Office hours [all day]

[sith_happened]

The decorations from last week were still up, much to Anakin's grumpiness.

Yes, even though he'd put them up himself. Shh. "Anakin" and "logical" were hardly friends.

He was standing behind his desk wrapping gifts. Doing that at home with a flying vampire puppy had proved to be more aggravating than efficient.

The door was open.

Comments

[sith_happened]

"Nothing that can't wait for a bit," he said. "Come in."

[intraspective]

She slipped in, grinning at the wrapping paper. "Guess you already gave your final, right? So your hours are good for whatever now?"

[sith_happened]

"Exactly," Anakin said, smirking. "It's my time now. And this stops my wife from seeing what I got her."

[intraspective]

"What did you get her?" Ino asked immediately. Because, come on, like she could resist. "If you, you know, don't mind me asking."

[sith_happened]

"Something nice," Anakin said, grinning at her. "A man's entitled to some secrets this time of year."

[intraspective]

"I guess," she said, laughing. "Alright, I won't pry. And I suppose it's fair 'cause girl's are allowed secrets all year 'round."

According to Ino, at least.

[sith_happened]

"Are you now?" Anakin replied, smiling.

[intraspective]

"Totally." Complete with a firm little nod. Well, it would've been a firm little nod had she not had to stop and cover a yawn. "Sorry! But, yes. Girl's are allowed because confusing boys is half the fun in dealing with them on a daily basis."

[sith_happened]

"Long night confusing one of them?" Anakin asked.

[intraspective]

"Nope," she said, flushing a bit. "Completely person free night. Was working on something for Reno."

[sith_happened]

"More with the scrolls?" Anakin replied.

[intraspective]

"Yeah," Ino admitted. "I've got a lot of work to do, but I'm pretty pleased with how much I managed the first night I ever tried actually doing anything with them and not just reading the theory. Did you know the preserve is freezing this time of year in the middle of the night when you're in short-sleeves?"

[sith_happened]

"Yes," Anakin said, grinning. "But I grew up on a desert world, so all of this is too cold."

[intraspective]

She shuddered. "I like it when it snows, because then there's a lot of fun to be had with it, but yeah, it's totally too cold here. Last time we got snow at home I was, like, four. Our winter is normally just full of rain."

[sith_happened]

Anakin wrinkled his nose up at that. "I'm not a big fan of weather," he admitted. "Comes from spending most of my life in a space ship."

[intraspective]

"Boring," she told him, matching his nose wrinkle. "I'd go spare without trees and stuff. The name of our village translates to 'Village Hidden in the Leaves' so, yeah, nature is shiny. Just less so when it's cold."

[sith_happened]

"I used to have a miniature Zen garden on my desk," he offered. "Years ago."

[intraspective]

Ino eyed him. "What happened to it?"

[sith_happened]

"It got thrown," Anakin replied. "Very un-Zenly."

[intraspective]

She snickered. "I'd, um, scold you for that, but I've thrown stuff 'round like that too much for it to hold water."

[sith_happened]

"It's a bad habit," Anakin said, "but it's better than killing people, right?"

[intraspective]

"Most people would say so," she chirped. "Especially if you care 'bout the people you're mad at."

[sith_happened]

"Hardly ever," Anakin replied.

[intraspective]

"Hardly ever care?" Ino checked. "Then, um, I guess it doesn't matter as much?"

Ino's ethics were, um, special.

[sith_happened]

"That's why I don't do it," Anakin said, leaving the "any more" unspoken. "Plus there's paperwork."