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[Mara opens the door, almost expecting it to be another smiling faced droid with make-up to sell, or pies to offer. She currently has the house to herself, since her "husband" has made himself scarce ever since her arrival.]

I already told you, I don't want your kriffing--

[Oh, it's you. Her frown disolves.]

Luke...

[Mild amusement.]

Uh, hi, Mara. You probably weren't expecting me. I can come back later if it's a bad time.

No, it's fine. I've just been rattling around the place anyway.

[Erm...]

Do you want to come inside?

Sure, if that's alright.

[Luke keeps his expression, tone, and demeanor calm and pleasant. He's trying his best to make this as painless as possible. Life has been awkward lately and he's eager to avoid any more of that if he can.

He steps into the house at Mara's invitation.]

[Mara slowly shuts the door behind them, her brow furrowed slightly.]

So... how have you been?

[It just didn't feel right, speaking with her husband as if he was some vague acquaintance rather than the man she had married. And, Mara was more than sure he didn't come and visit just for bland small-talk.]

[He pauses in the entry hall and gives her a reassuring look.]

Hey, you don't have to play hostess. This must already be strange enough for you. Relax.

If we get along well enough in the future to want to marry each other I'm sure it won't be any different now.

[Of course, if he'd known how rocky their relationship started out he probably wouldn't have said such an optimistic thing.]

[She gives him a look, arching an eyebrow. A slight smile tugs at her lips.]

Always the optimistic, aren't you? You hardly know me, I could easily be an insane killer bent on destroying you.

[Well...]

Like what your.... [She won't say girlfriend. Not yet.] friend thought of me.

[Leading the way into the living room, she throws herself down into a chair, before nodding for him to do the same.]

[Luke easily lowers into another comfy chair near her and shrugs.]

Then go ahead. I'll just wake up the next morning in my bed. There's really no purpose for killers here which is why I'm not afraid. Besides, I talked to a couple friends who are a few years ahead of me and they vouched for you.

[He leans forward on an arm of the chair.]

Alright, so. We're married sometime in the future. Was there anything else to needed to tell me?

[Small smirk. Getting right to the point. Luke has no patience for... patience.]

Like what?

[Her tone is careful, guarded even. There's so much that he really shouldn't know. Not yet.]<\small>

Oh, well you made it sound like we had so much to talk about. That's why I'm here. [He adds quickly--] Uh, not that I'd avoid you otherwise or anything. Unless you want me to. I'd understand completely. I imagine it must be really hard for you--...

[Shut up, shut up, Skywalker.]

What must be hard for me? [Her voice is quickly raising in sharpness and aggravation..] The fact that I'm stuck here, an outcast because everyone else from my world are basically light-years behind me time-wise? Or there's the fact that my husband, my real husband, is one of those taken from the past. From a point where he doesn't even know a thing about me. And he's currently in a relationship of sorts with some girl who's just one of the people who seem to be under the delusion that I'm this MarYoSafBrigde someone!

[Deep breaths, Mara. You don't want to frighten him away...]

[Yeah, this face. Too late. He sits for a moment in silence, looking a bit taken aback. She'd seemed so level-headed before so this reaction is somewhat of a surprise to him. And honestly, referring to Kaylee as "some girl" who's delusional chipped at him a bit. Finally he sighs and stands from the chair.]

Maybe it is best that I stay away for a while. I'm sorry things are the way they are, I really am, but I don't know that there's anything I can do to fix them. And believe me, coming from a time that's so far behind everyone else isn't exactly a picnic, either.

But please, understand something. I'm not your husband. I'm not my future self. I'm a different person entirely and until you come to terms with that--... I think it would be better if you talked to someone else.

No!

[Mara jumps to her feet, before suddenly sitting back down. She lets out a small groan, dragging a hand through her long hair.]

Look, I'm sorry. Everything is just.... frustrating. I mean, without the Force- I feel numb.

[And she hates it. Going from someone who had been able to get along fine without it, to a Jedi who was practically dependent.]

I know you're not my husband. [In a firmer tone, more for herself than anything.] I know that.

[Luke feels sorry enough for Mara that he decides to stay for the moment. He sighs and kneels down by her chair.]

I'm sorry about the Force. The same thing happened to me, but I got it back eventually and so will you.

I know.

[She stares at him for a few moments before letting out a sigh.]

Are you happy? With... what's her name?

[He was kind of dreading talking about this with her. He knows that if he were in her situation he'd be absolutely torn to shreds to even think about his wife with another man. So he resolves to put things as simply as he can.]

Yes. I'm in love with Kaylee.

[She nods, pursing her lips into a thin line.]

So she makes you happy then?

[Because if she upset or hurt him in anyway...Kaylee would have to answer to her.]

Of course.

[He furrows his brows at her with some concern. He has no idea where she's going with this and it's worrying him.]

[Her head bobs in another nod, before a slight smile forms on her face.]

Relax, I'm not gonna do anything to her.

[So long as she doesn't do anything to him.]

[Luke isn't sure how that was supposed to help him relax but he nods anyway and tries to look optimistic.

He's quiet for a moment as he goes to sit back down in the chair, finding a question out of the blue.]

How did we meet?

[She sucks in a quiet breath at the question. It was honestly expected.... but not so soon.]

It's a bit of a long, complicated story. You probably wouldn't like it.

[He grins.]

Why wouldn't I? It has a happy ending, right?

[She gives a slight smile.] Of course you'd say that.

[Mara eyes Luke for a moment before letting out a sigh.] How much do you know about the Imperial Court?

[Luke isn't sure if he finds it funny or weird that Mara seems to know him so well while he hardly knows her at all. Maybe a little of both.

He shrugs.]

Not much, actually. Growing up on an outer rim planet controlled by crime lords means you don't get exposed to much politics. I know a lot more about Imperial battle tactics.

[She nods.]

Well, the Emperor was quite the fan of throwing lavish parties- more of an excuse to keep a tight hold on his followers, than anything else. And he'd have dancers there, finely dressed trinkets and baubles to make everything look a little prettier.

I was one of them.

[Another pause. She's never been a fan of telling her story, even to Luke.

But once she starts talking, it gets pretty hard to stop.]

But you could also say I was more than that.

The Emperor had his fair share of enemies, obviously. Or just people he didn't like. So he needed someone to take care of those people, someone who could do it quickly.... without causing as much of a fuss as Vader.

[Or, y'know, your dad. But Mara's unsure as to whether Luke knows that yet, so she's keeping that under raps.]

I was trained in the ways of Force from a very young age, as well as in hand to hand combat, weapons use, and stealth and infiltration. My job was to do whatever my Master bid of me, and I could hear his call from wherever.

I was known as the Emperor's Hand.

[Now she takes another pause, watching Luke warily, attempting to gauge his reaction.

She hasn't even gotten to the good part yet.]

[Luke's eyebrows go higher and higher as she continues the story. At the pause he tilts his head slightly.]

You worked for the emperor?

[It's hard to tell by his tone or expression just what he thinks of this but there's definitely surprise in there somewhere.]

[She nods, her expression slowly turning more and more stony.]

I was. I'd do whatever was asked of me, and I was very good at it. Killing came easy, it was just as simple as breathing or falling asleep. [She lets out a breath.] At least until I received my last command.

[Luke's starting to show signs that he's enjoying the story, or at least very interested in it. He's leaning on the arm of the chair with his eyes lit up and fixed on her in fascination.]

I think I can guess where this is going.

[She arches an eyebrow.]

Can you? [Her gaze turns serious.] The Emperor's last command was for me to kill you.

[The corners of his mouth turn upwards slightly and he nods.]

I had the feeling it was something like that.

I mean, it's no secret that I'm currently Imperial public enemy number one. They haven't been too happy with me ever since I blew up their Death Star, killing hundreds of thousands of their officers and soldiers, including Grand Moff Tarkin. I'd want to kill me, too.

I suppose the only surprising part is that I'd end up marrying the woman who was sent to do the job. You're going to tell me how that happened, right?

[He's now openly grinning, clearly finding this story entertaining.]

[How can she tell him without giving too much away? Mara lets out another sigh, crossing then uncrossing her legs. She felt restless, and all this talk about her past certainly wasn't helping.]

I was supposed to kill you, and I didn't. End of story.

[Well... she kinda did kill you. If clones count.]

What? Do you want me to go into a long winded tale of my years jumping from job to job, my loss of personal identity, my time as a smuggler finally culminating to my becoming a Jedi Knight in your new Order?

Trust me, we'd be talking for days.

[Luke's smile fades and he sits back a bit at her sudden change in demeanor.]

Well-... no. You don't have to tell me everything.

[He's now beginning to sense that she's upset by this topic.]

In fact, you don't have to tell me anything at all. It's not important. I was just curious.

And you have a right to be. [She drags a hand through her hair before pulling herself to her feet. Pacing seems like a good idea right now.]

Look, I just don't like to talk about my past. It's not a very good one. My life only really started looking up... after I met you.

[She slows her pacing, and turns to face Luke, vivid green eyes travelling across his much younger face.]

[His smile returns somewhat. That little hint of how much Mara's life was changed by their meeting only makes Luke that much more curious.]

Well then, why don't you start there? That's all I really wanted to know, anyway. You're the one who decided to start telling me your life story.

[She fixes him with a look.]

That's because it has everything to do with my meeting you.

[grumblegrumble.]

[He lets out a slightly frustrated sigh and folds his arms across his chest.] Fine. You don't have to say any more about it.

If you don't want to.

[He mirrors her expression, urging her to respond one way or the other. He really can't tell if she wants to tell him and she's conflicted or if she really just wants to drop the matter.]

[Her jaw is set and her own arms are crossed as well.]

You know what's really frustrating? No matter what time you're from, Farmboy, you always want to get inside my head. Especially when I don't want you to.

[There's was a slight good thing coming from the current loss of their Force bond. He shouldn't be able to feel the full extent of her current turmoil of emotion.

She's tired, and frustrated. And the fact that this isn't the Luke from her own time hurts more than she'd like.

She doesn't like feeling weak.]

Maybe you should just go. Kaylee probably wouldn't like you visiting me anyway.

[She waves a hand at him, fighting to keep her face expressionless.]

[Again, Luke is surprised by her reaction. He leans away and holds up his hands defensively.]

I just said you don't have to talk about it anymore.

You know, you're leading me in one direction and then when I follow you turn around and bite my head off. I'm just trying to figure out if you really do want to talk about things but you're apprehensive, or if you don't want to talk about them at all because you're not being very clear on that.

You say I have a right to be curious and then when I show curiosity you act like I'm prying. Well, which is it?

Edited 2012-06-01 17:38 (UTC)

[She sighs, bringing a hand up to pinch the bridge of her nose.]

Look, everything is just all over the place for me right now, okay? [Gives a tired laugh, void of any actual emotion.] I never would have thought I'd end up having to explain my story to you all over again.