Office hours [all day]

[sith_happened]

Anakin had a bad feeling about today. He kept putting his hand on the back of his neck to rub at the hair there, certain he was being watched.

He hoped that the feeling had nothing to do with the news he had to share with Jaina, Ben, and Luke. He left oh so handwavy messages for them, then stared at his comlink, trying to figure out exactly how to tell Luke he was going to be a big brother.

Comments

[tyler_gone]

"Have you heard from River Tam since she left?" Tyler asked, stepping easily into the office. "She was supposed to get in touch about something, and she hasn't and ..." He shook his head. "I'm worried some advice I gave her went bad."

[sith_happened]

Anakin stared down at his desk, reliving his fight with Kerrigan. "I haven't heard from River," he said shortly. "I don't think we're going to. What did you tell her?"

[tyler_gone]

"Doesn't matter if we aren't going to hear from her," Tyler said, keping his voice steady. "Some demolition plans, that's all."

Because clearly that had been a great idea. A voice in the back of his head was very amused.

[sith_happened]

Anakin tilted his head again. "Kerrigan had other plans, it seems. How are you?"

[tyler_gone]

Tyler was starting to wonder about that headtilt thing. Ear infection? Brain tumor?

"Ah." It sounded like there was a story there, but he wasn't sure he wanted to know it. "I'm okay. It hasn't been a great week, but I teach tomorrow, so ..." He waved a hand vaguely. "And you?"

[sith_happened]

"It's had its ups and downs," Anakin said, rubbing the back of his neck and refraining from turning around. It was almost like he was picking up a Force-echo of himself, and that was impossible.

It was beginning to creep him out.

"Rory's pregnant." His entire face lit up.

[tyler_gone]

"I'd call that an up," Tyler noted, managing a smile.

Well. He wouldn't, but most people would.

"Congratulations to you both. When's the new Skywalker coming around?"

[sith_happened]

Anakin raised an eyebrow, sensing the direction of Tyler's thoughts. "June," he said. "What was wrong with your week?"

[tyler_gone]

It wasn't against Rory or Anakin; it was the part of him that distrusted the very idea of continuing the human race, compounded by a healthy dose of fear that he'd either pass a broken brain down to his kid, or take off in a couple years like his father. So he wasn't having kids, but it was fine if other people did.


Anyhow. "June," he said. "Oh, nice, you can take the summer off again to be with the kid."

"Nothing was really wrong," he added. "Trouble sleeping again. I sparred with a student and it didn't go well. What was wrong with yours?"

[sith_happened]

"I just have this feeling like I'm being watched today," Anakin said, looking unhappy. "How did the sparring go badly? Did you get beat?"

[tyler_gone]

"I never mind a loss," Tyler said. "No, she just ... backed off, really fast, and said something about enjoying herself too much. Made me wonder if I was, too."

The extra voice in Tyler's head was now calling him several colorful variations on wimp.

"I think I'm done sparring students."

[sith_happened]

Anakin blinked again. He could've sworn he heard another person inside Tyler's head.

"Enjoying it too much is bad?"

[tyler_gone]

No.

"It is if you're fighting a 17-year-old," Tyler said, rubbing his forehead. Things were kind of loud in there, even by his standards; he needed to sleep all weekend. "Do you ever spar with students? Kind of hard to find the balance."

[sith_happened]

Anakin shrugged. "If I'm sparring, it's generally with family," he said, "or teachers who deserve what they get."

[tyler_gone]

"Yeah, I'm short of family here. Probably better I stick to teachers," Tyler agreed.

And then he was considering Anakin; people with powers were usually a bad idea except in his most masochistic moods.

[sith_happened]

Anakin steepled his fingers together. "It wouldn't be close to a fair fight," he warned.

[(Anonymous)]

"It wouldn't," Tyler agreed, because he wasn't stupid. "I think I'm giving up letting people with powers kick my ass for Lent." A beat. "Kind of an extended Lent."

"But -- sometime, I'll change my mind."

[sith_happened]

"Why would you change your mind?" Anakin asked. "Glutton for punishment?"