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[neverjedi]

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[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?”

[neverjedi]

He thought about it, decided Anakin's reasoning made more sense and was less morbid and left it.

"Sky dive."

It wasn't exactly a joke, or completely serious. "At least now. In fact it's the first item I've put on it, and thus far the only listing."

[darkforcerising]

That made Anakin pause. It was unexpected - he was expecting something like seeing an opera at the Sydney Opera House. Or seeing Angkor Wat- which showed the assumptions he made about Obi-Wan.

But just a few days ago, Obi-Wan had voiced some strong objections to the idea of skydiving.

"What changed your mind?"

[neverjedi]

He would love to visit Angkor Wat - so those assumptions weren't really all that far off.

He flashed a grin, a faint one. "How much you love it."

[darkforcerising]

Anakin paused before he said, "Really?... Because of me, you would be willing to jump out of a plane- with a parachute, of course?

[neverjedi]

He needs to make this more clear or it sounds like he's either desperate or far more into this thing than... he is after three entire dates.

"I am interested in experiencing something that excites you."

[darkforcerising]

"And it's now on your bucket list?" Anakin asked, calling Obi-Wan out.

[neverjedi]

"With or without you. There's clearly something about it I don't understand. I want to."

[darkforcerising]

"Okay," Anakin said, backing off. But... It was Obi-Wan who'd asked him to spend the night and the next morning with him after the date Anakin took him on.

Their food arrived, giving them a break from that topic.

[neverjedi]

Anakin's confusion and backing off were clear. "Ideally with you, but I just realized how... overwhelmingly intense that could be if it was... "

He sighed and gave up, took his food with a polite thank you and saved himself by eating.

[darkforcerising]

"I don't have anyone else to jump out of a plane with," he said smiling, digging into his own food. "Surprisingly few people want to do it."

[neverjedi]

"I suppose putting a condition on it makes it less meaningful." A pause for a few bites. "Though I suppose having already admitted I want to try, once, does the same."

He sort of regrets not having turned it into a game though.

Those had worked out really well for them.