ic contact

[sandhate]

"Skywalker here."

Comments

[sandhate]

What do you want me to say about it?

[resnipstance]

[Ugh, Anakin, please.]

I don't know! I don't want you to "say" anything. I just wanted to know how you were doing.

[sandhate]

And I said I'm worried!

[resnipstance]

Yeah, I got that part, from how you're being really rude right now!

[sandhate]

You asked and I answered, I don't understand which part of that is rude.

[resnipstance]

[............................... Never mind.

There's a long silence on the other end for a moment from Ahsoka, and she looks distinctly unimpressed. Then she just sighs and shakes her head.]

Forget about it. Do you want to spar sometime?

[Since talking clearly isn't helping.]

[sandhate]

[ He makes a vaguely disgruntled noise... But this is still better than talking about his feelings. ]

With wooden swords? Or hand-to-hand?

[resnipstance]

[Ahsoka shrugs.]

Your call.

[sandhate]

Let's go with swords for now. I'll see if I can get enough junk pieces together to build a few training sabers for us.

[resnipstance]

Got it.

When do you want to meet? We got a second pilot on the Starstruck, so my schedule is suddenly free.

[sandhate]

Ready when you are.

[resnipstance]

... I'll be there soon, then.

[True to her word, some time later, Ahsoka is turning up on the doorstep of the Paisley.]

[sandhate]

[ The door slides open. Anakin's there, looking no more or less than usual. The he speaks, rushed but dull. ]

Hi, how are you?

[resnipstance]

[Lightly:] Oh, don't worry about me, Master.

[It's a testament to how stressed she is that she slips up again, and for a second she mentally kicks herself. She moves on. It's a non-answer, but Anakin already made it clear he doesn't want to talk about feelings. So she won't.

Instead, she tosses him one of the three wooden poles she's carrying. It's straight and the weight and length are good-- as close to that of Anakin's own lightsaber as she could make it. Though the weight distribution is wrong-- lightsabers are heavier at the hilt, whereas these poles are evenly weighted at top and bottom.]

You'll have to lead the way to your rec area. I haven't been on this ship before.

[sandhate]

[ He gives Ahsoka a sharp look but says nothing, only a twitch of his mouth tells of his displeasure at hearing that. It's a bitter feeling knowing that he'll have to correct her sooner or later. To be fair to both of them, it has to be done. He leads the way to the Cargo Hold's small rec area, his hands weighing the pole with a few tosses and twirls. ]

I'd give you a full tour but there isn't much to see. The rec area's in the Hold, with all the other exercise equipment.

[ The door slides open with a touch to the panel beside it, revealing the well lit cargo hold. ]

It's no where near the Training Rooms at the Temple but it'll do.

[ A grin spreads on his face. He taps Ahsoka's stick with his own. Clearly, cheering him up is working well. ]

[resnipstance]

[Ahsoka shrugs.]

Better than sparring in the snow.

[Then she assumes her standard opening "ready" stance. One stick in front, one behind.]

Ready when you are.

[sandhate]

[ He gives the stick another twirl and resumes a strict Form III stance, his "lightsaber" held to him and his feet planted firmly. His usual Djem So would never work against Ahsoka's more fast paced style of dueling. ]

Remember, light as a feather, Snips.

[ Two quick steps brings him close enough to swipe at her midsection, a test of the stick's durability and strength more than anything. ]

[resnipstance]

[The silly things are well made, it turns out-- there's a satisfying thock as Ahsoka blocks with her off-hand saber easily, then goes in quickly with her dominant.]

Like you have to remind me. Maybe I'm the one who should be reminding you.

[Playful, lighthearted banter between practice rounds. It's an easy rhythm to fall back into. There's no need to think here. She can just be.]

[sandhate]

That doesn't apply to me.

[ All Jedi are taught to fight with both hands but Anakin has a special predicament: his durasteel arm. Anakin switches the saber to his flesh hand.

He steps half a circle before engaging into another bout. ]

[resnipstance]

Why? Because you can just brute force your way through?

[Practice strikes over with, Ahsoka picks up the pace a little bit. What follows is a fast whirlwind series of light strikes and blocks-- not heavy, but continually pushing the offensive, like Anakin taught her.]

[sandhate]

Brute force? You make me sound like a- [ He blocks, parries, counters. A push on one stick to dodge the other. He reads Ahsoka's movements well, just as he knows Ahsoka can read his. ] brigand?

[resnipstance]

Hey, you're the one who said it, not me.

[Ahsoka falls into an easy rhythm, then. It's almost like a dance. Block, counter, strike, dodge. Rinse, repeat. Throw in a few jumps and twists for good measure. She's had sparring partners since she's been in the Fleet, but nobody can replace Anakin. Sparring with him is familiar. Soothing. ... Like home.]

[sandhate]

[ He falls silent as he moves with the grace that being a Jedi inherently comes with. The familiar movements of Soreso is calming, even more is having something in his hand to work with. This is the only form of mediation that Anakin likes. He only breaks it when they come to a natural pause. ]

Got a question for you.

[resnipstance]

[ Ahsoka relaxes as Anakin does. ]

Yeah? Shoot.

[sandhate]

[ He twirls the saber a couple times before taking a relaxed stance. ]

Do you hate it when I call you Snips?