"Aren't you a little old to be playing with toys?" Qui-Gon questioned, stepping around the messy pile of scraps on his living room floor.
"They're not toys, Master. They're models," Obi-Wan insisted earnestly, looking up.
Qui-Gon's eyes twinkled. "Of course," he said, trying unsuccessfully to hide a smile.
"Now you're making fun of me," said Obi-Wan, crossing his arms and shrugging his braid back over his shoulder. It wasn't quite long enough however, and it promptly fell forwards again.
Qui-Gon laughed. "Never, Padawan," he said, grinning broadly.
Obi-Wan tried to maintain his pout, but he too began to laugh. "I guess I do look kind of silly, huh?"
Qui-Gon winked at him. "Just a bit."
"Thanks," said Obi-Wan with a snort.
"I'll be in my room if you need me," Qui-Gon said, turning and retreating from the chaos of the living room.
Obi-Wan bent over his creation, swearing softly as his fingers stuck to the wing of his model fighter. "Damn glue," he muttered.
"Language, Padawan," Qui-Gon called serenely from the adjacent room.
How *does* he do that?
Two hours later, his Council report finished, Qui-Gon emerged from the relative peace of his own room. He found the common room in much the same state as he'd left it. Obi-Wan could be heard rummaging around in the kitchen.
"Remember to wash the glue off your hands before you eat anything," Qui-Gon called out, walking in to the kitchen.
"Yes, Master," Obi-Wan replied, setting his snack down on the counter and moving to the sink to wash.
"Hey, Master," Obi-Wan continued as he dried his hands on a cloth. "What happens if you eat this stuff anyway?" he asked, gesturing towards the glue on the table.
"You'd hallucinate for a couple of hours," Qui-Gon responded promptly.
Obi-Wan blinked, startled. "Really?"
"Yes, really."
The two of them moved to the table and, seating themselves, began to nibble on the snack Obi-Wan had scavenged.
"I've never hallucinated before," Obi-Wan said, reaching for the tube. Qui-Gon smacked his hand.
"And you don't want to."
Obi-Wan looked hurt. "I was just kidding," he said in a sulky tone. "I wasn't actually going to eat it."
"I'm glad to hear it," Qui-Gon replied. "Because after you'd hallucinate, you'd start to vomit - and then you'd sink into a coma."
"Now you're teasing me," Obi-Wan protested. "They'd never have let me have the stuff if it were that dangerous."
Qui-Gon smiled. "But you're not willing to test it, all the same, are you?"
"Uh… no thanks."
Qui-Gon chuckled. "I didn't think so." He reached for a cracker and spread some green vegetable paste on it.
Obi-Wan wrinkled his nose. "I can't believe you like that stuff," he said.
"It's good," Qui-Gon informed him. "But I believe it is an acquired taste."
"Acquired after many, many years," Obi-Wan said, grinning.
"Brat," Qui-Gon growled, but his eyes twinkled with merriment.
The Jedi Master's commlink buzzed. He switched it with one flick of a finger.
"Yes?"
"Qui-Gon, it's Mace. I need to come speak with you - in private. Is it alright if I meet you in your rooms?"
Qui-Gon flashed Obi-Wan a *look*.
"I didn't do anything, I swear," Obi-Wan whispered.
Qui-Gon smiled faintly.
"Of course, Mace. You can come right over." Qui-Gon switched off the commlink. He turned to look Obi-Wan straight in the face.
Second-guessing the question that was coming, Obi-Wan stated "It wasn't me."
Qui-Gon laughed. "I'm sure it wasn't, Padawan. Actually, I was going to request that you pick up your toys before Master Windu arrives."
"They're not toys!"
Qui-Gon smiled. "Just clean them up. Now."
Despite the smile, Obi-Wan knew an order when he heard one. With a put-upon sigh, he rose from the table and began collecting his models and the scraps from the floor. Noting the time, Qui-Gon began to assist him.
A knock on the door brought Obi-Wan's cleaning to a halt.
"Hello, Master Windu," he said respectfully.
"Hello, Obi-Wan. Where is your Master?"
"Right here," said Qui-Gon, emerging from the kitchen. Too late, Obi-Wan realized his Master was still holding one of the models in his hand.
Master Windu gave his friend a bemused smile.
"Aren't you a little old to be playing with toys,
Qui-Gon?"