Office hours [all day]

[sith_happened]

Anakin had meant to get started on his Christmas shopping, but had instead gotten sucked into watching episodes of a random reality show called XFire.

He probably wasn't supposed to be rooting for the snipers with the paint guns.

The door was open.

Comments

[sith_happened]

"You're never going to worry about all of them equally," Anakin replied. "You'll worry about the slower ones more, and the ones you like more. And it's okay to do that. I worry about a lot of my students, but it's not in equal measure. I worried about Obi-Wan in a different way than I worried about Padmé, or the clones in my squadron."

And he had done insanely stupid things to save all of them at different points.

[solo_sword]

"Well, that's not how I run my squadron," said Jaina. "I need them to work together and get them all out alive."

[sith_happened]

Anakin rolled his eyes. "Of course you do, but some won't need as much of your attention. It's just the way it works."

[solo_sword]

"Can you just try not telling me how I will or should react for once?" she said. "I've already talked about this with the only person it concerns, that's enough."

[sith_happened]

Anakin tried not to look too stung. "Fine," he said shortly. "Enjoy your new squadron. When are you going back again?"

[solo_sword]

She felt bad sometimes for snapping, but at the same time she got really tired of people assuming they knew how she thought. "I'm not sure yet. Maybe a week or two. I'm working on something and have to make sure I get it right, so hopefully I can put that together really soon."

[sith_happened]

"New operation against the Vong?" he guessed. "Or are you throwing someone a surprise party?"

He'd eat something vile if it was that second one.

[solo_sword]

"...I'll give you one guess," Jaina said.

[sith_happened]

"I can give you great ideas for silly hats to wear for the party," Anakin deadpanned. "What's the idea, your goddessness?"

[solo_sword]

"I actually don't want to say too much, just in case I jinx it," she admitted. "But it involves going after one of the Vong bigwigs."

[sith_happened]

If Anakin was at all worried, he hid it well. "How big?"

[solo_sword]

"Can't get much bigger," she said honestly.

[sith_happened]

His breath hitched. "It's something of a family tradition," he said, keeping his voice light, "going up against the top of the food chain. Lightsaber, or something with a bit more firepower behind it?"

[solo_sword]

"Different," Jaina said. "I'm military, that's how I'm primarily working right now."

[sith_happened]

"You're a goddess," Anakin said with a small smile, "so I'm not expecting you to be constrained by anything traditional."

[solo_sword]

"A fake goddess. I'm just doing my job," she said.

[sith_happened]

"You know that," Anakin said. "They don't. I'm sure you've come up with something brilliant."

[solo_sword]

"We'll see," she shrugged. "It hasn't happened yet. Until then, I'm not assuming anything."

[sith_happened]

"Don't sell yourself too short," Anakin said. "The leadership wouldn't've given you this chance if they didn't think you could come up with something."

[solo_sword]

"I'm not selling myself short, I'm being realistic. A lot can change and go wrong. Again, trying not to jinx myself," she said.

[sith_happened]

Anakin nodded. "Too much realism and you'll start sounding like me," he teased softly.

[solo_sword]

"If you ask me, people could stand to be more realistic," she said.

Jaina was under a wee bit of stress these days.

[sith_happened]

"Any particular examples you're thinking of?" he asked.

[solo_sword]

"Just speaking generally," Jaina said. "Nothing's happened, don't worry."

[sith_happened]

Some of the shadows dropped from his eyes. "Good. Not that I worry. You can take care of yourself."

Part of that was true.