Office hours [all day Tuesday]

[sith_happened]

Anakin was in his office catching up on the morning news (not that Rory hadn't given him an earful about the Senate candiate from Missouri) and wondering about the ethical ramifications of just flying there and punching him in the head.

Probably wrong, but worth it, he decided.

His office door was open.

Comments

[brat_inslayage]

Kennedy had to take a few minutes out of her extreme slow-motion packing job to wander down the hall, really. She'd been in too many situations where she could almost hear Anakin saying 'I told you so' (and wanting to hit him for it as often as not, to be honest), and it made her weirdly nostalgic.

She stood in the doorway for a second or two, leaning against the frame with her arms crossed. "Hey."

[sith_happened]

Anakin glanced up from the Huffington Post. "Hey yourself. Last day?"

[brat_inslayage]

Kennedy nodded briefly. "Yup. After this, the students're all yours... collective-yours, I mean. I'm just gonna have to settle for checking in every now and then." She half-smiled. "Just wanted to stop in before I take off."

[sith_happened]

"Where are you heading?" Anakin asked, gesturing toward the chair.

[brat_inslayage]

Kennedy did take the seat as invited, but not before turning the chair around so she could lean her arms against the backrest. "Brazil. Giles wanted a Slayer in South America, and Will and I got into the University of Sao Paulo exchange program. So it's work, not so much pleasure, but hopefully there's room for that too."

Oh, like she wouldn't make room for it.

[sith_happened]

"I heard about Brazil," Anakin said a little dryly. "I'm sure you'll find room for fun. Will you be back next summer?"

[brat_inslayage]

Kennedy glanced off to the side, apparently giving the question some real thought.

"I can't say for sure," she said finally. "Maybe if it seems like a good idea when the time rolls around I will, but right now? Not really feeling it."

[sith_happened]

Anakin looked a little disappointed to hear it. "Don't be a stranger, though, all right? Portalocity still owes us massive favors."

[brat_inslayage]

Kennedy smiled apologetically. "Oh, don't worry, you can't get rid of me forever. I'll be here for homecoming, definitely. I just..." She trailed off, again with that thoughtful expression. "Trying to live in two worlds at the same time is kinda stressy when I'm actually trying to be responsible."

[sith_happened]

Anakin nodded. "I've seen it happen before," he said. "I thought my granddaughter was going to drop out of school for a while, balancing here and home. Do one thing, and do it well."

[brat_inslayage]

"Not just that. I guess I finally realized it's a little like trying to hang on to the past," Kennedy admitted. "Being here, trying to go all good-old-days. Which... really not healthy."

That could get messy enough even without people casting vindictive hexes to make things worse.

"Besides, it's not like this place will be short on kickass teachers without me around."

[sith_happened]

"Well, we'll be one short," Anakin said with a tiny smile, "but I know what you mean. When Homecoming comes around I'm reminded rather starkly how old I've become."

[brat_inslayage]

"Yay, something new to look forward to," Kennedy said, deadpan for all of a second before she cracked a grin. "Maybe I'll come back and bring a couple of canes so we can stand around and shake 'em at the kids, and yell about getting off our lawn."

[sith_happened]

"Talk about how the invasions were so much scarier back during our time," Anakin added.

[brat_inslayage]

Kennedy laughed. "Barefoot, in the tinsel snow, uphill both ways while avoiding a herd of stampeding Alots..."

[sith_happened]

"You'll miss it," Anakin said, "but not all of it."

[brat_inslayage]

"Not all of it," Kennedy agreed, her expression darkening a touch. "That last side trip into an alternate world was something I could've lived without."

[sith_happened]

"Were you still alive?" Anakin asked very dryly.

[brat_inslayage]

Kennedy opened her mouth to say something, snapped it shut immediately, and nodded. "Point. You... I can't really say you win, can I?"

[sith_happened]

"I didn't have to see her stupid kitten plates?" Anakin offered. "That's kind of like winning."

[brat_inslayage]

"'s true," Kennedy acknowledged. "They were kinda horrible."

[sith_happened]

"No kinda about it," Anakin said.

[brat_inslayage]

"Okay, horrifying. In my world, we might suspect them of being actually evil. Still, they rank a little bit below that stupid spell, if you ask me," Kennedy replied, mostly offhanded but with just a tiny bit of residual anger.

[sith_happened]

"No argument there," Anakin said icily. "I'm glad she's gone."

[brat_inslayage]

"For good," Kennedy added in a low, tense voice. "I know I'm not supposed to feel that way about humans-- my world, your mileage may vary-- but there are a couple of exceptions."