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[neverjedi]

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[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.

[darkforcerising]

"How is it less meaningful if you admit you want to do it, if only once?" Anakin was confused.

[neverjedi]

"...Because I'm horrible at explaining myself until I'm sufficiently fed, let's just eat and pretend the most confusing parts of this conversation never occurred?" He was asking, really, pretty close to dryly begging.

[darkforcerising]

Anakin smiled, it relaxed him to know that maybe Obi-Wan was feeling nerves like he was.

"I think skating will be good for me," picking an easier subject. "It's another way to practice balancing."

[neverjedi]

"You mentioned being in physical therapy a couple of times a week, didn't you?" That makes it okay to discuss, right?>

Because yeah, nerves. He had them in waves. Apparently he was... more invested in wanting more of this than he'd been willing to admit

[darkforcerising]

"Ya, learn to use this arm-" He lifted his prosthetic arm. "Re-learn how to do everything now with my other arm. Non-medication pain management. Re-learn how to balance- I didn't realize how much losing an arm can throw that off."

[neverjedi]

"Did you have time to mention that you'd gone ice skating, yet?" He...trusts Anakin's judgement, of course, and whatever the answer is it won't second guess that.

That doesn't mean he isn't curious.

[darkforcerising]

"Yes, it was one of the tamer things I've told them I've done. Not that I have to," he said. "It just helps if I'm transparent about what I'm doing. And they don't mind whatever I do so long as I keep up with exercises."