When Sith Beat Jedi To The Prize (Of The Chosen One)

[neverwantedtobesith]

Garth'zel had intended never to go to Tatooine again. The entire experience the first time he was there was hot and miserable. The only good point, so far as he was concerned, was meeting Andronikos. But as luck would have it, his ship ended up deciding to need minor repairs. Nothing too bad, but it did require him to land somewhere to get the parts he needed, because of course, the bit that went was something he didn't have spare parts for. The only planet within reasonable range? Tatooine.

It didn't take long for a Force-sensitive boy to catch his attention. One strong enough that he was surprised the Jedi didn't already find him. Well, their loss was his gain. ...Once he pried him loose from Watto, anyway. He suspects he actually had an easier time of it than a Jedi would, although he's not going to hang around and give one the chance to give it a shot. At least, unlike them, he's willing to come to Tatooine from time to time so Anakin could see his mother. Probably not more than a couple times a year or so, due to it being best to go there when they're at least vaguely in that part of the galaxy anyway, but it's far better than 'sorry kid, we're never bringing you back'.

Of course, there is one tiny problem with this whole thing. He's never had to raise children before and doesn't know what he's doing. With the ship safely in hyperspace and not due to come out of it for a good long while, enabling him to do things that didn't involve sitting in the pilot's seat of the ship, he's in the lounge area. Time to figure out what he's doing. "Have you managed to get any kind of schooling? Like from someone you know, sitting down with you for an hour here and there as time permitted to teach you things like how to write?"

May as well figure out what he needs to teach besides how to use the Force consciously instead of unconsciously drawing on it.

Comments

[imaperson]

Having a more firm grasp of details does cause Anakin to lean back, focus drawn inward for a moment. That is far more than he'd thought he would get and it's difficult not to start bouncing about on his feet in excitement. While he is well aware of pilots and travelers, that's more often than he most who travel so far.

"Maybe I can make him things to sell, instead? He's good at that." And Anakin likes to make things, so it works out for both of them.

[neverwantedtobesith]

Now it's Garth'zel's turn to lean back in his seat to consider things. "It depends on what you intend to make and how many, I think."

But so far, it sounds like a reasonable proposition.

[imaperson]

"Well. It can't be too things. He'll get robbed. And nothing too valuable either. Cause. Yeah." Anakin plays with his fingers for a moment, thinking. "The moisture farmers need small things, mostly to allow them to conserve water. Kitster is trying to get on with a wealthy family though, maybe as a majordomo. So he'd trying to impress them. And they are more likely to have the money for stuff and like little things. Knives to sample fresh fruits and membranes to seal the cut surfaces to they don't dry out. Flasks that stay cool but aren't heavy. Toys for their children. I can make lots of things."

[neverwantedtobesith]

"Mmm." Garth'zel considers that. "No promises, but I'll see what I can do."

He'll need to figure out what to get so that Anakin could make the things he wants to and all that. Along with things like how much would be needed, work out where things would be stored in their various stages and so on.

[imaperson]

He's used to that kind of promise, born more out of a people who have so little power but mean to try. He'll happily take it. "Thank you."

Given they were all that were on board, Anakin could use the crew bunks for storage. He didn't see why not. But didn't fully know what to make however.

[neverwantedtobesith]

Whereas Garth'zel has plenty of money with which to make things happen, he just needs to take space constraints into account.

"You should probably finish your food before what's left has a chance to get cold," Garth'zel notes. "You'll probably also want to take some time over the next couple of days to try to narrow down what you want to try to build and how much, which will help me with my end of things there."

Also known as buying whatever it is Anakin needs for what he's doing. ...Along with the space issues that are his main concern.

[imaperson]

In thinking about home, his mom, his friends, Anakin had forgotten his food. Given he'd eaten more in the last few meals than he had in days previously, having food to eat was something he could forget. "Oh. Right."

Anakin turns his attention back to his food, nodding. He'd think of something, probably several somethings. "I will."

[neverwantedtobesith]

Garth'zel is just going to use the quiet now as a chance to think about what to teach Anakin once they were done eating. It's probably a good idea to start teaching him how to defend himself using purely non-Force-involved methods, he decides. Ways involving the Force are going to have to wait until Anakin has a better grasp on using it.

[imaperson]

Anakin is quite as he eats, not knowing what to say or even really do. There's a lot to think about and he wants to spin off on his thoughts, and it's difficult to do that while he's eating. But he's also reluctant to not eat, even if he believes he'll be able to get it later.

[neverwantedtobesith]

"We'll do a couple of things that aren't too active to give our food time to settle before I start working on teaching you self defense," he finally says. "Ways to defend yourself using the Force are going to have to wait until you have a better grasp on using it, but there's nothing keeping you from how to fight like normal people in the meantime." Hopefully, tonight the kid won't need prompting to go to bed if he can tire him out enough.

[imaperson]

"Ok." Anakin doesn't say he knows how to fight - it's a life skill on Tatooine and life skills he's not slow to pick up. "What are we going to do?"

It's at least something to do, which he does actually need.

[neverwantedtobesith]

"Mmm, we'll start with me finding out what you already know and go from there." In other words, it was hard to say. And there was likely to be corrections to things Anakin already knew so he could be more effective as a fighter.

[imaperson]

"Ok...but you're a lot bigger. And I'm probably not supposed to really hurt you, right?" He was more than a little confused how sparring would work, he'd never done that before, or practiced at a fight.

[neverwantedtobesith]

"Anyone you're likely to need to fight off are also likely to be a lot bigger than you are," Garth'zel points out. "And yes, which is why I will appreciate it if you use your words for certain parts, rather than actions."

Anakin should know the ones. The ones that result in a very in pain adult male curled in a ball. Along with angry.

[imaperson]

"There's some species with adults my size." Or smaller even! Watto was. "Ok. I can do that." He was pretty sure anyway.

"You're not going to actually hurt me, are you?"

[neverwantedtobesith]

"Most you'll meet are probably approximately human-sized," Garth'zel points out. "And no, I won't hurt you on purpose. One or both of us are likely to get a bruise or two out of this as we work out how best to take our size and skill levels into account. Among other things."

[imaperson]

"But that doesn't mean Rhett have the same weaknesses." He'd learned that on streets of Tatooine. But satisfied with the answer to not hurt him on purpose, Anakin settled, waiting.

[neverwantedtobesith]

Garth'zel finishes off his food. "You done?"

So he knows how much he's putting away to be washed. Then it'll be time to find something fairly quiet for Anakin to do as his food settles.

[imaperson]

"Yeah I guess." He's acceptedd the idea of "food will be availible later" so he's trying to not eat until his stomach hurts. He's also missing his mom's cooking.

"Next time we talk to Mom, can you ask her how to cook her meat pies?" He didn't mean now and he didn't expect them to taste as good, but he liked them.

[neverwantedtobesith]

"I might need a reminder, but I can do that," he says with a blink. Alright, that was slightly out of nowhere.

He gathers up their used things to get them set up for washing. "You still have that project of yours from yesterday to do?"

Assuming the kid hasn't finished it by now.

[imaperson]

"I'll remind you." Anakin nods.

"Yes, I'm still working on it." It's answered with a solemn nod. He's taking it very seriously, so he's working with a lot of focus and care.

[neverwantedtobesith]

"Okay. Go work on that, then. I'll probably get you after a half hour or so." Which should be plenty of time to give the kid's food to settle.

Along with giving himself more than enough time to work out the specifics of what they'd be doing after finding out how much Anakin actually knows.

[imaperson]

"Okay." He scoots off, taking up a seat on the floor under his bunk as a place to work, taking until he's called or Garth'zel makes an in-person appearance, Anakin having found a grease pencil and using it to draw out his ideas on a piece of metal, cleaning it off as needed.

[neverwantedtobesith]

Once Garth'zel's certain enough time has passed, he puts in an appearance. "All right. Let's go work on this in the hold."

Given there was plenty of space for maneuverability in there. Also, best to get the precedent of physical training being in there started early.

[imaperson]

When Garth'zel finally calls a halt to the 'lesson', Anakin is breathing hard, red faced, and sweat slicked, including his hair which has started to curl.

What he doesn't having technique or formal training he has in enthusiasm and stubbornness. And he doesn't really know how to pull his punches yet, meaning a few knuckles where busted and he is a little sore.

He doesn't mind, and he hadn't winced when the skin over his knuckles had split either.

Instead he waits for feedback.