Office hours [all day]

[sith_happened]

After sparring with Ben in the gym again, Anakin sat down behind his desk and closed his eyes.

He was meditating. Really. Three hours of a sleep a night was fine.

Comments

[trigons_child]

Raven recognized the napping meditating and did not want to disturb Professor Skywalker. So she waited quietly and patiently for him to realize she was there and acknowledge her presence.

[sith_happened]

Anakin's eyes opened after a minute. "Hello, Rachel."

[trigons_child]

"Good morning, Professor Skywalker," Raven said. "It is no trouble for me to return at a more convenient time if you are in need of more meditation."

[sith_happened]

His lips curved up. "I can meditate later," he said. "It's nice and quiet in my office. Have a seat."

[trigons_child]

Raven settled into a chair. "I am feeling much more rested this week," she said. "It has been much easier for me to relax and meditate."

[sith_happened]

"So the shield has helped," Anakin said, smiling more. "I'm glad to hear it."

[trigons_child]

"Very much so," Raven said. "I can still sense emotions, of course, but they do not threaten to overwhelm me as they were before."

[sith_happened]

"Good," Anakin said, pleased. "We'll be getting a new influx of people in a few weeks. Do you think you'll have enough practice with your shielding to deal with that, or will you need another addition?"

[trigons_child]

"Perhaps it would be a good time to test myself," Raven said after a moment's thought.

[sith_happened]

"I'll be around if it gets to be too much," he said, "but I think this will be a good test."

[trigons_child]

"I did have some difficulties yesterday," Raven said. "Two of my classes had very violent themes, and the...enthusiasm of some of the other students was somewhat distressing."

[sith_happened]

"I bet the emotions coming off of the weekly Fight Club would be distressing too, then," Anakin said. "This is an unusually violent group of students compared to a general population."

[trigons_child]

"It is an alien feeling to me," Raven said. "Those of Azarath are pacifists, so the first taste of violence -- the first that I remember -- was when I first saw my father. But I do not entirely agree with Azar's philosophy. I know there are times when one must fight, in defense of themselves or others or to stop a great evil. I must learn to become more accustomed to it."

[weetuskenraider]

Tahiri had realized several things: that she still hadn't congratulated Master Skywalker about the baby, that she hadn't been by to talk to him in a while, and that he most likely knew something about that other, future version of her by now.

That last one didn't stop her from coming by today. He hadn't yelled at her in class on Tuesday or anything, so maybe it would be okay . . . ?

[sith_happened]

Anakin reached up to rub the bridge of his nose. He wasn't looking forward to this conversation.

"Tahiri."

[weetuskenraider]

Well, that wasn't a very promising greeting. Or maybe he was just tired? Newborn baby and all.

"Master Skywalker," she answered carefully from the doorway.

[sith_happened]

"Come in and shut the door," he said, looking very serious.

[weetuskenraider]

Oh, boy. Tahiri swallowed and did as she was told, but as soon as the latch clicked shut she moved up and stood in front of his desk, hands clasped behind her back.

"Is there something we need to talk about?"

[sith_happened]

His eyes locked on her face. "What has my grandson told you to explain why he's locked up like a Colo claw fish with a meal in its mouth?"

[weetuskenraider]

So that was what this was about. Tahiri didn't flinch or back down, as much as she wanted to. "I know he told you what happened to him a few months ago when he was home. So he's probably told you about me." Her palms were starting to sweat, but she met his gaze and kept her chin up. "You might know more than I do -- I know she hurt him. I've seen the scars. I know she went horribly wrong, but Master Skywalker, that's not me."

NFB tiem!

[sith_happened]

Ben hadn't mentioned scars.

Anakin's expression went even stonier. "It better not be," he said, voice deceptively quiet. "No one gets to hurt my family. I'd say the same thing to Jaina's version of Jacen. You know the mantra, but if I get even a hint from the Force you're heading down the same path that this woman followed..."

Re: NFB tiem!

[weetuskenraider]

"No matter what she did, I would never hurt Ben," Tahiri said, voice shaking but resolute. But all of a sudden everything about Riina, what Karla had said about not being able to get rid of her, was beginning to worry her a lot more. And yet there was a lot of Riina's conviction added to her own when she spoke up again; family was important, worthy of fierce loyalty. "I'd never do that to your family. And if I ever looked like I would, I'd want you to stop me," she added in a rush.

Re: NFB tiem!

[sith_happened]

He nodded. "This is the only warning you'll get from me," he said, and he lifted the careful veneer of civility he worked so hard to project, allowing her to see the fierce eyes and controlled rage of a man who had terrorized a galaxy for decades. "Some version of you decided to make that choice. She better be the only one."

Re: NFB tiem!

[weetuskenraider]

That was the face of the man who'd haunted his namesake grandson's nightmares for years, and Tahiri understood a little more of her Anakin's fears now. Her face paled visibly, the scars on her forehead almost disappearing, and she took a deep breath.

"I can't speak for any other versions of myself, but I promise I'm going to do everyting I can to keep that from happening. And if I'm going to do that, I need your help."

Re: NFB tiem!

[sith_happened]

Ben's version of Tahiri should be counting herself lucky that she'd probably never run into his grandfather's righteous fury. Anakin wasn't nearly as forgiving as the later generations.

"What do you need from me?" he asked, slipping back into his semi-civilized Jedi Master role.