Rey's warehouse- Friday afternoon

[thatwaslucky]

Rey was trying to do things. It wasn't going well because the woodchucks (and one porg) seemed to be talking about her, not subtly. They'd stand in a huddle and then stop chittering and look over at her, and then go back to it until the nxlext time they checked for her.

"You're being really distracting," she called, which only made them chitter loudly.


[Open! Slow!]

Comments

[sith_happened]

"Hello, Rey," Anakin said, flipping over the quicksand.

The muttering increased in volume as the woodchucks were definitely judging his landing.

[thatwaslucky]

"I'd like to see you try it," Rey told them.

Or hello, whatever.

[sith_happened]

"I'm not pulling you out, either," Anakin said.

[thatwaslucky]

"And you shouldn't," Rey confirmed. "Hi. How are you?"

[sith_happened]

"Good," Anakin said. "Are you having a better week?"

[thatwaslucky]

"I am. Which isn't a high bar," she admitted. "Busier, but without the tears."

[sith_happened]

"I heard you went shopping?" Anakin said.

[thatwaslucky]

"It was an experience," she nodded. "Not my favorite place."

[sith_happened]

"What didn't you like about it?" Anakin asked.

[thatwaslucky]

"I really only went because I felt like a friend needed a bodyguard," she said. "A lot of nasty people, spies, slave auctions. It was a good exercise in shielding but not."

[sith_happened]

Anakin made a face. "Sounds delightful."

[thatwaslucky]

"It was a lot," she said. "It's like you're pulled in different terrible directions. Other people handled it better."

[sith_happened]

"Do they have the same level of empathy as we do?" Anakin asked.

[thatwaslucky]

"Not like anything with the Force, as far as I know. They were better able to play their part, I was more focused on needing to act if there was trouble," she said. "And trying to to get overwhelmed by the rest of it."

[sith_happened]

"The emotions, especially from slaves, can be overwhelming," Anakin said quietly.

[thatwaslucky]

"And I didn't like ignoring it. But I had to ignore it," she said.

[sith_happened]

"It wasn't what you were there to address, correct?" Anakin asked.

[thatwaslucky]

"No. And it would endanger people I was with if I acted on it," she said. "I handled it the way I should, and I know that."

But.

[sith_happened]

"But it festers," Anakin guessed.

[thatwaslucky]

"It's not my world," she said simply, and drew in a breath. "The rest of the week's been okay."

[sith_happened]

"That's good to hear," Anakin said with a nod. "Last week was a lot."

[thatwaslucky]

"August," she said with a sigh. "It's a lot in general."

[sith_happened]

Anakin nodded, sending a quick wave of Force reassurance. "It is."

[thatwaslucky]

"It's almost over," she said. "I get through all the anniversaries and it's like being able to breathe again."

[sith_happened]

Anakin nodded. "Are the twins born in August for you, too?" he asked.

[thatwaslucky]

"Which twins?" she had to check.

[sith_happened]

"Luke and Leia," Anakin said.

[thatwaslucky]

Rey paused, frowning. "I don't know. It never came up."

It was possible it had to do with the fact that Leia's twin died right after Rey had met her.

[sith_happened]

Anakin nodded. "Early August for me," he said, "so that's when Padme died and then we just...cruise through the trauma."

[thatwaslucky]

"It doesn't get easier once you pass the day?" Rey asked.

[sith_happened]

Anakin gave her a soft smile. "Not when I know it's not great for you, too," he said.

[thatwaslucky]

"Don't let me factor into it," she told him. "I'm handling it. And it'll get easier as time goes on."

[sith_happened]

"You're family," Anakin said. "I'll factor you in if I choose to."

[thatwaslucky]

"I really don't want to add to it," Rey told him. "It's bad enough as it is."

[sith_happened]

"We can go for celebratory drinks when September gets here," Anakin offered.