tramitem_net

[ Anakin shrugs. ]

Not much. There are a few things I can do to drown it all out. I usually don't get coherent thoughts, mostly just feelings. Some people are really disciplined with their feelings and they are easier to be around. Mostly I just put in air pods and keep the music really loud.

[ The elevator reaches the top of the building and Anakin steps forward to open the gate. There's just a short hallway leading to the door that opens onto the roof. ]

[that being heard he tries to lock down his emotions as best he can as he follows the kid out onto the roof. It's even colder up here and he tries not to shiver as if the wind doesn't effect him or make his fingers icicles]

Hell of a life... [half muttered. But then he shakes his head]

Right. Where do we start?

[ There are lights up on the roof. But Anakin has brought up a few more along with all the things they needed. He's set up some of the armor plating he'd taken off the more robust droids to use as target practice. And he has a few blasters up there, leaning next to the door. ]

Have you have fired any kind of gun?

[ Starting at the very basics. ]

No. [a pause] Maybe... back in... [a vague gesture] But not that I remember.

[he eyes the blasters critically. They look like movie props. Even now he can't completely believe they'd do real harm]

Wow. Okay.

[ Anakin doesn't make a move towards the blaster yet. ]

First, I need you to... calm your- [ Anakin gestures to all of Alec. ].

Do you have a preferred calming or mental grounding technique? [ He asks with a skeptical tone because Alec doesn't give off the vibe of practicing calming exercises on the regular. ]

[he has no idea what the kid is even talking about. Sure he bristles with a low-level tension but that is part of him living his life]

I'm as calm as I'm ever going to get.

Ya... so these weapons convert gas into bolts of plasma contained in a magnetized shell. Which is technology currently outside the realm of Earth possibilities.

And you get jumpy when I- [ Anakin holds out his hand and summons one of the blasters to his palm using the Force. It slaps his hand with an unnatural metal clash because he's using his robotic hand. He holds it like it's a natural extension of his body. ]

Do things like this.

So you can try and lie convincingly to me that you won't freak out and shoot your face off in a panic. Or you can humor me, take a few deep breaths, and try a mental calming exercise.

If you can try not to be a twat for five seconds that really would be a miracle. Bloody hell. [he did jump at that sudden movement of the...whatever it was. It was too much sci fi. Too much... everything. But he'd have to get used to it]

I'm fine. I won't aim at you. The most that'll happen is my heart will go and I'll die and you can just wash your hands of me which will make a brilliant day for us both.

[ Anakin levels a deadpan look at Alec when the other man calls him a twat. But he lets that part go, for now. ]

Weird lie [ In that it's not a lie ] to tell me to prove you're emotionally and mentally grounded enough to handle something that is clearly emotionally and mentally distressing you.

What's it going to hurt you if you just take a moment to mentally center yourself? Your pride? Some mistaken idea that doing it will relinquish your control over the situation?

Oh aye I forgot, you're an empath, clearly you know the ins and outs of my psychology. I have seen the light. Do you think it's easy just relaxing? Do you think anyone can do it and all they have to do is tra la la and some breathing exercises?

I do what I can do and if that's not acceptable I'll learn how to shoot a bloody handgun like everyone else and pray that I don't get raygunned or whatever it is happens.

[ Anakin just continues his flat look. ]

I can tell what you're feeling, not why you're feeling it.

I'm not going to guide you through an EMDR session. I'm not your therapist and I wouldn't want to be even if I was a psychologist.

If you don't practice centered-mindedness it's not easy. But I'm not going to put a piece of alien technology that can burn a hole through this roof we are standing on or the wall of a neighboring building in one blast in your hand unless you show a fraction of effort to listen to basic instructions- and they start with you trying to calm yourself.

I know a dozen different calming exercises if you don't know any yourself.

[well he'd known the kid was a pompous jackass before he got up here. Alec pulled in a breath and let it out]

Fine. Show me one. [it wasn't a war and after this he wouldn't have to talk to him, but right here, right now, is what mattered most]

Text

Re: action

action

Re: action

action

Re: action

action

Re: action

action

Re: action

action

Re: action

action