Office hours [all day]

[sith_happened]

Anakin was sitting in the center of the carpet on his floor, eyes closed, hands on knees, meditating.

His office was, once again, spotless, but he was having trouble finding any kind of serenity.

Soft music was playing and the door--also fixed--was about halfway open.

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[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

It'd been a while since John had stopped in to see Anakin, but he was in the building so he stopped at the half-open doorway and pushed it open more. "Knock knock."

[intraspective]

Ino peeked around the half-open door sometime in the morning and, upon seeing that he was meditating, shrugged a bit and slipped inside to sit on the floor just by the door to do the same.

Practice, and all of that. She didn't think he'd mind that she hadn't said hello first.

[solo_sword]

Having skipped last week because she hadn't really felt like going where she knew the conversation would go, Jaina showed up this way, poking her head. She was still a little on the blissfully ignorant side of anything she would probably have to emo over. You know. More. *sigh*

[sith_happened]

Anakin didn't open his eyes. "Come in, John."

[sith_happened]

The corners of Anakin's mouth quirked up, but he didn't break the silence.

[sith_happened]

"Hello, Jaina," Anakin said softly, looking up from the floor.

[solo_sword]

"Busy?" she asked, pushing open the door a bit more to come inside anyway.

[intraspective]

Ino could, contrary to popular opinion, be silent and peaceful.

For a while. And concentrated on her mental wall for a few minutes.

...Ino kind of hated her mental wall, really.

"What if you don't think anything is impossible to break through, Master Skywalker?"

[sith_happened]

Anakin opened his eyes and looked at Ino. "How do you mean?"

[sith_happened]

"Not particularly," Anakin replied. "Just looking for a little clarity."

[intraspective]

"Well," she said, rolling her shoulders in a bit of a stretch as she opened her eyes, "like, with a wall inside your head. What if you don't really think that there's anything strong enough to not break eventually?"

[solo_sword]

"Not possible here," she said confidently, and took a seat on the floor.

[sith_happened]

"There isn't anything strong enough not to break eventually," Anakin said quietly. "Or burn out, or die." He blew out a breath. "That was a defining moment in my life," he said, "the day I realized even stars burn out. I remember exactly where I was, what I was wearing, and who told me." He shrugged. "I don't think I ever forgave him for telling me, either."

[sith_happened]

"It wasn't possible at home this morning, either," Anakin said with a ghost of a smile. "Vladdie was trying to sit on my head, and Bertie ate my good socks."

[intraspective]

She shifted position so she could drawn her knees to her chest and rest her chin on them. "How do you believe in your walls then?" Ino asked quietly. "If you know they can break?"

[solo_sword]

"Ooh. Sounds like you had it rough," she said mock-seriously.

[sith_happened]

"Because I know my own strength," Anakin replied, "and it would take a lot to bring them down if I'm really trying to keep someone out." He tapped his forehead. "There are things in here that no one but me ever needs to know, and that thought is what keeps me practicing."

[sith_happened]

"Sometimes it is very difficult being me," he said, nodding. "I missed you last week."

[solo_sword]

"It was a really long week," she shrugged. "I didn't want to do much of anything." Aside from work, anyway.

[sith_happened]

"Didn't realize I was something that needed doing," Anakin commented lightly.

[intraspective]

She tugged at her hair. "What if... you're not that strong though? I mean..."

Like she was.

[sith_happened]

He reached out to tap her forehead. "Do you want people in there?"

[intraspective]

She shook her head. "No!"

[solo_sword]

"I haven't been social, period," Jaina clarified. "You can ask John."

[sith_happened]

"Then you're strong enough to keep them out," Anakin said. "It's a matter of willpower rather than raw strength. Outstubborn the other person."