♕ 2nd ♕ video

[thepariahed]

[His expression is guarded when the feed comes to life. Anakin's physical appearance (as well as his mental makeup) clearly state the air of someone who's been sleeping, but not exceedingly well. Even rest is impossible to come by. Restlessness is a whole other matter, however

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[kick_astromech]

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[It's been a long while, but Artoo hasn't forgotten the mannerisms of his old master. After checking the transmission filters, he twitters his inquiry of concern.]

[thepariahed]

I suppose it isn't everyday a child finds their parent suddenly younger than them. [He looks down at Artoo sharply.]

[kick_astromech]

[Artoo beeps flatly, oh don't give him that. Technically Luke's still younger than Anakin anyway. The droid holds off on mentioning anything about Leia for the moment.]

[thepariahed]

What else?

[kick_astromech]

[Once he's less agitated, Artoo offers another few chirps. ...there are twins. The other one is also present, but not from the same timeline. She also seems to have been here longer so the droid isn't sure what all she's managed to piece together either, if anything.

...and then hesitantly, with a regretful tone he beeps what Anakin probably dreads to hear;

....we lose Padmé.]

[thepariahed]

[Twins... twins... he'll get the little girl he's wanted since Padmé told him she was pregnant... His vision becomes unfocused, a haze passing over it. Nothing else matters. You don't save her.

Somehow he knew he'd never be able to save her.

An incoherent noise escapes past his lips, something along the lines of a sigh and a strangled, dry sob. He slumps forward, burying his face in his hands for a moment, his breathing coming out in sharp gasps. The room shudders. He feels numb, but the Force reacts differently to his grief, pulling at random objects around the room, making them crumple like paper.

Suddenly, he stiffens. When he lifts his head, his jaw is set, and his blue eyes are hard.]

What else? [Because he can tell there's more.]

[kick_astromech]

[His twittered concern is cut off with a frantic beeping in alarm as things around the room begin to compact. It's a frightening thing to watch, even more so knowing he could easily become one of them.

The look he's suddenly shot could have been a jolt from a stun gun, and apprehensively, Artoo rolls back.

This is his old master. His old master who falls to the Dark Side.

Well, now's a fine time to be having second thoughts.]

[thepariahed]

Artoo, what else? [The droid's sudden wariness barely fazes him.]

[kick_astromech]

[Should he? Would it make things any better? The astromech rolls back slowly, his responses broken up. He's said enough. Shouldn't say any more. Warning. Warning.]

[thepariahed]

[Anakin stares down at the astromech for a long moment, it suddenly dawning on him that Artoo's information could possibly be faulty. He could have been tampered with, led to believe all of this to try and... and...

His thoughts stopped there, and he suddenly relaxed slightly. In body, at least.]

No-- I'm... I'm sorry, Artoo. I didn't mean to-- [He extends a hand, inviting the little droid to come closer once again.]

[kick_astromech]

[It's only after a moment that Artoo ceases to back away, processor light blinking between red and blue, albeit less erratically than a while ago. His projector lens twitches between that extended hand and the face of the young Jedi.

Then, very slowly, perhaps even cautiously, he trundles forward, giving a sad, apologetic warble.]

[thepariahed]

It's not your fault; you're just confused, Artoo. [Yes, clearly the smart, spunky little astromech is the confused one in all of this.]

[kick_astromech]

[How he wished that were the case. Things had gotten more complicated than he'd anticipated, and if nothing else, Artoo's only thankful that Anakin's ceased to press him on matters. It's only a small consolation; he still feels utterly miserable for knowing what he knows and not wanting to say anything for fear that it would only make things worse. His old master certainly hadn't taken the news of Padmé well at all.

It's with a reluctant sigh that the astromech acknowledges Anakin's words. He could honestly believe it if he didn't know any better; all this time-warping is going to stress out his circuitry.]

[thepariahed]

It could be worse; Threepio could be here, worrying his and your circuits raw. [Still, there was a humorless grin when he spoke of the protocol droid he created.]

[He pats Artoo's dome with his metallic hand, before asking quietly.] What about me? What happens to me in this future of yours? [The tone in which he asks states he's refusing to believe Artoo's statement about Padmé. Because he wouldn't allow her to die; it was... well, it was plain and simple, that was certain.]

[kick_astromech]

[He beeps a half-hearted agreement to that. Artoo's rather thankful Threepio can be spared all this. He'd probably just make things worse, although this point, the astromech does not note aloud.

...he's not all that crazy about replying to the question though. So he'll try to keep details to a minimum.

In beeps and chirps he relays that Anakin grows strong in the Force, but he chose the difficult path. There's fighting, there's loss, but still, through it all, you found your way out of the darkness.]

[thepariahed]

[He gets stronger... Well, he knew that already. He could feel power, fresh power, coiled deep inside of him, waiting to emerge. Even at the moment, he was the most powerful Jedi out there, so to hear that he gets even moreso... It brings a new tremor of excitement.]

[But... something wasn't correct about Artoo's statement.]

Darkness?