fandomhigh | Around the World in Sixteen Challenges, Thursday, March 10, 2016

Today found the students on an island off the coast of Cape Town, South Africa, an enormous, flat mountain in the background. "Welcome to Robben Island," Anakin said. "This was an island used for banishment and imprisonment--especially of political prisoners--for hundreds of years of South African history, but is most remembered for being the prison for Nelson Mandela, the man who eventually helped to overthrow decades of apartheid rule in this country."

He glanced to Obi-Wan, hoping he'd done the research on this place, too.

"Mandela went on to become president of this nation," Obi-Wan continued fluidly. "As did Kgalema Motlanthe and Jacob Zuma, two other famous inmates of this place. Before that time, many other local leaders were held here. And before them, it was used to isolate people suffering from a condition called leprosy from the rest of the country."

"We're not going to have you run through here because that would be tacky and disrespectful," Anakin said, "but we couldn't come to this part of the world and not let you see some of the history--and not all history is pleasant."

"So you may take your time to consider this place, if you wish," Obi-Wan said quietly. "For many of you, this is part of your history, and it is worthy of your time and attention. We will move on from here for your first task. Soon."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"... What happened in South Carolina?"

"I haven't driven that far yet," Anakin replied.

Obi-Wan sighed. "Anakin," he said, "Have you learned nothing?"

... about being stupidly competitive.

"Probably not," Anakin said.

"You could at least try not to antagonize your opponents to such levels," said Obi-Wan, who had never been paintballing in his life and yet knew exactly how Anakin would've been thrown out of so many.

"They're just whiny about losing."

All of them. At every single course. Yup.

Obi-Wan gave him a dry look.

"Yes," he said, "I am sure that they are the whiners."

"Don't give me that look," Anakin said. "It makes me feel like I'm fourteen again."

"You did this when you were fourteen as well," Obi-Wan remembered.

Don't even, Anakin.

"I was much less subtle about it, then," Anakin said.

For a Skywalker definition of subtle, maybe.

"How far did you say you had to drive to participate in this hobby now?" Obi-Wan said pointedly.

"...a few states," Anakin admitted. "Half of it's Aeryn's fault too, you know."

"And since when has 'she did it too' ever been an excuse?" Obi-Wan asked.

He was repressing a lot of amusement, here.

"When you were blaming me for half of the trouble you got into," Anakin replied, smiling.

"It was hardly my fault that you were always intent on running into trouble," Obi-Wan argued. "Someone had to watch your back."

It wasn't like he'd enjoyed it, or anything.

Really.

"Because it was such a trial for you," Anakin teased.

"I have suffered," Obi-Wan said firmly, though he was not entirely successful in repressing a smile.

"Well, yes," Anakin said, smiling back, "but it wasn't all my doing."

"Name one time it wasn't," Obi-Wan challenged.

"Jar-Jar Binks," Anakin retorted, smirking.

"That was Master Qui-Gon," Obi-Wan sighed, "Which is almost the same."

"You were just made to suffer, apparently," Anakin said.

"I'm glad you see that now," Obi-Wan said, pointedly ignoring any less casual implications of this.

Anakin reached out to ruffle Obi-Wan's hair, half to be a brat and half as an emotionally stunted "I'm sorry" attempt.

Obi-Wan rolled his eyes at him expressively.

Five seconds later, he was giving Anakin a completely mature shove in the shoulder.

Re: Talk to Anakin or Obi-Wan

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