milliways_bar | (no subject)

"What're you reading?" Bright smile as Arica sits across from her.

Val looks up, and smiles cheerily at Arica. "Oh, hey, Arica. Um, stupid historical romance." She shrugs. "It was the only thing I could find this morning when I got up. Well, ok, I wasn't looking that hard, just grabbed the first book on the shelf."

"Is it any good?"

"It's not bad. It took historical politicians and made them all sappy." A shrug. "I've read a lot better."

Laughter as Arica shakes one of Val's feet playfully. "Then why are you still reading it?"

You know, Anakin really needs to learn not to be surprised by what Milliways can do. Even when it is having his future daughter-in-law in one timeline sitting talking to his future daughter-in-law in another. Especially when one of them is currently working for the Emperor.

"Val, do you know who you are talking to?" he says as he comes up to the table. He doesn't think this younger version of Mara will recognize him, but he blocks her escape anyway, just in case.

Val looks up from the book with a grin, about to say something to Arica when Amakin walks over. She blinks at him for a moment, looking from the girl to him, and back. "Um, her name's Arica, she dances for Jabba the Hutt." She looks a bit lost.

He looks at Mara. "Her name's Mara, and she works for the Emperor." He smiles mirthlessly at Mara. "Hello Mara. Still trying to kill my son?"

Well, there's no use pretending. "Possibly." Almost idle, as her entire posture, expression, baring changes. Mara is there. Arica is gone.

Val stares, the book falling into her lap forgotten. Her expression is one of careful shock, however, her eyes show something slightly different. Shock and fear are combined, with just a hint of self-frustration.

"I would really prefer you didn't, as I need him to be alive to bring me back from the Dark Side." A tight grin. "You've got no idea who you're talking to, do you?"

Eyes narrow for a moment. It clicks. There are only so many sons of men who serve the Dark Side that she's supposed to kill, after all. A cold smile. "I serve my master, Vader. Your preferences have never been my concern."

Val bites her lip, eyes narrowing as she grabs the book in her lap. She's still attempting to keep her temper, but it won't last for long. She remains quiet, watching acutely.

His eyes harden. "My name is Anakin, Mara. There is no Vader here."

He reins in his temper just a bit. "Besides, it doesn't matter. Luke can take care of himself. He is my son, after all."

A snort. "Please. Remember who you're talking to. I grew up in the palace. Call yourself whatever you like. You're the same man." Another smile. "And you managed so well. I'm sure he takes after you."

Val's face is dangerously blank, biting her lip. "Oh, he takes after Anakin alright, but certainly not in the way you are thinking." Her tone is cold, a bit biting.

Normally, Anakin would be losing his temper right about now. But he's slightly better about that than he was before, and besides, the tone of Val's voice snaps him back to reality.

"People change. I still remember our first meeting, Mara. You've changed a lot since then."

"Oh?" Idly, almost boredly. As far as she remembers, the first time they met was only a year ago, though she'd seen him before then.

"Yes. As far as I can recall, you were cute when we met. And brave. I can't imagine many children going up and embracing Darth Vader, much less a child under the age of five."

She stares at him for a moment. Memories that she's suppressed--or others have--filter through her brain. Slowly, "You were the one who took me to the Emperor."

"Yes." It should be clear to her now that he truly is Anakin; there is regret in his eyes. "I had two choices: take you to the Emperor or let you grow up and be killed as a Jedi later. And I never believed in killing children."

Cold smile as she thinks of a woman with long red hair. "You made my mother cry."

He doesn't even notice that he is slowly growing colder and possessing of less affect. "I killed one of my wife's best friends that day. Making your mother cry was the least of my worries."

Val looks up, startled. She knows Anakin well enough to know he's shutting down. Trying to keep herself cool, she smirks a bit. "Ok, so you both knew each other. Let's end the trip down memory lane now. Around here, that's never a good thing."

An almost bored glance at Val, before back to Anakin. Another tight smile. "I suppose I have changed. I know better now than to give strange men hugs. I thank you for letting me live. I make no apologies for what I am as a result."

If it weren't for that fact that he knows in at least one future Mara went on to become a good mother to his grandson, he might continue sinking into an emotional shutdown. But he knows, and that stops him. "You'll change more. I promise."

"No one can leave this bar without changing, at least somewhat. That's the way of things around here." Val's tone is dry, if a bit lazy.

"Oh, I've changed." Calmly studying her nails. "After all, I know now that Vader's at risk for turning."

See rage. See Anakin. See these things come close to meeting. It's a bad week for inanimate objects in Anakin's way.

Very, very coldly. "I think you've missed the point."

Val's eyes darken. She's close to losing her temper as well. "You have most definitely missed the point." She cuts herself off before her temper gets even more off its percarious position.

"Oh, be serious." The glance she sends Val is amused, now. "Or maybe you have. I have no desire to change."

Anakin snerks, just a little. "Be careful what you say. I happen to know Desire. Besides, who said you *wanted* to change? It might just happen."

Val snerks as well. "Most of the people who come here don't have change in mind, but it happens nonetheless, in spite of themselves." A pause and a snerk. "You might like Desire. He wears Jedi robes."

"Ah, and that's another change, isn't it? A bar where there are still Jedi...most interesting." Idle shrug, rising. "Perhaps I will. But for now, I have a job to do."

Anakin, who had been looking at Val oddly (and delibrately not thinking about some of the repercussions from Val's statement about Desire), moves out of the way. He can't resist a parting shot, though. "May your Binding be as long and interesting as mine."

Without looking back, "May you never forget that I am as much a product of you as the Emperor."

And Mara, with a smirk to Val, stroll out of the bar.

Val puts her feet back up on the table, pulling out her book, suddenly glad Luke's not in the bar on that particular night. She falls silent, just watching Mara intently over the top of the book.

Kitty may be bouncing as she comes over to Val. "Guess what."

Val looks up from her book, chuckling a bit at Kitty's bouncing. There's a mug of tea beside her. "What? And if you say 'chicken butt', I might have to throw something at you." She grins.

"No. Apparently, I'm going to be a good wife for Luke!" Bright smile.

Val is in the middle of taking a sip of tea, which she proceeds to spray all over the book and table. "What the frell?" She stares at Kitty. "Ok, there's better be a good explanation behind this one."

Kitty gives in and about falls over onto the rest of the bench laughing for a moment before she calms. "I met Qui-Gon. Except I was singing The Saga Begins. Your fault, by the way. Damned song's been stuck in my head." Grins. "He thought I was you."

Val stares. It would seem this isn't a good night for her abilities at communication. Sporfling for a moment, she facepalms, and drops her head on the table. "Oh, Force. So you didn't bother correcting him? And you were singing that song, and he heard it? I am so doomed." ~~And it seems that Val has been talking to Threepio too much. Or listening to Gir. Anyone wanna sing the Doom song?~~

"What fun would correcting him have been? And yes." Brilliant smile. "He thinks you wrote it, by the way." Bursts out laughing again. "Oh, that was so fun. I got to tell him what I think of the Jedi rules forbidding attachment."

"Kitty!" Val headtables a few more times. "So he now thinks I wrote that song, and you're me, and... argh." She sighs. "I should just give up right now, shouldn't I?"

"Probably." Cheerful as she sips her coffee. "It was wonderful." Snickers again.

Val sighs, curling up in the chair. "My wedding is doomed. Stupid Jedi rules."

"No, it isn't." Another grin.