Not Good at Nice

Karal, feeling more than a little nervous, offered him a small bow. It just felt right. "It's an honour to meet you, sir."

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Anakin nodded back. "Finally," he said evenly. "Molly has very positive things to say about you. Do you deserve them?"

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Karal took the question seriously, glancing at Molly for a moment before replying. "If someone says good things about you, it's a gift, a measure of their care for you. I don't think it can be a question of deserving," he said slowly, tone respectful but certain. "All I can do is try my hardest not to disappoint her by living up to her good opinion of me."

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Molly beamed at Karal. "He deserves them," she said.

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"You're giving me cavities," Anakin teased, rolling his eyes. He turned his attention back to Karal. "You think before you speak, a rare trait around here. Are you a diplomat?"

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Karal didn't shuffle his feet nervously, but it was close. "I was briefly my country's ambassador," he answered. "Thankfully that time is over. I'm a priest, a Sun-Priest of Vkandis Sunlord."

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Anakin's smile turned much warmer. "Like a Jedi."

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He blushed, thinking of what Jaina and Luke had told him of the Jedi. "Perhaps a little. But the Jedi are," he was struggling with words, "are more," he finally said, knowing it was inadequate.

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"Perhaps," Anakin said, "but being an ambassador at your age is nothing to be ashamed of. I know a planet where the children choose a life of public service before they are ten years old. Is your culture similar?"

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"I was taken to the Cloister when I was nine, to serve Vkandis, so it is similar, I think," he said, skirting around the issue of choice. "But I was never supposed to be an ambassador." Completely beyond his control, a spike of sorrow made him pause, and he took a calming breath. "My master was Karse's ambassador. When he died, I had to step forward. I only ever wanted to be a scholar-priest."

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Anakin's forehead creased. He hadn't meant to make the boy upset.

"Destiny has a way of changing our plans on us," he said quietly. "I know my life has had its share of curves."

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"I wish it had been otherwise," he replied quietly, then deliberately set aside his momentary sadness, giving Anakin a small smile. "I'm not sure it's the same as destiny, but Vkandis has His plans, and all I can do is have faith and follow them, wherever they lead."

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Anakin still looked more worried than would be considered strictly polite.

"Vkandis?"

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"Vkandis Sunlord," he explained, wondering about the concern. "He is the god whom I serve."

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Anakin rubbed his head. "Of course," he said, looking momentarily flustered.

It disappeared almost immediately behind his mask of Jedi calm once more.

"So priests in your sect are allowed to pursue relationships?"

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Molly jumped in, wanting to stop another person from thinking she didn't know what she was doing. "They can, but Karal's duty comes first."

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"Molly is correct." He reached for Molly's hand. "Sun-Priests are expected to be neither celibate nor chaste," he explained, then, realising exactly what he'd said and to who, he went bright red, right down to his toes. "Not that that is an issue! It's just the way the rule is phrased!"

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A flash of disappointment washed over Molly, but she didn't react outwardly.

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Anakin gave Molly a sharp look--he was perfectly happy never, ever thinking about That in context that came near her--before turning that same penetrating gaze on Karal. "Indeed."

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Karal shrank in on himself a little under that look, and nodded quickly, wishing that the floor might open up and swallow him. "I have nothing but the greatest respect for Molly. I would never to do anything which would harm her or her reputation." Hey, he came from a society where that mattered. "That was one time when thinking before I spoke would have been a very good idea."

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Molly sighed and rolled her eyes. "New topic now please."

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Another sharp look.

"Do you find your previous life to be very much at odds with life in Fandom?" he asked.

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This suddenly felt like an interrogation, but Karal knew he'd brought it on himself. "It's very different in Fandom. Life at the Temple was structured, with nearly every minute filled. I'm not used to having so much of my time free."

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"I'm sure you've found productive, academic ways to spend it," Anakin said.

There was an unspoken "or you should" in that sentence.

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