Room 406, Late Monday Afternoon

[izzyalienqueen]

After Interstellar Relations, Isabel returned to her room, booted up the laptop and started to surf through political blogs in preparation for Wednesday's Political Campaigning class. Occasionally she needed to move Annie when she tried to curl up on the laptop keyboard.

The door was open.

Comments

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Let's see," Isabel considered thoughtfully. "Keep reading the news and become even more depressed at the state of the world? Or have fun with a friend? It's a really tough decision."

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

Luke gave her a hopeful smile. "That's a yes to my question, right?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"That's a yes," she laughed, putting aside the laptop. Scooping Annie up, Isabel sat on the floor and motioned for Luke to do the same. "So what can you do using the Force? Have you tried to move anything?"

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

Luke sat down across from Isabel and put his hands on his knees. "I've tried to move something when Rory told me about my father being able to do it, but I got nowhere." He sighed. "It just seemed so impossible, you know? But that was when I first arrived, before I knew much about this place."

He gave Isabel a hopeful look. "I'm ready to try again."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"And I'm ready to help. So we're good that way. But," she said, holding up her finger. "Keep in mind that your dad was teaching me. Not the other way around. But if you're half as strong as he was, I'm sure you'll be able to do it."

Isabel held her hand out towards her desk and a crumpled up ball of paper floated towards her. "We worked with pillows, but I'd been doing this for a while. Why don't we start with something a little smaller. Besides, it amuses Annie," she said as the kitten watched the paper avidly.

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

"Okay," Luke agreed, staring intently at the paper. "So, I just...concentrate on trying to float it?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I can reach out and sort of feel it in my head if that makes sense," Isabel explained. "Then it's a matter of just picturing it doing what I want it to do. The thing is, I'm using my brain. It's been boosted a bit to maximize it's potential. At least that what I've been told. But you're going to be using the Force, which means you're going to have to tap into that energy and direct it."

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

Luke nodded, taking a deep breath. "Okay," he said. "I think I can do this."

He closed his eyes and concentrated on the feeling he'd felt on the Falcon, that moment of calm before firing the torpedo...

He held his hand out and willed the paper ball to move over towards him.

After a moment of nothing, it floated towards him.

He opened up his eyes. "It worked!" he squeaked.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Yay!" Isabel cheered. "I knew you could do it." Annie thought this meant it was time to play and tried to pounce on the ball of paper.

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

Luke hadn't been expected that and lost concentration. The paper fell back to the floor.

"That's going to need some practice," he commented.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Lots and lots," she agreed. "That's why the Jedi started training when they were very young. But you can do it. That's what's important right now. Start with one piece of paper, then two or three at the same time. Then a pillow." The pillow on her bed floated over to tap Luke on the shoulder. "Then add speed. If you're lucky the oak trees in front of the dorms will start assaulting people with acorns again soon. That's a good way to practice defending yourself from surprise attacks."

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

Luke nodded, then frowned in concentration at the piece of paper again. It danced in front of Annie.

Luke grinned, absolutely thrilled.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel grinned, climbed to her feet and walked over to her desk. "Ready for more?" she asked before tossing two more crumpled papers to the floor in front of him.

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

Luke took a deep breath. "Okay." He closed his eyes.

One crumpled paper jumped immediately into the air. A few minutes passed as Luke tried to figure out how to concentrate on two objects at the same time.

The second paper rose a wavery inch off of the ground before Luke stopped for a moment to wipe the sweat from his forehead. "This is hard."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"It'll get easier. Anakin used to spread use glitter. He's make star charts on his ceiling. Think of the concentration that required," Isabel said, hoping she was encouraging him with stories of Anakin.

[*flees to karate. back around 9:15 EST]

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

Luke's jaw dropped. "Wow."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"It was really cool," Isabel agreed. "He used to live just across the hall so I would be able to see him practice when we both had our doors open."

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

Luke looked down at the pieces of paper in front of him. "I'll get there," he decided. "But probably not today."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"You will," she promised. "But not today. Still, this is a very good start. And just wait till I start attacking you with Nerf balls."

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

That had an altogher different connotation for Luke. He wrinkled up his nose. "Eww. Why?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel grinned, "Let me guess, that means something completely different to you." Opening her desk drawer she pulled out the Nerf balls she'd used on the beach with Cedric. "This is what I'm talking about. They're a kiddie toy. And they don't hurt if you get hit with them."

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

"Ohhhhhh," Luke said, then burst out laughing. "At home a nerf is an animal. I was wondering what I'd said."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Snickering, Isabel sat back down. "I can see why that would be a big EEEW for you. But I promise I'll stick to kiddie toys and not the private parts of some odd space critter. So what else would you like to try?"

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

"I think I'll just stick with the paper for a little longer if you don't mind," Luke said, blushing a little. He closed his eyes and reached out his hand. The paper shot up into the air with a greater sense of control.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Not at all," she assured him. "It's better to take things slow. It's easier to stay in control that way. And that is important. Because you don't want to hurt anyone with what you do."