egghead. Is that true?"
"No. Yes." Asajj scowled. "Obi-wan's not an egghead. And he's better than Anakin."
"Told you I could bother you."
"You take it back. Right now. Or I swear I will-"
"What's going on here?" Obi-wan interrupted.
"Nothing, Master Obi-wan. We were just having a friendly conversation about training."
"She tried to say that Anakin was a better master than you." Asajj snarled.
"This bothers you?" Anakin asked, his face an exact duplicate of Ahsoka's look. How wonderful. Like Master, like Padawan.
"A little."
Anakin laughed. "Come on, Snips. Let's try to humor Obi-wan and be nice to his apprentice."
"Humor me?" Obi-wan asked, turning to face Skywalker. "Do not humor me. I want you to be nice because she's one of us now."
"Alright then. Merry Christmas, Bog witch!" Ahsoka skipped off happily. Anakin shrugged and followed her.
"While I'm glad you're defensive of me, Asajj, you can't let your temper get the better of you." Obi-wan reprimanded.
"I did control my temper. Mostly."
"Let me get this straight. You were able to control your temper until she claimed Anakin was better?"
"The things she said about me were true. But you are and always will be superior to Skywalker."
"As glad as I am for the compliment, you can't let her get to you like that. What happens if you're fighting an opponent and they start insulting you? Or me, whichever? If you fly off the handle like that, it'll be easier for them to gain an advantage."
She sighed. "You're right Master. And I will try to get along with Ahsoka."
"Good. I'm already impressed with how well you're getting along with Anakin. You've made a lot of progress."
"I'm almost civilized, hmm?"
"Almost, almost." Kenobi chuckled. "Which reminds me. You're invited to a ball."
"A ball?" I'm guessing he doesn't mean the kind we play Forceball with...
"Yes, the annual Senate Christmas Ball. As the Jedi are now Generals, we're all invited to this ball. I need you to be on the best behavior you can, as it's quite a fancy place. Very civilized, you might put it, although it's not really to my taste."
Oh dear… Fancy? I don't know fancy! I come from a planet where it's socially acceptable to challenge someone to a fight to the death and take all their stuff if you win! "What's all going to be at this ball, anything I should know about?"
"Oh, nothing too difficult. There's no dinner, thankfully, or you'd need a crash course in fine dining. Just drinks and dancing."
"Dancing? Please tell me I do not have to participate in the dancing."
"It's not that bad, really. It's acceptable to leave after an hour or so, as long as you stay for the toast."
"Toasted what?"
She could see Obi-wan struggling not to facepalm. "No, a toast. As in, a drink to the health of the Republic."
"The republic doesn't have health. It's an organiza-"
"Yes, dear, I know. It doesn't make sense. It's just a tradition, and it's considered impolite to leave before the toast."
"Yes, but what are we toasting here?"
"The health of the republic."
"No, what are we toasting, bread? Some form of meat?" Over open flames? That sounds dangerous…
"Nothing to do with toasting food." Obi-wan explained.
"Than what are we toasting?"
"It just means that someone says "To the health of the Republic", or something along those lines, and then we all drink."
"Then why is it called a toast?"
"I have no idea."
"You live in a strange society, Obi-wan."
"Perhaps I do, young one." He admitted, smiling.
"I am not that much younger than you."
"Tradition again. Many masters refer to their Padawans as "Young one". It's just a term of affection for an apprentice."
"But you and I are certainly not the traditional age for Master and Apprentice."
"I suppose you're right. But there is some age gap, and I think I need as much as I can get of it if I'm going to be a proper Master."
"Obi-wan?"
"Yes?"
"What about the dance? Am I going to be expected to dance during this time before toast?"
"Not for all the time, but yes. You are expected to dance."
"I don't know how."
"You're graceful enough, you'll get the hang of it."
"No, I mean, I never learned how. I have no idea how to even start."
"Well then. I guess I'll be teaching you. You do know it's tomorrow evening, right?"
Obi-wan managed to drill a basic waltz step into her head, although it was a difficult thing to remember. She'd step left instead of right, and forwards when she should step back.
"No, backwards now."
"But I feel like I should step forwards." She insisted. "Forward would be more natural." She stood at the center of one of the small Forceball courts, Obi-wan standing a few feet away, eyes trained on her feet.
"But that's now how a waltz pattern goes."
"Why not?"
As usual, her question caught him off guard. "I don't know."
"There are all sorts of things in your world that you don't know. Why has no one ever asked about these things before?"
"Because you, my dear, don't know much, but you're bright enough to ask about the things you don't know. Perhaps you're smarter than I am, questioning everything. I've just learned to accept these things, like everyone else."
"Left foot… right?"
"No, right foot left. You're trying to lead."
"Lead?"
"Technically, one person in the couple is supposed to "lead", or decide which way to step next."
"But I thought you follow the pattern. Why do you need someone to decide which way to step next if we're following a pattern?"
"Stop that."
"Stop what?"
"Asking me things I don't know!" There was a spark of amusement in his voice.
"If I don't ask things, how do I learn?" She purred.
"At least try to ask me something I know for once."
"Alright, who leads then? Whoever has more dance experience?"
"Traditionally, the male."
"Why?"
"I… don't know." he admitted. "They're usually taller, maybe that's it."
"What does that have anything to do with leading?"
"It's... easier to see where you're going? I don't know, my dear. I know nothing about dancing except how to do it."
"What if the male isn't taller?" she turned to face him, noting that her eyes were level with his.
"Why do you look at me when you say that?" Obi-wan asked suspiciously.
"I don't know what you're talking about, darling." She replied in mock innocence.
"I said usually, alright?" Kenobi snapped defensively. "There's no need to-" he shut up as she threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly.
"You're a good height." Asajj mumbled. Her chin rested nicely against his shoulder.
"Good for what?"
"For hugging." His arms had come up around her, too, and suddenly, here she was, in the middle of an embrace. What was wrong with her? Normally she was quite disgusted by things that were this touchy-feely-emotiony… Obi-wan let go, so she did the same.
"Alright, since you can't really dance, how about you dance with me? that way no one will notice if you stumble or move the wrong direction."
"I like this plan. You do all the leading, okay?"
"Brilliant. Just, whatever you do, do not wear high heels. Anakin will never let me live that down."
"Don't worry, I wouldn't anyway. I wouldn't know how to walk in them."
Asajj Ventress: 1
Waltzing: 0
And there is a hug.
Waltzing is hard stuff I tell you. Expect it to make a comeback in the next round. Oh well, at least Asajj gets to dance with her master. I don't think he'll enjoy it much though. She's a toe-stepper XD
