{ episode VI - the empire strikes back

[chosen_to_fall]

{ Action ; 724 Anderson - Morning }

[ Housemates might hear what sounds like a piece of furniture falling over in the master bedroom. Vader all but explodes from the room shortly after, the doorknob banging against the wall. Walking rather stiffly and somewhat bandy-legged, pulling on a spare shirt, he very nearly trips multiple times over his own feet on his furious search through the residence. ]

This can't be, it can't be the same...

{ Action ; Around Mayfield }

[ Kriff this. He's disoriented and afraid and furious. Without the Force his anger isn't a fuel, it's suffocating, but he's pelting hell for leather down the pavement as if he's got a whole squadron of Seps on his tail, gulping air. Anyone in his path might get shouldered out of the way.

Murkhana is still fresh in his mind, the Emperor's orders ringing in his ears, fighting with the abrupt wash of memories that flooded him as soon as he awoke. He hadn't been back in the galaxy more than a few hours, how can so much time have passed here? And Padmé- his wife is gone, an empty shell in a house full of other empty shells. He's failed, again.

Coming to a sudden stop, he presses white-knuckled hands to his temples. Agitated, he releases a noise of frustration, the sound welling up almost to a scream.

Yeah, so... approaching the guy in the midst of a psychotic break might not be the greatest idea. But hey. It's Mayfield. ]

Comments

[ action ]

[spellbent]

[ Warren gets shouldered out of the way right before Anakin comes to a stop. It's enough to spark annoyance in the wizard, but not enough that he lashes out.

He's just going to be an ass about it instead. ]

Bad day?

[ action ]

[chosen_to_fall]

[ Have a seriously for serious glare. You're interrupting some Lucas-style angsty brooding. hdu. ]

They've taken everything.

[ Pretty sure that makes it all so clear, amirite? ]

[ action ]

[spellbent]

They tend to do that- assuming you're talking about the people running the town. If not, I suggest locking your doors. That usually helps.

[ action ]

[chosen_to_fall]

And they will pay for what they've done! [ Either he misses the stab at humor or... no, he misses it. Too angry. ]

[ action ]

[spellbent]

Feeling dramatic today, aren't we?

[ action ]

[chosen_to_fall]

Your observations aren't wanted.

[ action ]

[spellbent]

Neither are your dramatics.

[guiding_starlight]

[ It is the sound that catches the young woman's attention. She rounds a corner and is quite surprised by what she sees. ] Excuse me... [ Perhaps it's a headache? Hard to say, but the man certainly looks anguished or even angry for something, from what she observed.

Trusting though she may be, she stays at least an arms-length away, hand raised and palm out in an offer of assistance. ] Are you all right? [ It's one of those stupid questions people ask when someone is obviously NOT doing well. ]

[chosen_to_fall]

Do I look all right? [ It's a snarl, full of venom. ]

[guiding_starlight]

No, but it's good that you can answer. [ She looks concerned. ] Is it a migraine? Do you need to get out of the light?

[chosen_to_fall]

That isn't- There's nothing you can do. There's nothing anyone can do.

[guiding_starlight]

That sounds rather extreme. [ And Nanoha does not sound convinced that anything is impossible. ] But I can't just ignore such obvious discomfort.

action; 724 Anderson

[crushtowin]

[Hearing sounds from the house is nothing unusual. Really, Akaya's used to hearing (and making sounds himself). However, waking up to them... is not very pleasant.

So he'll get up from his bed and open his bedroom door. He's not sure where the sound comes from, but he has faith in his loud voice.]

I'm trying to sleep here! Be more quiet!

[... and he's going back inside his room.]

action; 724 Anderson

[chosen_to_fall]

[ Well now that, that's particularly useful. Vader makes a beeline for the voice's location, throwing his shoulder against Akaya's door. He needs to know what's going on here, and he's going to find it out now. ]

action; 724 Anderson

[crushtowin]

[... Twitch.

Not as planned. The voice just came closer to him. When will they learn? Akaya's just getting more and more annoyed now.

So the door is answered and there's one messy haired teenagers behind it.]

What?

action; 724 Anderson

[chosen_to_fall]

Who are you? What date is it?

action; 724 Anderson

[crushtowin]

[Usually it's polite to introduce yourself-- Ah, whatever. Akaya's never been one to follow through those.]

I'm Kirihara Akaya and I live in this house. [And so do you, but he doesn't necessarily register that yet...] It's August 6th.

Any more stupid questions or can I go back to bed?

action;

[companioning]

[Inara's eyes widen a little, and she's half tempted to turn and take the long way around, but... She can't.

Cautiously, she approaches him.]

Are you all right?

action;

[chosen_to_fall]

[ It is just his day to disturb people. ]

She's gone.

action;

[companioning]

[She can't help but feel sorry for this obviously broken man.] She's gone, as in back to her world? If that is indeed the case, I'm sorry, truly.

action;

[chosen_to_fall]

[ He shakes his head as if attempting to clear it, his messy fringe sticking to his sweaty skin. ]

Spare me your platitudes; you know nothing about it.

action;

[companioning]

I know what it's like to lose someone I've cared for. [She sighs, wishing she knew how to somehow ease the pain he's going through... Even though he seems to not want it.]

Action

[of_alderaan]

[And Leia is walking by....and as her connection to the force is back she stumbles a bit as she feels the rage coming from him....


Maybe he won't see her.]

Action

[chosen_to_fall]

[ Little registers for him outside his own circle of self-directed angst. He might as well be some anonymous nutter, raving on a street corner, oblivious to anyone else.

She's probably lucky. ]

[of_alderaan]

[In that case Leia is going to do what she tells everyone else to do, and steer clear.

Makes a note that he's back though.]

action; ruh roh

[mediations]

[ The sight of Anakin certainly does not bring back the most pleasant of feelings. His stomach tightens, and a bitter taste rises. They've known one another for years. He can tell when the young man is upset.

The only thing he's not sure how to do is approach him about it. ]

action; hi honey im home

[chosen_to_fall]

[ All fires eventually burn themselves out without fuel. He's no different. Without the Force to call upon, to breathe oxygen into the roiling furnace into his heart, he's just another twenty-something throwing a tantrum.

Vader's back hits the fence behind him, and he slides down, down until he deposits himself on the pavement, his head in his hands. ]

action; did you at least pick up some blue milk while you were out?

[mediations]

[ Obi-Wan is indecisive. A rare moment, he realizes. Feeling more like an inexperienced young Padawan, something he hasn't felt like in... months, really. Not allowing his agitation to show, he finally moves forward, but at a distance. ]

Interesting that you've joined us once more... Anakin.

action; all they had was bagged milk, i couldn't deal

[chosen_to_fall]

[ Obi-Wan. He should have known. ]

Don't call me that. [ It's a hiss into his hands, about the only thing that seems at all stable in this place. ]

action; you *know* you're son only drinks blue milk

[mediations]

Yes. My deepest apologies, Lord Vader.