Office hours [Tuesday, October 10, all day]

[sith_happened]

Vader had a paintbrush and a few buckets of white paint.

And an all-black wardrobe.

Clearly today's activity--getting rid of the pink walls and happy face--was only going to end in tears.

Vader reached his hand out and the paintbrush began moving on its own, far away from his cape.

The hope was that the tears would be from someone else.

Comments

[cat-in-the-box.livejournal.com]

"What the hell happened here?" Schrodinger asked.

[sith_happened]

"Someone decided to get creative," Vader snarled. "There will be consequences."

[cat-in-the-box.livejournal.com]

"I assume you mean something more sever than detention?"

[sith_happened]

Vader nodded. "But Principal Washburn and I have...an agreement. However, I am running detention this week, so it will be as unpleasant as possible."

[cat-in-the-box.livejournal.com]

Schrodinger grinned. "I'll have to avoid getting detention then." He produced a white envelope (http://warconductor.livejournal.com/816.html#comments) with a red swastika seal on the back. "I have something for you, Lord Vader."

[sith_happened]

Vader took the letter and read it carefully. "Interesting," he commented. "I find your Major to be intriguing." He gestured for Schrodinger to take a seat. "Have you made any progess with young Skywalker?"

[cat-in-the-box.livejournal.com]

"I have spoken to him," Schrodinger said as he sat down. "I found to have a certain naieve view of the world, but I managed to convey the message. He seemed to take it to heart. Although the example I did use was related to him killing you. I assume that his desire to kill you and you killing his father are why you cannot get close to him."

[sith_happened]

Vader inclined his head."Precisely. He is strong in the Force but he cannot be allowed to become a Jedi. My master has plans for him."

[cat-in-the-box.livejournal.com]

Schrodinger tilted his head to the side slightly. "The Force?"

[sith_happened]

Vader waved his hand and a bucket of paint levitated from one end of the room to the other. "The Force," he said. "The energy field that binds the universe together. It gives a Sith," he pointed to himself, "his power, and works for the Jedi as well. Our use of such power varies, as you might imagine."

[cat-in-the-box.livejournal.com]

Schrodinger nodded. "So you wish for him to come around to your way of thinking?"

[sith_happened]

"For his own good," Vader said wryly. "Skywalker's son cannot be allowed to become a Jedi. He will join us or die. I'm sure that faced with such a choice, he will see reason."

[cat-in-the-box.livejournal.com]

"Death is the gret negotiator," Schrodinger said. "Is there a reason he is so particularly important? Or would it be anyone that might become a Jedi?"

[sith_happened]

Vader chose his words carefully. "The Jedi cannot be allowed to come back into the galaxy," he said. "Their time has ended."

[cat-in-the-box.livejournal.com]

Schrodinger grinned. "The Major always said that leaving even one man to survive, even if crippled and broken, is leaving one man too many. There is no such thing as an enemy too broken to fight back. There is only an enemy who is completely dead."

[sith_happened]

"Your Major and I have much in common," Vader replied.

[cat-in-the-box.livejournal.com]

Schrodinger smiled. "I'm sure he'd be pleased to hear it. Is there any other way I can help you with Luke?"

[sith_happened]

"Try to make him angry," Vader said. "Hate will make him powerful, but Jedi shy away from such emotions. That needs to change."

[cat-in-the-box.livejournal.com]

Schrodinger laughed. "Anger? I can do anger. I can do provocation, I can do insult, and I can make him see red. Does he have anyone around him that I might use to this purpose?"

[sith_happened]

Vader hadn't been listening obsessively to the radio for no reason.

"Rory Gilmore," he said. "Aeryn Sun. Peter Pevensie. Undercut his faith in these friends and you will make my mission easier."

[cat-in-the-box.livejournal.com]

"I may very well have already started," Schrodinger said. "Veeeeery good. This should be a lot of fun. Divide and conqueor. Subvert from within. Almost as if we were waging war."

[sith_happened]

"Exactly like we're waging war," Vader corrected.

[cat-in-the-box.livejournal.com]

"You have no idea how happy the Major will be to hear that you've said that," Schrodinger said. "Should I expect to have to deliver a return post?"

[sith_happened]

Vader thought about it. "Come back next week," he declared. "I will have something to send to your Major then."

[dr-jwilsonmd.livejournal.com]

At some point in his painting, Wilson happened by with a mug of an espresso grade Jamacian Blue Mountain (http://www.bluemountaincoffee.com/customer/product.php?productid=3&cat=6&page=1) coffee.

It would probably be horrifically dangerous to drink but it smelled really really good.

For the record he wasn't trying to be sneaky -the scent of coffee would negate that- but he didn't try for the stupid small talk either. Just, put the mug down were Vader could get to it.

[sith_happened]

Vader nodded at Wilson and pulled the mug a little closer.

It was as close as he would come to saying thank you.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"Good morning, Darth!" Rory trilled, poking her head through the doorway.

[sith_happened]

Vader spun around. "Lord Vader," he corrected.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"I thought we might be on a first name basis by now," she said, coming in. "You can call me Rory if you want."

[sith_happened]

Vader stared at her for an uncomfortable moment. "Darth is a title," he said.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"Oh, right. I think I knew that," Rory said, toying with the bag in her hands. "So what's your name? Or are you like Madonna, and you only have one?"

[sith_happened]

"I am Darth Vader," he replied. "I have no need for another name."

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"Sure you do," Rory said. "People have first names. Mine's Lorelai, which you probably knew from your roster. But I go Rory, because Lorelai is also my mom's name. So do you have a nickname?"

[sith_happened]

"No."

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"I think you need one. How about Darthy?"

[sith_happened]

"Absolutely not," Vader snapped.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

Rory sighed. "I brought you more gifts. Have you been enjoying the garden and the bath things?"

[sith_happened]

Vader glanced at the garden where the sand had been rearranged into another complicated pattern, but said nothing.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

Rory set the bag on his desk and pulled out the first two of her gifts: a candle (http://www.bathandbodyworks.com/sm-relax-eucalyptus-spearmint--pi-2161719.html)
and some lotion (http://www.bathandbodyworks.com/sm-relax-eucalyptus-spearmint--pi-2095458.html)

"They're de-stressors," she said brightly. "Since last week's attempt with the bath stuff was kind of a swing and miss, I thought these might work better."

[sith_happened]

Vader stared at the presents for a long, long time, boggling.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"And then I also brought this eye mask (http://www.dreamessentials.com/a_mask_butterfly_dreams.aspx) and CD (http://www.relaxation-cds.com/nature/oceannight.aspx) to ensure you get better sleep," she continued in a falsely cheerful voice. "Since I think you have some rage issues and those could be brought on by insomnia or poor sleep habits."

[sith_happened]

Vader was not nearly as amused any more. "Out!" he snarled.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

Rory blinked, ignoring her gut telling her to leave right now. "Why?"

[sith_happened]

Because for just one second I could pretend that this was 25 years ago.

Vader threw the candle towards a still-drying wall. "OUT!"

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

Rory's self-preservation kicked in, and she said, "You're going to mess up your paint, Darthy," before slipping out the door.

[sith_happened]

Vader watched her go, then turned his attention to the glitter in the room.

Before it was dumped into the garbage, it made a very familiar pattern of stars.