Room 317 [late afternoon]

[tatooine_doofus]

Luke was in his room, sleeves up--the gash on his arm was fading rapidly--surrounded by his tool kit and fiddling with Artoo. If it stopped him from dwelling on other things, well, bonus.

Artoo was not entirely thrilled being used as a distraction.

"Try it again, please," Luke said.

Artoo obligingly began to spit back the beginning of "I Know A Song That Gets On Everybody's Nerves."

"It needs to be higher pitched, louder," Luke said, "and more off-key."

The door was open if anyone was wondering what he was up to.

Comments

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

Luke shrugged. "She didn't take too kindly to me asking her to stop messing with us," he said, focusing a little too intently on Artoo. "It's not a big deal."

[water-wonder.livejournal.com]

"Apparently not," Tori admitted, angry. "It is a big deal. She does not get away with hurting my boyfriend, no way."

Yeah, Tori might've been a tiny bit pissed off at the pink lady.

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

"And going off angry is really going to help," Luke snapped, glaring up at her.

His temper had been badly frayed in the last few weeks.

"If you get hurt because of me, I'll never forgive myself."

[water-wonder.livejournal.com]

"No, it won't," Tori knew that. "But I can't just sit here and not do anything. You got hurt and that's wrong and horrible," she frowned. "I don't like it when people I care about are hurt."

Tori's frown softened. "And you all ready got hurt. I can't just stand by and not do something."

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

Luke let out a frustrated sigh and ran his hands through his hair. "She tossed me into a wall without even thinking about it," he said softly. "In her office, she's got the advantage. I don't see any way around it. And she has no incentive to stop doing what she does."

[water-wonder.livejournal.com]

"She tossed you into a wall?!" Tori couldn't believe that. "There has to be something we can do to stop her. To get her out of here."

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

"I tried to take her wand. She didn't appreciate that," Luke said dryly. "I wasn't trying to be stupid hero Jedi guy." His mouth twisted. "That's my father's thing. I just wanted her to stop. She likes hurting people."

He shrugged again. "It's hard to negotiate with someone who has no reason to stop."

[water-wonder.livejournal.com]

"That's what she uses to hurt people. If that's taken away, she won't have any more power," Tori surmised. She noticed the dig at his father but she decided not to ask.

"So if she won't take to negoitations, then we use force?" Tori wanted that to be a last resort. Really. Even if she hated the woman.

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

"I have to check that with Hermione," Luke said. "It might not be that simple. The Emperor pretended to be unarmed, then lashed out with Force-lightning. She might be like that, too."

He looked unhappy at the final suggestion. "I think she'd notice a bunch of heavily armed students heading her way."

[water-wonder.livejournal.com]

"Hermione would probably know, you're right," Tori nodded. "Oh, I hope not."

She grimaced. "I'd rather that not happen. I don't care what she's done, I'd rather it not come to physical violence."

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

"The 'annoying her until she snaps' plan seems to be working," Luke said, "which is why I thought of Artoo."

[water-wonder.livejournal.com]

"Good, I'm glad to hear that," Tori smiled, happy for some good news. "I'm sure Artoo will do great."

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

"Plus he doesn't bleed," Luke said, patting the little droid on the dome, "and I can put him together if she decides to vent her anger at him."

Artoo had clearly not considered that part of this plan and let out an electronic wibble.

[water-wonder.livejournal.com]

"I'm sure you'll be fine, Artoo, really," Tori smiled reassuringly, hearing his reaction to Luke's words.

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

Artoo let out a nervous stream of babbles explaining exactly how many times Luke's reassurance had led to him getting shocked, shot at or blown up.

Luke snickered. "He says thank you."

Artoo totally hadn't.

[water-wonder.livejournal.com]

Tori laughed. "You're welcome."

She couldn't know Artoo was saying anything different. She didn't speak droid.

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

Artoo blatted rudely at Luke.

Luke ignored it, smiling at Tori instead. "How have you been?" he asked.

[water-wonder.livejournal.com]

"Okay," Tori admitted with a small smile. "I've been working on ways to annoy Umbridge and studying my lines for a musical Troy and A.J. put together."

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

Luke laughed. "You're in the musical?"

[water-wonder.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, apparently I'm the lead or something," Tori shrugged.

[Off to dinner! Be back later!]

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

Luke's smile broadened. "I'll have to get front row tickets."

[OOC: *waves*]

[water-wonder.livejournal.com]

Tori laughed. "I'll be looking for you."

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

"I'll wave a lot," Luke promised.

[water-wonder.livejournal.com]

"I would but I think that might mess up the show," Tori chuckled.

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

"You don't have to wave back," Luke wheedled, smiling.