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[neverjedi]

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[darkforcerising]

"Sounds romantic- are you a romantic?" Anakin asked, he had a million other questions he wanted to ask, but again, he bit back the urge.

[neverjedi]

He wobbled his hand back and forth, just slightly. "I enjoy romance, but I'm not overly romantic in the sense that my views of... romantic relationships listing slightly more toward cynical than idealistic. Where do you fall on that scale?"

[darkforcerising]

Obi-Wan was leading him around by his wrist because the gentle touch of his fingers brushing his skin there made him compliant and giddy and Obi-Wan was asking if he was romantic? The whole picture amused Anakin.

"For a while there, I was starting to get cynical. But maybe that'll change. Why are you cynical?"

[neverjedi]

You asked first, Anakin.

He does finally let go of Anakin's wrist though, once he remembers he has it. Because Anakin may need that hand. He does not move any further away from him though.

"More cynical than romantic. I'm not truly cynical either, I just don't believe I tend toward idealize love - or people or life for that matter. I believe in love and in treating people well. Not in the concept of 'the one' for anyone, much less everyone. Most relationships end up being what you make of them."

[darkforcerising]

Anakin thought about that. He appreciated the honesty. And he'd certainly encountered enough 'life sucks and then you die' - or almost die - in his life to understand the perspective. The last two years had been rough.

But he figured he should ask, "So... do you want monogamy or is it not your thing?"

[neverjedi]

He flashed a smile. "I tend toward monogamy if I'm dating someone, or in a relationship with them. I am not necessarily celibate outside relationships."

Did that make sense?

[darkforcerising]

"I don't see anything wrong with that." He didn't need a history, he had his own past. He just expected everyone did and it was a part of the person, but not a part of what they did together.

"I'm monogamous in a relationship... But can't say I've ever tried a polyamorous relationship, though- I think that might be beyond my skill set."

[neverjedi]

"The nearest I 've ever come is someone else having an open relationship and being friends with both." It wasn't the same thing at all.

He opened the door to let them into a building so they could get a table (or wait a bit for one, though it wouldn't likely be long) and ultimately eat.

"What is your skill set?"

[darkforcerising]

Close, Obi-Wan, yes, close.

Anakin didn't answer right away because the host led them to a table.

"I'm not sure I get what you're asking. Like, I can barely keep track of my life, adding one person to it would be a challenge. A fun challenge. But still. So, I don't know if I could split my attention to more people. Have I mentioned how short my attention span is?"

He glanced at the menu.

"Or are you asking me what kind of sexual stuff do I know how to do?"

[neverjedi]

He shook his head with a slightly confused expression. "You said that wasn't your skill set, and now you've explained why. Tell me what works for you? What are you good at in a relationship."

Stop making everything a disclaimer.

[darkforcerising]

Anakin raised an eyebrow. Way to make this feel like a session with his therapist.

He thought about it and encountered that usual problem people face when asked to compliment themselves: his mind drew a blank. Everything he thought of turned into something negative the more he thought about it. And now he was doubting himself...

But everything was a disclaimer for him. Why deny it?

“See, when you ask it like that, all I can think of are ways I suck... I know what I’m not good at and I’m honest about it. If the thing I’m bad at is a deal breaker, I’ll respect my partner’s choice to leave. But if it’s something I can find a solution to, I’ll work at it. I won’t try to pretend it took me six reminder alarms to make it to see you again this morning or that it won’t take the same number to make it to our next date- I’m bad about non-routine sequential steps and being on time. I found one solution that helps. I want my partner to be happy and trust me.”

And because he had to answer that, so too should Obi-Wan. “What are you good at in relationships?”

[neverjedi]

The answers for what he was good at in there, was ultimately that he wanted his partner to be happy and to trust him, and worked to make that happen.

Obi-Wan filtered to that, without missing the rest and being a little amused by it.

"Meeting people where they are, and loving them as they are."

He did not do mental gymnastics to get to that, but in fairness he wasn't blindsided by the question.

[darkforcerising]

“What other deep question do you want to hit me with?” Anakin figures it was better to just invite them than be bushwhacked by them.

[neverjedi]

He laughed, very quietly. "You started it." That was pure tease, and he handed a menu across to Anakin. "What's your favorite exotic animal?"

[darkforcerising]

“Oh, wow, you don’t pull your punches, do you?” He smiled and shook his head.

“Slow Lorises are pretty cool. But I have this unexplainable desire to pet an alligator. I was offered a job in Florida but passed it up because I was pretty sure that would only lead me to losing my other hand in a gator accident.” This might sound like a joke, but it really was something he both wanted to do - touch an alligator - and realized was a very bad idea.

“What’s yours?”

[neverjedi]

He files that information about alligators under 'wants to sky-dive' and both wonders how to achieve such a thing with any degree of safety, and recommits himself to eventually diving with Anakin.

Though he still finds the idea terrifying.

"Servals, I think. Long legs, huge ears, feline elegance, but absolutely ridiculous looking."

[darkforcerising]

“You can own those. But probably not in New York.” Then again, there were probably people who flouted the rules... obviously not Obi-Wan.

“Did that reveal something deep about me?”

[neverjedi]

"I wouldn't want to, even if I could."

He laughed softly at the question, though. "Maybe confirmed a love of danger, but no. You seemed done with deep questions being turned around onto you." So he'd stopped. Really , no more complicated than that.

[darkforcerising]

"And here I thought that exhibited a strong sense of foresight and caution." He did choose not to go to Florida, after all.

[neverjedi]

"Well. You did manage to avoid petting one thus far."

Which is -

Um.

It's something.

The waiter arrives to take their order and Obi-Wan places his order for coffee, orange juice, a vegetable heavy omelette and then hands over his menu.

[darkforcerising]

Was it too early for rootbeer? No, no it was not. Anakin's order was rootbeer and a ham and cheese omelette.

"I have, that is correct. And I'm pretty sure there really are no alligators in the sewers here. So there's a strong chance I'll never pet an alligator."

[neverjedi]

It is never too early for rootbeer.

"Oh? Are you on some very strange sort of house arrest, and going to be sent to jail for eternity if you stray beyond the state?" It's sarcastic, a bit biting, but it isn't mean.

[darkforcerising]

"No. My illegal activities has never been noticed by law enforcement," Anakin said. He shot Obi-Wan a look, like a dare for him to be the law man that catches him.

"But I don't have plans to leave anytime soon. I wouldn't say touching an alligator is my number one goal- It's on the bucket list. It's not at the top. Somewhere in the middle. Though it might be the last thing on the bucket list if the encounter goes wrong." He grimaced but it turned mirthful after a moment.

[neverjedi]

"Isn't the nature of a bucket list such that any activity could be the last thing you ever do?" He wasn't trying to be morbid, but- "What's the top of the list?"

[darkforcerising]

“Huh, I thought it was just a list of things you wanted to do before you died. But top of the list, is do an upper stratosphere skydive.” Which could also go horribly wrong and be the last thing Anakin would do.

“What’s on your list?”