Flight simulator [Sunday evening]

[emo_padawan]

Anakin had spent all of Saturday putting the flight simulator back together to fit the specifications for a Jedi starfighter trainer. He was going to show Rory how to fly.

Now he waited in front of the shed to the Flight Club, rocking back and forth on his heels.

But he wasn't nervous. Really.

They were just friends.

Comments

[auroryborealis]

Rory bounced out to meet Anakin. Not at all nervously.

"Hi!" she greeted him, pulling a glove-clad hand from her pocket. "How're you?"

[emo_padawan]

"I'm good," he said with a grin. "I've been giving people presents all day. It's fun." He shrugged. "Jedi, with the whole 'no possessions' thing, tend to not be in the position either to give or receive."

He smiled. "I like Christmas."

[auroryborealis]

"Me too," Rory agreed, grinning. "Also? I have presents for you. Want them now, or later?" She bit her lip. "One of them is in my room still, but I could go get it, if you wanted."

[emo_padawan]

"You have presents for me?" Anakin's eyes lit up. "Oooh. Now, please. Well, not the one in your room. I can pick that one up later, maybe? But presents. Yes. Presents please."

There might be some bouncing. "I have gifts for you, too," he said. "There inside the shed. Come in--it's cold out here."

[emo_padawan]

"Mistletoe, yeah," Anakin said. "But it would look a little like holly all in pink glitter."

He tried not to seem at all disppointed as he brought the glitter back into his hand.

"Presents," he continued brightly. "Okay. Two are for you, and one is for you and Vladdie." He pointed at a very obvious book-shaped present, a tiny box, a slightly squishy poorly-wrapped package resting on a chair by the sim. "Go ahead and open them, if you'd like," he said, blushing.

[auroryborealis]

Rory very, very carefully peeled off the paper, and grinned. "Oh, I haven't had a reading journal thingy in forever! I keep meaning to get a new one, but I always forget! And," she squealed, "I can carry Vladdie around in this, right? He'll love it! And I do too, of course."

She blushed as she opened the tiny box. "Oh, Anakin. It's gorgeous." Her hand flew up to where her old crosses, which she had stopped wearing Tuesday night, used to be. "Gorgeous and functional."

[emo_padawan]

"I'm glad you like them," he said, smiling softly. "You saw how hopeless I was at picking out presents." He gestured at the bag. "Yeah, that's for Vladdie. When he gets tired of chasing lint, or his tail or glitter."

Anakin blushed at her reaction to the smallest package. "I knew you have a collection going. And this one was pink. Figured it might be something you'd use."

[auroryborealis]

"Vladdie never gets tired of doing any of those things," Rory laughed. "But when I get tired of chasing him around, it'll be useful."

"I do have a collection, sort of," she said quietly, "But I stopped wearing my other necklace this week." She took the cross out and upon attempting to put it on, frowned. "Huh. The clasp is difficult." She looked over at Anakin. "Um. Do you mind? Or I could put it on later, I guess, if you do."

[emo_padawan]

Anakin climbed in right after her, grinning at her enthusiasm.

He strapped in as well, then pushed the controls that closed the door and lit up the monitor in front of them.

The screen was suddenly full of stars, with a large, brightly lit planet before them.

"That's Coruscant," he said quietly.

[auroryborealis]

"It's beautiful," Rory breathed, tucking her hair behind her ear. "Different-looking, but...wow."

[emo_padawan]

"It's only a model. We'll get closer," Anakin said with a smile

[auroryborealis]

"Yes," Rory said seriously. "Can you repeat that?"

She grinned. "Kidding. I got it. So, if I do this," she gripped one of the joysticks he had indicated and gently pressed it forward, "we should accelerate. Oh!"

She may have pressed just a little too hard, causing them to jerk forward suddenly. "Oops."

[auroryborealis]

Rory's eyes were wide as she stared out at the colors and lights blurring past them.

"It's so...big. And shiny. Huge understatement, I know, but...I have no words," she gasped.

As she caught sight of the Temple, she clasped a hand over her mouth. "It's huge," she murmured. "What are the towers for? Oh, and what's the atmosphere like? Could we breathe if were were out in the open there?"

[emo_padawan]

Anakin grinned. "It's a little overwhelming, isn't it? One of the towers is a landing pad, where we'd be heading if this were real and not a simulation, others hold the Archives, or house the Jedi. Mostly, though, it's a way of focusing the Force." His eyes looked fondly at the Temple. "You'll never be so close to understanding the nature of it as you will at the top of the Jedi Temple. It's an incredible thing."

"And the atmosphere's just like Earth's. Smoggier, though, because as you might've noticed, not a lot growing on Coruscant."

[auroryborealis]

Rory smiled. "So that's where you used to live? Before you came here?" She tilted her head. "It's a beautiful piece of architecture. And very, um - " she bit her lip, searching for the word " - balanced. But I suppose that's the point."

[emo_padawan]

"When I first saw it, I was convinced it was the most beautiful building I'd ever seen. I've seen a lot of places since then," he said, "but it's still top five, easily." He slowed the ship down, doing a few passes around the Temple. "It's home, as far as that sort of thing goes."

He grinned. "Enough with flight simulator as a way for me to show you a pixelated version of my world. Want to see some real flying?"