Office hours [all day]

[sith_happened]

Anakin, as usual, was in his office.

Today he was sitting on his floor practicing his meditation skills.

It only looked like napping. Really.

The door was open and soft Alderaanian music was coming from his ridiculously tricked out stereo.

Comments

[sith_happened]

He nodded. "It's from a planet called Alderaan."

[trigons_child]

"Not your home, another world," Raven said. "What is it like there?"

She had no idea why her mun cackled as she said that.

[sith_happened]

"Peaceful," Anakin hedged. "They had no weapons. They were devoted to the arts, to politics and learning."

If she didn't pick up on the past tense, all the better for him.

[trigons_child]

"It sounds much like Azarath," Raven said, just a little wistful. "Though my home does not have much use for politics."

[sith_happened]

"Why not?" Anakin asked.

He didn't have much use for politics, either. Go figure.

[trigons_child]

"Azar, like her mother and her grandmother before her, was the spiritual leader of Azarath," Raven said. "But there is no real system of government. There are magistrates who are in charge of managing things like growing and distributing food and keeping the buildings in good repair, but without strong emotions to cloud judgment, those tasks fall to those who have the genuine interest and the abilities to organize. Labor and the fruits of it are all shared willingly like good little socialists."

[sith_happened]

"Sounds unrealistic harmonious," Anakin said with a smile. "You miss it?"

[trigons_child]

"Sometimes," Raven admitted. "But I knew I could not stay there once the nightmares about my father became more intense. He knew where I was, and I could not bear it if he destroyed Azarath to get to me. They have no way to defend themselves."

[sith_happened]

Anakin nodded. "It's still quite a sacrifice for you to make," he said. "How have your shielding exercises gone this week?"

[trigons_child]

"Very well," Raven said. "I have not had to struggle for control this week." She paused, thinking. "But I did accidentally expose myself not dirty to another student when he said a word that reveals demons to me. I was able to convince him I did not mean any harm, however."

[sith_happened]

Anakin frowned. "Who did that?"

[trigons_child]

"Sam Winchester," Raven said. "I was speaking to him of demons from his world and asked how they might be detected. I admit my motives were selfish because I wanted to know if his father could somehow determine what I am, for I know he hunts demons. Neither Sam nor I anticipated my reaction when he said the word." She wasn't about to say it herself.

[sith_happened]

And he wouldn't dream of asking. Anakin pursed his lips. "So your father could use the same tactic."

[trigons_child]

"Possibly?" Raven said. "It was not a prolonged or violent reaction. It was...." She struggled with how to word it. "It was as if he had poked my demon side with a sharp stick and made it glare at him, if that makes sense. I did not enjoy it, but I did not feel in danger of losing control."

[sith_happened]

"And there's no way to counter it?" Anakin checked.

[trigons_child]

"Not any that I am aware of," Raven said, "but yesterday was the first time that I had ever had the word used upon me."

[sith_happened]

Not that Anakin had problems with smiting demons who needed it, Bel, but just in general, well, he viewed them as kind of a different species rather than automatically evil.

"Let's avoid having that happen again," he said with a small smile.

[trigons_child]

Somewhere in California, Bel felt a phantom poke.

"Sam said he would not use it against me," she said. "And he agreed that it might be wise to avoid his father. But as long as I give him no reason to suspect what I am, I should be safe."

[sith_happened]

Anakin nodded. "John's a reasonable man, but some habits are hard to overcome initially."

[trigons_child]

"When I met him he told me that he had personal reasons for hunting demons," Raven said. "And Sam confirmed for me that his mother had been killed by a demon. So I do not blame his father for wanting to find the demon responsible, but vengeance is a terrible waste of one's life."

[sith_happened]

Anakin knew that better than most. "It really is," he said vehemently. "But it's a very human reaction to pain."

[trigons_child]

"An understanding of which I learned in the other Fandom," Raven agreed. "My other self was already unbalanced by the time I took control of her actions. In the dreams I had before I was transported there, I could see that I was learning to thrive on the pain and followed after those with vengeance in their hearts."

[sith_happened]

"In my galaxy, that's what Sith--the opposite side of the credit from Jedi--do," Anakin said. "They thrive on anger and pain. And nothing good ever comes of it."

[trigons_child]

"I know that far too well," Raven said. "You saw what happened to me there."

[sith_happened]

Anakin nodded, looking a little haunted. "I'd rather not repeat that, please. No teacher should have to face a student like that."