Apprentice Meme

[lothrat]

Master and apprentice. Teacher and student. Whatever you want to call the roles, there's something special about the bond that is shared by a mentor and someone learning from them. Sometimes it's planned, sometimes it develops without either one realizing it's there until one day it just is. This meme is for those moments where that bond is growing, whether the student is learning, or showing what they've learned, or whether the master is realizing just how out of their depth they are trying to teach whatever it is, whether the moments are serious or hilarious. Or maybe things aren't working out so much. Maybe there's a disagreement about something. Is the master or apprentice shirking? Controversial things being taught? Do we need to sit down and have a talk?

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Have at and have fun!

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[seriousest]

[ Kanan knows it isn't easy. He learned much from Master Billaba, but after the last battle with his Master, he had to figure out the rest of it own his own. It hadn't be easy teaching himself, especially in a world where Jedi were hunted instead of revered.

He slips back to reality, leaving behind cold, dangerous streets and bounty raids to instead focus on his apprentice. Kanan smiles. ]

Hey! You've got it! Watch out for my feet, though. [ It's a light jest, a sort of teasing jab. He can still feel his toe throbbing, but that's the price of teaching, isn't it? ]

You're doing great. Try to close the lid now. Focus on the parts, how they work together. You can do this, Ezra.

[lothrat]

[Despite his concentration, Ezra's mouth twitches up - from the praise, from the joke, from the confidence that Kanan has in him. It's hard to tell which one lifts his spirits the most, but really, it's a combination of all three.]

Maybe you should watch your feet. They're your feet, you know.

[Speaking of the price of teaching a teenager...

But no, sass aside, he's going to do as Kanan asks, lowering the lid instead of just letting it drop. That's the easy part, though. Getting the lock to close is something else entirely. That requires focusing on one part separate from the rest, on slipping the latch into place. Such a small thing, but the effort shows on his face. Up and over and down and in...

It feels like an eternity, even if it's only just minutes, but the latch finally slides into place.]

[seriousest]

Yeah, well I wouldn't have to watch my feet if someone wasn't dropping tool boxes on them in the first place.

[ Who is the adult here? It's difficult to say. Kanan goes quiet however, watching as the toolbox lid drops, the lock struggling to latch. He says nothing, and folds his arms over his chest.

He wants Ezra to succeed. He knows the satisfaction of mastering a Force ability. Opening and closing a toolbox might be a small step, but it's an important one all the same. The focus and attention to detail are important. When the latch slides into place, Kanan lets out a breath. ]

See? It wasn't that hard, now was it? [ A grin, and he thumps the boy's back. ] The more you do this, the more confident you'll become. Then we can move on to something a little more complex. I could probably use the practice, too.

[lothrat]

Hey, you knew I wouldn't be perfect at this on the first shot. As my Master, you should have been prepared.

[And yet, Ezra can't help the wide, exhausted smile that spreads across his face at his success. The smile he turns up at Kanan the moment his Master puts a hand on his back.]

Is that a promise for more lessons in the near future?

[Does he sound eager? Maybe just a bit.]

[seriousest]

[ Kanan is proud in his own way. He'd enjoyed his time with his own Master in time, and he can only hope to be half the teacher she was. Ezra is fiery but capable, and there's something in him that reminds Kanan of himself. ]

Don't get ahead of yourself. We have a real job to do on top of all this, you know.

[ There's a laugh in his voice, though, an ease that doesn't often make its way to the surface. The aftereffects of the war, the struggle with the Empire... it all weighs heavily on Kanan's mind. ] I guess we could figure something out, though. Next hand or foot you injure though and you'll have to clean out the latrines and maybe even scrub Chopper down. Got it?

[lothrat]

I know, I know. That's why I said near future instead of naming a date.

[He knows they have to work these lessons in between the cracks that their uncertain schedule allows. He's not going to let that deflate his mood.

Instead, he'll sneak a nudge of his shoulder in, since Kanan already so conveniently has his arm almost-sort-of around him.]

I like how you placed scrubbing Chopper as even lower than scrubbing latrines.

[He is totally teasing there.

And not necessarily arguing.]

[seriousest]

I'll let you give it a try before you laugh it off.

[ Trying to catch the droid is the real trick. Astromechs seem to be a vain type of droid, and Kanan isn't about to interfere with that. Certainly not when they have the ability to shock him or light him on fire. He rather likes his limbs in tact, thank you very much. ]

Want to make a bet on it? [ He grins. Who is the child and who is the adult here? Hard to say. ] I say you can't pin him down and get him cleaned up, and if you do? We'll have a lesson every week, even if it means I lose a little sleep.

[lothrat]

Who's laughing? I'm not laughing.

[Yes, he totally is.]

I'm agreeing with you, Master. [He grins cheekily.] Trust me, I already definitely know I'd rather scrub a toilet than Chopper any day. Not that I couldn't, mind you.

[Is that a glint of challenge in his eyes?]

If you really mean that, then prepare to lose a lot of sleep.

[seriousest]

Hey, I said one lesson a week.

[ Kanan enjoys these moments, where they aren't so focused on war and the rebellion. They're just master and padawan -- and that is a very strange, but very nice, thought. ]

But sure, get him clean and I'll let you choose a lesson time every week. Make it too late and you'll regret it. You'll really lose the value of my expert teaching if I'm tired, you know. So take it easy. [ AKA he's old, and he feels old sometimes, so play nice Ezra. Or don't. He wholly expects to regret making this bargain. ]

[lothrat]

[He's already making plans to figure out how to bribe Chopper into cooperating. Or getting Hera to side with him into ordering the little droid to at least hold still. Kanan knows him well, dangling an offer like a reliable training time in front of him to get Ezra motivated.]

Don't worry, I won't be too mean.

[It's his lost sleep, too, after all, even if he's young enough to handle such things a little better. He's also a teenager who does like to sleep.]

We done for today? Or is there a part two to this?

[seriousest]

Probably better to spare breaking my other toes, so we'll call it quits today.

[ Though the session was short, Kanan can't help the tiny swell of pride he feels blooming in his chest. He doubted his abilities as a teacher, but seeing Ezra's progress today, though small, has bolstered his spirit. ]

Aren't you supposed to be off proving me wrong? [ He has to clean up the mess they've made, anyway. Hera won't take kindly to her tools being scattered outside the ship. ] You're wasting precious time, you know.

[lothrat]

Who says I'm wasting time?

[Ezra shoots that back with a grin, then taps the side of his head.]

I'm already making plans. Just wait and see!

[And with enthusiasm giving him renewed energy, he's already racing back up the ramp. (Must be nice to be young.) Sorry, Kanan, looks like he's ditching you to clean up by yourself.

But then again, Kanan did tell him to leave.]