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 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."

[sith_happened]

"When I was younger I would have vehemently disagreed with you," Anakin said. "But there was no court we could try her before."

[brat_inslayage]

"Oh, me from a couple of years ago would have punched me in the face for saying it, too," Kennedy replied. "Don't get me wrong, I'm glad it's not on my hands. But what else was there to do, right?"

[sith_happened]

Anakin nodded. "It's part of why I teach Ethics," he said. "To come to grips with hard choices that aren't what we wish we would pick."

[brat_inslayage]

"If you could get royalties for every time I could hear you asking what I was gonna do in a situation," Kennedy began dryly. "Probably a fair exchange for every time I rolled my eyes in class."

[sith_happened]

Anakin laughed. "At least you learned?"

[brat_inslayage]

"Really did," Kennedy confirmed, and broke into a grin. "You know. Just in case you were ever wondering if it all pays off."

[sith_happened]

"Every time I step before a new class," Anakin admitted.

[brat_inslayage]

"Well, you know how kids are," Kennedy said as if she were that far removed from her teenage years already. "Sometimes it's just fun to give teachers a hard time. Or seems like it in the moment, y'know. I used to sit in class and wonder when the hell I was ever going to need any of that stuff, and then later something would happen and I'd be all 'oh. So, now. Gotcha.'"

That reminded her of all the times she'd ever tried to drive Constance crazy. "I wish my Watcher could know all her lessons were worth it," she murmured.