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[spiritwalks]

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[spiritwalks]

Anakin feels like an outsider, too, I'm pretty sure — maybe as much as you do, in some ways. But you two have learned different ways of dealing with it. What he said is...probably more about himself than you.

I get it, though. You and Obi-Wan had a shared history, and then you decided to define the relationship on your terms. But he doesn't have those memories here. So now you feel like you're saddling him with all this baggage he never asked for.

[Quieter:]

It's not true. But I know it still hurts.

[ezra_of_lothal]

[Dry and very tired sounding-] I like to think I manage to not take Anakin's issues personally about, oh, 75% of the time. More than 50%, at least?

...not feeling hurt about not sharing certain memories with Obi-wan is harder. Because - because of how long I didn't have anyone. But in that life...Ben was always there. Always.

[spiritwalks]

[More than 50% is pretty good. Vyng won't belabor that point.]

Ben?

[He hasn't heard that name yet.]

[ezra_of_lothal]

Oh. Hmm. Well, in the context of the life created by the spell, his name was and always had been Ben Bridger. Kenobi was our mother's family name.

But that was the thing about the spell; it took things from our original memories and stitched them together in ways that made sense if you squint. That...resonated.

Ben is the name Master Kenobi chose to hide under the Empire.

[spiritwalks]

Oh, like an alias? That's...also the name of the brother you shared a life with.

[ezra_of_lothal]

Yeah. All that.

[spiritwalks]

Your love for Ben motivates you to care for Obi-Wan. I don't think there's any harm in that, as long as you acknowledge and respect him as his own man. But I get how burdensome it can be to keep stuff from your family.

[ezra_of_lothal]

We'd said we were family before the spell happened. [His theory is that's why the spell put them together like that.]

But yes, it's extra motivation and there's...overlap between them, but they aren't the same. Ben didn't have rare training or abilities. He was a good man, and thoughtful, but his life wasn't wrapped up in duty to the greater good.

[spiritwalks]

You've got a solid foundation. Now you're building a history together, here. With enough time, I think you'll create lots of new memories you wouldn't trade for all the gold in the world.

[Vyng certainly didn't think of Tuck or Billie as close friends — let alone family — in the beginning. But Obi-Wan and Ezra already have a solid, common thread between them.]

Try not to spread yourself too thin, especially now. If not for your own sake, then for your family's. Hard to stay present when your mind's running in 40 directions at once, you know?

[ezra_of_lothal]

..I hope so.

Yeah, I'll be careful about taking on new stuff, for the time being.