"As long as there's light, we've got a chance."

So just saw the "Clone etiquette on mistaking names" Post and now I'm curious. Do the clones ever test if the Jedi can really always tell them apart, and how do they do it?

(original post)

"How do you think the Jedi always know who we are?" Wooley asked curiously, face scrunched up in thought. He was flopped sideways over his bunk, head and legs hanging off of either side. His upside-down look of confusion was very amusing, judging by Waxer's snort.

"Force osik," Boil grunted, not looking up from where he was touching up the paint on his vambraces.

"But how does the Force know?" Wooley pushed.

"I got a batchmate in the Coruscant Guard," Paint said with a shrug. "Apparently General Yoda told some of them once that all of us feel different in the Force, whatever that means."

"Could always ask the General, I suppose," Waxer mused. "The Commander probably wouldn't be very happy with us bothering him, though."

The entire group grimaced at the thought. No one enjoyed displeasing Commander Cody.

"Well... we could test it."

All eyes snapped over towards Jinx, who flushed a little under the sudden attention.

"Test it?" Wooley asked, righting himself to get a better look at the medic. "How?"

Looking like he regretted everything, Jinx waved a vague hand between himself and Wooley. "We could swap armor and see if the General notices. Any vod worth his water ration will catch us out immediately, but I know a nat-born officer wouldn't know the difference. The General is the wildcard, here."

The silence weighed heavily. Swapping armor wasn't a suggestion to take lightly - their armor was an important part of their individualism.

But, well... Wooley's question had stirred up curiosity in all of them.

How did the Jedi know? Was it actually Force osik, as Boil had said, or were they just exceptionally observant?

"...fine," Wooley finally said, looking torn between excitement and discomfort. "But if someone starts asking me to patch up a wound, I'm ending the whole thing."

Jinx laughed. "Fair enough."

---/---/---

"Afternoon, General."

Obi-Wan looked up with a smile, mouth opening to return the greeting, but something was... wrong. His brow furrowed as he took in the familiar armor.

"Wooley? What are you doing in Jinx's armor?"

The trooper paused, disbelief radiating from his Force presence before he pulled the helmet off, revealing his stunned expression and fluffy mohawk. "How did you do that, sir?"

Obi-Wan gave him an amused look. "The Force works in mysterious ways, my young friend."

Wooley threw his hands up with exasperation and turned to call over his shoulder. "You were right, Boil!"

Waxer, Boil, and Jinx-in-Wooley's-armor looked around the corner, snickering quietly.

"Told you it was Force osik," Boil grinned. "Pardon the Alderaanian, General."

Obi-Wan waved off the cursing, unbothered. "You know," he said, still smiling, "you could have just asked."

"That's what I said!" Waxer called.

The troopers laughed, and Obi-Wan smiled, and for a few moments, they could just enjoy the silliness and forget the war.

Consider, Obi Wan during Attack of the Clones with his hair in a bun.

As much as I’d like to oblige you, anon, I just don’t think the Big Jedi Mullet ™ is long enough to go in a bun?  I’m not sure it’s even long enough to go into a ponytail very effectively? Besides, we all know that it looks best when it’s free and unfettered.

As consolation though, here’s Qui-Gon rocking a Very Serene Jedi Bun