Rey's warehouse- Friday afternoon

[thatwaslucky]

The woodchucks had built a dam in the middle of the training course.

"This isn't yours to mess with!" Rey told them. "I actually need this! And I thought beavers were the ones who did this!"

She could have sworn that one of them shrugged. Trying something new, maybe.


[Open!]

Comments

[sith_happened]

Anakin came into the warehouse and blinked. "I thought beavers did this."

Way to steal the narrative, Anakin.

[thatwaslucky]

"I don't understand it and I want it gone," Rey said, glaring at woodchucks that made no move to solve anything.

[sith_happened]

"Well, we can just lift it and move it," Anakin said, "but that might reignite the woodchuck warfare."

[thatwaslucky]

One woodchuck nodded.

"It's not even in a place that makes sense!" Rey said.

[sith_happened]

"It makes sense to them," Anakin guessed. "Okay," he said blowing out a breath. "Time for an impromptu negotiation exercise." He turned to the woodchucks. "What would you like that isn't a giant pile of wood in the middle of the warehouse?"

[thatwaslucky]

The woodchucks went into a huddle.

After a moment, one popped it's head up up to make sure Rey and Anakin weren't trying to listen, then popped back down.

"They liked carrots once," Rey hissed.

[sith_happened]

"Make them an offer," Anakin hissed back.

[thatwaslucky]

"We can give food," Rey said immediately.

[sith_happened]

The huddle stopped chattering and looked over at the pair expectantly.

"Keep going," Anakin said to Rey.

[thatwaslucky]

"That's not enough?" Rey whispered, and said louder, "Good food."

It would have worked on her, okay.

[sith_happened]

Anakin too!

"Carrots?" Anakin offered.

[thatwaslucky]

One woodchuck scoffed. Scoffed.

"Maybe more than carrots," Rey said.

[sith_happened]

There was a reason Obi-Wan was normally in charge here!

"I normally get takeout," Anakin said, looking baffled.

[thatwaslucky]

"Pizza!"

The cause and solution to all of life's problems!

[sith_happened]

"You move the dam and we'll get you some pizzas, okay?" Anakin said to the woodchucks.

[thatwaslucky]

"I can get them right now," Rey said. "And you'll get them if the dam is gone by the time I get back."

[sith_happened]

The woodchucks chittered--or however woodchucks communicated, Anakin had never looked it up--in what seemed like agreement.

"Well, this is already a very odd day," Anakin said.

[thatwaslucky]

"It'll get even weirder if this doesn't work," she said, already starting for the door. "Supervise them."

[sith_happened]

"On it," Anakin said, turning and giving the woodchucks a stern look.

The woodchucks ignored him entirely.

"I used to be terrifying," Anakin complained.

[thatwaslucky]

Rey raced off, returning a while later with several pizzas. It was overkill.

"How is it?"

[sith_happened]

"They're making some progress, but I think they're stalling."

[thatwaslucky]

Rey fixed them with a stern look. "I held up my end of the bargain."

[sith_happened]

They did the woodchuck equivalent of feet shuffling, then started working faster.

"Better," Anakin said.

[thatwaslucky]

"And no one gets anything until it's finished," Rey said. "They're already cooling off."

[sith_happened]

"Mission success?" Anakin teased, sweeping around the woodchucks to help with all of the boxes.

[thatwaslucky]

"I got one for us too, so yes," Rey said, letting him take some. "Taco pizza."

[sith_happened]

"That sounds really good," Anakin said. "Thank you."

[thatwaslucky]

"Of course. Raiden put it out there, and I couldn't resist," she said. "He hasn't steered me wrong yet."

[sith_happened]

"He's been a really good addition to the pizza place," Anakin agreed. "And we order basically only takeout."

Good thing he had to walk up a ton of stairs to take it all home. Just sayin'.

[thatwaslucky]

"Cooking is really not that bad," she pointed out.

[sith_happened]

"Rory's mother eats bagged salad out of the bag," Anakin said. "With a fork."

Don't hate, Anakin, that's awesome.

[thatwaslucky]

"I guess takeout is better than that," Rey allowed.

[sith_happened]

"Barely," Anakin said with a smile.

[thatwaslucky]

"Have you ever actually tried cooking?" Rey wondered.

[sith_happened]

Anakin nodded. "It ends in fire."

[thatwaslucky]

"Every time?" she asked.

[sith_happened]

"A non-zero number of times," Anakin said.

[thatwaslucky]

"This is so concerning," Rey said.

[sith_happened]

Anakin nodded. "I stick to the microwave or to takeout."

[thatwaslucky]

"All right, maybe it's for the best," she allowed.

[sith_happened]

"I'm very good at a lot of things," Anakin said very modestly. "Cooking is not one of those things."

[thatwaslucky]

"That's all right. Maybe the kids can learn," she said.

[sith_happened]

"They're going to have to," Anakin said with a laugh, taking a piece of pizza as the woodchucks worked on dismantling their dam.

[thatwaslucky]

"Maybe I can show them some things."

And then they could teach her about seasoning.

[sith_happened]

"I would appreciate that," Anakin said.

[thatwaslucky]

"I'll see when works," she said, grabbing a slice.

[sith_happened]

"Rory has book club on Tuesdays, but any night other than that is fine," Anakin said.