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

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

Luke knocked on the doorjamb. "Hi," he said with a small smile.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Luke! Hi! Come in," Isabel smiled. "What's up?"

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

"Not a lot," Luke said, blushing a little. "I learned what a Klondike bar is. Did you know some guy named Jamie asked Vader if he wanted one?" He blinked rapidly. "And he's still alive!"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Klondike bars are yummy. Although there are limits to what I'd do to get one," she laughed. "Jamie did? He's mildly insane like that. But I suppose the administration did point out to Vader that the killing of students is frowned upon."

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

"It's the only explanation I can think of," Luke agreed.

He scuffed his boot on the floor. "I don't suppose you have time to give me a lesson today, do you?"

[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."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

After Interstellar Relations, and more time spent in her room than was good for her state of mind, Parker wandered upstairs, looking for people to bother.

Oh look, an open door.

"Hey, Gemenon. How goes the war?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I have one of my own to worry about," Isabel said, making a face. "I can't get involved in any others. It is an interesting class though."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Too true." Parker sprawled at the end of her bed, hands folded across her stomach, and looked thoughtful. "Still. I'm still thinking I don't want to go into politics. But I really, really need to find people who do, and figure out ways to get them to take the job. Aside from Liz, of course." She angled her head toward Isabel. "How was the rest of your day? Is Annie around?"