The Park, Friday afternoon

[sith_happened]

Do you know who loved feeling engulfed in flames?

Well, not many people, but especially not Anakin. It seemed to be on-theme for the absolute steaming pile of eopie poodoo that this week had been. He sat down on the bench he'd been stuck to for an hour on Wednesday, pulled out his comm link and took a resigned selfie, flames all around.

This is fine, he wrote and then sent it to Jaina and Tahiri. They'd, at least, know why this was ironically hilarious.

Then he stared out at the pond and watched the ducks and flamingoes wander past, not on fire.

[OOC: So open.]

Comments

[solo_sword]

Tell me that's Photoshop.

She knew better.

[sith_happened]

Of course not, he sent back. This week is something else. How's the clean-up going?

[solo_sword]

Slow. The fact that it's over seems to have caught them by surprise so there's a lot of logistics issues.

Then, Why is there fire though??

[sith_happened]

Because Fandom hates me, personally.

That probably wasn't it.

[weetuskenraider]

Um.

That message was shortly followed up by:

This is a Fandom thing, right?

She was guessing from the lack of smoke and actual burning, but still, you had to check these things.

[solo_sword]

So I'm guessing there isn't actual danger?

[stykera]

Stark didn't enjoy fire though he had far less reason to do so than Anakin (not that he knew Anakin's reasons). Stark's aversion came from that time they'd had to set Moya on fire to save her.

But the day had gone on long enough that he was willing to believe that none of today's flames were actually real enough to harm anyone or anything. It had taken him a few tries to get through the doorway of the Perk but the baristas had demonstrated it was safe enough and there had been pumpkin spice on offer, so he had an iced latte in hand when he reached the conflagration in the park.

"This is new," he said to Anakin as he approached the bench. "Isn't it? I don't remember this."

[sith_happened]

No, it's just being dramatic.

Anakin sent back another picture of him waving his hand through the flames looking 300 percent done with everything.

[sith_happened]

It's been an extremely trying week, Anakin massively understated.

[sith_happened]

"I definitely would've remembered this," Anakin agreed, making a face. "I don't approve."

[solo_sword]

Makes sense for you then.

She teased! She teased because she loved!

[stykera]

"Neither do I," Stark said. "It's disconcerting." That was putting it very mildly.

"I hope it's only today."

[weetuskenraider]

I can't say I'm sorry to be missing it.

Being as she was still back on Ajan Kloss with Jaina.

Are you doing all right?

[sith_happened]

I don't miss you.

Anakin was a huge, huge liar.

How's Rey?

[sith_happened]

I've had better times, Anakin said, but at least I'm not on fire?

[sith_happened]

"Well, the cats disappeared, so here's hoping the island is just having a phase," Anakin said.

[solo_sword]

Enjoy that heart emoji.

Staying busy and clearly distracting herself but holding up okay. Very hard to get her alone to talk.

[stykera]

"The cats were fine," Stark said. "I don't mind cats. They were just there." Watching a little creepily, sure, but they had squirrels doing that all the time as it was.

"But it's been a long week."

Longer for some than others, of course.

[sith_happened]

Think she's avoiding you on purpose? Anakin asked.

[sith_happened]

"In the ceiling. Staring," Anakin said. "It was creepy."

[solo_sword]

I think her friends are being clingy.

Then, I get it, Jag was the same way.

[stykera]

"The squirrels stare all the time."

Was that an indignant little chitter that might have been a squirrel saying they observed they didn't stare?

"I'd rather the cats than this. Or Monday." Tuesday and Wednesday he hadn't really noticed what was going on. "You'd think a pond wouldn't be able to catch fire."

[sith_happened]

Now is a good time for clinging, Anakin agreed.

[sith_happened]

"Well, at least it's not spreading?" Anakin said.

[stykera]

"Not yet, anyway," Stark agreed. They both knew better by now than to think it wouldn't spread from the pond, right?

"I don't understand this one. I didn't understand the cats, either." He really wouldn't have understood Wednesday's event but he had been very busy, ah, resting after his return to the island. "But why flames that don't really burn? Better than ones that do but it makes less sense than usual.