[Stillness doesn't come naturally to Anakin. On Tatooine, any time he didn't spend building droids or racers he spent running around with the other kids in the slave district. And later in life, when he struggled to find the kind of internal quiet and calm that the Jedi told him would be found in meditation- he could always find something to do with his hands. There's a simplicity to be found in both combat and in fixing things; the scope of the universe narrows to only a few seconds where Anakin can easily find good and bad, broken and repaired, before and after.
The decision to walk is an extension of the habits he's never tried to hide and the needs he's never learned to address. His hands remain at his side, one flesh and one metal- both visibly empty and visibly still; this is the detail that's strategic. His Master may be the one to have earned The Negotiator as a moniker, but despite his own hard-headedness Anakin's managed to absorb a tip or two. On a more even-tempered man it might even be called an attempt at manipulation. For better and worse, Anakin possesses neither the will or the inclination. Moments like these, where he's trying to get a feel for another person, are mostly an exercise in patience. In his experience someone always tips their hand.
But the man matches his pace easily and they move with enough symmetry for conversation to flow. An instinct he doesn't try to name keeps encouraging him to bear north- so he does, making his way in the direction of a series of dog-chores that he doesn't even realize are waiting for him. They pass through what looks like a park, where a few of the stubby locals are bounding excitedly through a game of their own; even without the assessment that follows, harmless is a good word for them. The most work he's had to do so far was help one pick out a new ball.
Until now, by the sound of it. It's clear that the opening salvo lands, because 'bigger concerns' immediately draws his eye. While used to standing apart, being other, Anakin knows what it means to be called to serve. To want to help. Bigger concerns implies a point of focus, a task. Something to be done for the greater good.
Unfortunately the elaboration that follows is just vague enough for Anakin to misjudge the request. His expression flattens, not hostility, but an unequivocal rejection.]
I'm not an assassin. [And then, because experience is a memorable teacher:]
Not intimidated either. You're gonna have to play nice like everyone else.
no subject
[Stillness doesn't come naturally to Anakin. On Tatooine, any time he didn't spend building droids or racers he spent running around with the other kids in the slave district. And later in life, when he struggled to find the kind of internal quiet and calm that the Jedi told him would be found in meditation- he could always find something to do with his hands. There's a simplicity to be found in both combat and in fixing things; the scope of the universe narrows to only a few seconds where Anakin can easily find good and bad, broken and repaired, before and after.
The decision to walk is an extension of the habits he's never tried to hide and the needs he's never learned to address. His hands remain at his side, one flesh and one metal- both visibly empty and visibly still; this is the detail that's strategic. His Master may be the one to have earned The Negotiator as a moniker, but despite his own hard-headedness Anakin's managed to absorb a tip or two. On a more even-tempered man it might even be called an attempt at manipulation. For better and worse, Anakin possesses neither the will or the inclination. Moments like these, where he's trying to get a feel for another person, are mostly an exercise in patience. In his experience someone always tips their hand.
But the man matches his pace easily and they move with enough symmetry for conversation to flow. An instinct he doesn't try to name keeps encouraging him to bear north- so he does, making his way in the direction of a series of dog-chores that he doesn't even realize are waiting for him. They pass through what looks like a park, where a few of the stubby locals are bounding excitedly through a game of their own; even without the assessment that follows, harmless is a good word for them. The most work he's had to do so far was help one pick out a new ball.
Until now, by the sound of it.
It's clear that the opening salvo lands, because 'bigger concerns' immediately draws his eye. While used to standing apart, being other, Anakin knows what it means to be called to serve. To want to help. Bigger concerns implies a point of focus, a task. Something to be done for the greater good.
Unfortunately the elaboration that follows is just vague enough for Anakin to misjudge the request. His expression flattens, not hostility, but an unequivocal rejection.]
I'm not an assassin.
[And then, because experience is a memorable teacher:]
Not intimidated either.
You're gonna have to play nice like everyone else.