Office hours

[sith_happened]

Anakin's desk was covered in electronics as he spun a tiny screwdriver between his fingers and consulted his schematics again.

It was easier to keep his mind off of unpleasant thoughts when his hands were busy.

The door was open.

[OOC: What Anakin and Molly talked about NFB, please.]

Comments

[sith_happened]

"I'll add it to the list," Anakin said.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"Yes, because stubborn people are very frustrating," she added, trying not to smile and failing.

[sith_happened]

"I, personally, have no experience at all dealing with frustrating or stubborn people," Anakin said, nodding. "Especially not named Gilmore."

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"I'm very flexible," Rory deadpanned.

[sith_happened]

Anakin cracked up.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

Rory paused, then turned a very flattering shade of fucshia.

"Not dirty," she mumbled.

[sith_happened]

Anakin? Still laughing.

It was sounding a bit like he wasn't able to stop. That'll teach him to hold on too tightly to emotions.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

Rory reached over and thwapped him. "I didn't mean it dirtily! Shut up!"

[sith_happened]

Anakin wiped at his eyes. "Sorry," he said.

He totally wasn't.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"You are not," Rory replied, still bright red.

[sith_happened]

"I'm getting there," he said, frowning. "I wasn't try to embarrass you this much, Rory."

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"It wouldn't embarrass me that much if it were anyone but you," Rory told her feet. "Anyway. Drink your tea."

[sith_happened]

Anakin did. "I almost surprised you haven't brought in lullabies to sing to me," he teased quietly.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"I could, but my singing has never soothed much of anyone," she replied. "I could sing one of the songs Mia and Mom used to sing to me when I was little, though."

[sith_happened]

Anakin smiled. "I'd like to hear it," he said. "Who was Mia?"

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

Rory blinked. "I never told you about her? She was the woman who ran the inn where Mom and I stayed until I was seven. She's great. We lived in a shed out back until we could afford our home."

[sith_happened]

Anakin chewed his lip. "You lived in a shed? Why didn't I know about this?"

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"You're not the only one who keeps their early life private," she said, shrugging. "I don't like talking about it."

[sith_happened]

"But it was me," Anakin, poster child for double standards, said, frowning harder.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"It's fun being on that side of this argument, isn't it?" she asked.

[sith_happened]

Anakin was not going to let a prime chance to beat himself up some more slip past.

"Was I that self-absorbed?" His face went red. "I apologize."

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"No," she said, shaking her head emphatically. "I just - I don't remember a lot of it, and saying, 'Hey, I spent my earliest years living in a small shed while my mother worked as a maid and we were poor as dirt,' just feels like such a pity party. It never came up. If it had, I would have told you, but it's not something I tell people on my own."

[sith_happened]

Anakin was clearly a little hurt. He tried to pretend he wasn't.

He failed miserably.

"I wasn't exactly the poster boy for happy childhood memories," he said softly. "I would've understood."

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"It wasn't unhappy for me," she clarified, trying to make him feel better. "I was little. I know it kind of sucked for Mom, but Mia was great and I was fine. It's talking about it now that just makes me feel...whiny. I don't want anyone to feel like it's a ploy for attention, that's all."

[sith_happened]

"I'd never think that," Anakin said softly, "so tell me about it?"