annexednet | (Video)

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(Since she has been made aware of her prior stay, Padmé decides to use her tablet to send out a message. She is pale, but strangely resolved to this new plight. Her hair is ornately braided, but her clothing is plain. She's just happy to have clothes and to be rid of that white gown!)

Greetings, everyone. Some of you might recognize me; I want to speak to you if that is the case.

(The faster she is up to speed, the better.)

For those I am encountering for the first time, hello. I'm Padmé. Some of my family is present and -

I would like very much to protect them. I'm sure you can understand the feeling.

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Padmé Skywalker. (She...can finally say it.) I'm not sure what those first two mean, but I would like to learn.

Third one must be old hat, huh? [He's like this. Don't mind him.] I should warn you that if you ask me about either, you're getting into one hell of a deep explanation that crosses the lines of philosophy, ontology, spirituality, and asskickery. Usually when I start off, I say 'everything is martial arts' and that's when people roll their eyes at me and tune out. Fondly, sometimes, to be fair!

I didn't mean that. I just didn't think it as important, forgive me. (The first two had distracted her too much.)

Asskickery? Is that a school of thought? (Where does she sign up?) I won't tune out if you wouldn't mind explaining. I'm very interested.

[Okay then! Morgan parks his rear up against a nearby wall. Time to get comfortable!]

Let's start from familiar principles. Tell me a skill you're good at.

Diplomacy. Politics. I spent my life serving my world, Naboo. (Most of her life anyway. There were those pesky infant to small child years.)

[Perhaps unsurprisingly, Morgan immediately underestimates what she means. But who wouldn't?]

Perfect. Then, over time, you doubtless noticed the progression -- when you started, no doubt you had to think carefully about not just the content of your words, but what words you were using. You had to think hard about what facts you needed to remember and refer to outside sources frequently. And then with time, you got more comfortable with it. You didn't have to think about what words you wanted to use to convey what you wanted to, but instead you got from inside your head to outside more fluidly and naturally. You developed an intuition for what knowledge you'd need, and a greater ability to pull it out of your memory without having to search for it. Am I right?

Yes, but I never allowed myself to get too comfortable. Naboo is slow to change; we were experiencing a time of peace when I was elected queen, so the people just wanted it to continue. However I had to keep an eye on the planets around us - on the system in general - because while Naboo might be slow to anger, slow to act, others might be the opposite.

I was constantly learning where other planets are concerned. Yet, what you said, does apply to how I felt about Naboo.

So there you go. Unity of mind, body, and spirit. Your spirit's desire is shaped in your mind and spoken through your words and body language, without any interruption or need to think about what you're thinking about. That's the essence of martial arts.

I think I understand. The Jedi have similar ideas, I believe, though I never fully understood them. Being one with the universe sounds amazing.

As far as I've gotten into it, it's not bad, I can tell you that much. [Morgan shrugs. True unity is out of reach of any mortal, he's sure of that -- if his own master hasn't achieved it, no one ever has.] Everyone does some of it. Even something as simple as walking, you had to think about once upon a time. Some of us just embrace the whole 'literally everything' part of it a lot more!

Is it peaceful? It seems like it would be. (True unity would be out of the reach of mortals, but if someone could come close? That would be worthwhile.) I may try to think more like you, then, and see where it gets me.

Is it peaceful...? [Morgan tips his head back a bit, wondering how to answer that question. Then he shrugs.]

Peace is what you make of it, you know? Are you more at peace in the middle of a furious diplomatic conflict, or a quiet and friendly gathering that no one actually wants to be at? If you move with the flow, you can't be disturbed, but sometimes you need to redirect or change the flow because you can't move with it and maintain yourself.

It seems like you are making great sacrifices to stay balanced. (Now she has to ask...) Have you ever allowed yourself to fall in love? Or is that forbidden?

Gosh, I'm super flattered, but I think we should go on a date or two first. [Morgan feigns innocent embarrassment, which doesn't hide the pure mischief in his eyes. Maybe nothing can.]

[Only for a moment though, then he drops the act.] I was very happily married, if only for a short time. She passed away, unfortunately. Wouldn't have traded it for the world though.

I'm sorry, I'm a taken woman. (She isn't buying that innocent embarrassment, mister.) I ask because the Jedi forbade their members from marrying or falling in love.

(However... His answer is sweet.)

I hope you see her again.

Well. I'm not here to judge or criticize other people or philosophies, but I will say that I disagree with that.

[Aside from which, how do you 'forbid' an emotion?]

I disagree with it too. Love can be the greatest power for good. Denying yourself it is accepting loneliness.

(She isn't sure. Forbidding might mean ignoring in this case.)

[Morgan waves a hand vaguely.] Let me guess, it's an ascetic order? No worldly attachments and all that?

For the most part, but they work with people constantly. It's not as if they are shut away.

That sort of attitude... the detachment from all worldly things... that has some merit, I think. Attachment is suffering, that much is true, buuut that's by virtue of not knowing when to let go.

Humans learn by doing. If you've never been attached to anyone, how can you know when to let go? Sometimes attachments happen spontaneously. The Jedi help people in a variety of circumstances; how can they not be drawn to one person or another?

[Morgan nods.] Love's a particularly powerful form of attachment, but it's hardly the only one, for that matter. What about family? What about friendship? Are those out too? Where do you draw the line, and why?

I don't know if I can answer that. There are many things I would do for my family and friends that would fly in the face of Jedi values. I believe when an attachment becomes...overwhelming and distracting...that is when it interferes with their rules.

Edited 2023-01-31 03:15 (UTC)

[Morgan has to grin at that.] Well, I meant it as a rhetorical question anyway, so don't worry about the answer. I like that, though. Attachments are dangerous when you can't accept losing them.

I'm guilty of walking into that danger. I couldn't bear to lose him or for him to not know how I felt. Some dangers are worthwhile in my opinion. It's not always about the greater good.

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