admittedly, although being sent on a mission with the senator was the last thing kenobi expected ( for, as the dice often fell, it was not he filling this position but his apprentice ), he could not deny that they were both, in all honesty, the two best possible candidates for such a powder-keg of brewing hostilities, and he was glad to have the experienced politician by his side - even if only to spare he himself from the intricate web of political maneuvering. still . . . the peculiar sensation of embarking on a mission solely with the senator, without their usual headstrong counterpart skywalker, was not lost on him.
thankfully, her catching onto his momentary slip into his usual role of guidance was not something she met with offence - he would never have presumed to otherwise give himself authority over the senator when it came to matters of diplomacy, yet it seemed fitting that she found his demeanor bringing a warmth to her expression instead. where others would jump to 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐞, 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐞𝐠𝐨 - such things did not seem to occur to her. it was a welcome reminder of her character, and something he had not had quite the chance to appreciate so acutely beforehand, yet was now able to perceive much more clearly that it was just the two of them. ❝ perhaps you could remind anakin of that next time you see him, ❞ glancing over at her, a lighthearted smile breaks through his otherwise serious countenance. a last moment of brevity, he thought, to offer her, before they were to land, though it quickly faded upon hearing her . . . all too precise of a question. ❝ it's a thought that weighs heavily on my mind as well, ❞ he admits. ❝ the fog of war obscures broader consequences, making it easy to lose sight of them. ❞ he did not seem comfortable commenting on it further, for doing so could inadvertently risk criticising the order's actions, or lacktherof, around such events.
shaking as it seeks to stabilise itself upon landing, the ship finally settles upon the moon. obi-wan turns to her, his resolve visible in his eyes, pushing whatever doubt that had surfaced back into the deeper recesses of his mind. ❝ all we can do is persevere in our efforts to defend the values we hold dear whenever they do present themselves, such as today. ❞ and with that, he hops down from the platform, steady feet planting onto the dusty surface. turning back to her, a hand is offered, 𝐚 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧'𝐬 𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞. ❝ the moment has arrived, senator. ❞