Room 317 [afternoon]

[tatooine_doofus]

After a few hours poking around on the X-Wing with Artoo and a quick check to see if Leia had written--she had, and there was still no sign of Han--Luke flung himself onto his bed and began to practice with the Force.

Yoda was not excited to be one of the things chosen to be juggled.

Seeing Luke distracted, Artoo made his way stealthily towards the door.

"Don't even think about it," Luke said sternly. "Last time you got out, you came back covered in cake."

Artoo whistled innocently. "No," Luke replied.

Artoo made sulky noises and rolled back towards the corner.

[OOC: Door is closed, post is open! Oh, and contents of the conversation with Rory are NFB, please.]

Blue Eyes - Cary Brothers

Comments

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

Rory stuck the bow to Artoo's dome. "You are very welcome. And now, also very handsome."

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

Artoo totally preened, zipping around in a circle and looking for a mirror to admire himself in.

Luke rolled his eyes, then turned his attention back to Rory. "Not sleeping well?" he asked, taking a sip of his coffee.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"I visited him," she said by way of an answer. "He's back, in case you didn't know."

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

"I felt him," Luke said, with a small nod. He sat down on the bed and patted a spot next to him for Rory.

"Was it horrible?"

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"It was depressing," she answered, sitting down. "Anakin's in there. I can tell. But he's not going to make this easy for us."

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

"How so?" Luke asked, scooting a little closer. "I mean, other than being his normally charming self."

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"He screamed at me for calling him Anakin," she said quietly. "Insisted that he's not him anymore. Which just convinces me that he is, since he wouldn't care so much if it didn't sting."

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

"He screamed at you?" Luke's mouth pressed into a thin line.

"You don't have to do this, you know."

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"'Scream' is the wrong word. It implies he used vocal chords," she amended. "He shouted loudly and emotionally. And yes, I do have to do this, Luke, because if I don't, it means I've given up. And I'm not giving up."

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

"He meant that much to you."

It wasn't a question.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"Means. Not meant."

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

Luke tilted his head to meet Rory's eyes. "And you're sure that we can bring him back. That he even wants to come back?" He sighed. "Yoda said that once someone goes down the dark path, it dominates their destiny forever. I think that's why Obi-Wan never tried this."

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"As long as my presence hurts him, I know Anakin's in there," she said softly. "He flinches around me. I make him uneasy. I'm sure Aeryn does, too. He misses us. I just don't think he knows how to come back."

She sighed. "I told him he isn't lost. He doesn't believe me."

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

"He's killed billions, Rory," Luke said softly. "He's pretty lost."

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"Not forever!" she said fiercely.

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

"Not forever," Luke repeated, then gave her a shy smile. "This might work."

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"I can't not try," she said softly. "I can't. I love him too much to just leave him like this."

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

"Try not," Luke said, echoing Yoda. "Do. Or do not. There is no try."

He smiled again. "Was he ever able to say no to you for very long?"

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

Rory smiled genuinely at that. "He would have gotten me the moon if I'd asked. He wasn't good at saying no."

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

"Then he doesn't have a chance," Luke said, eyes shining.

He took another sip from his coffee. "What did you do while I was gone? That wasn't with Aeryn, I mean."

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"Spent time with Bridge, visited LA, celebrated Christmas. My parents and brother moved back to Stars Hollow," she said with a shrug.

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

"Your mom left?" Luke looked gobsmacked. "Rory, I'm sorry."

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"It's not a big deal. I can visit," she said. "By the way, I was right about your mother. He all but confirmed when I asked him."

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

"You're sure?" Luke asked. "You can tell me if you're not."

The other thing Rory had said was too tempting not to follow up on. "Did he yell about her, too?"

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"It's a sensitive subject for him."

Rory looked at Luke. "He did it for her," she added in a whisper.

And she was trying as hard as she could not to shake or cry with the ramifications of that simple statement.