Diplomacy, Tuesday, September 23, 2025 [2nd period]

[sith_happened]

"There are holidays approaching that promote time with extended family," Anakin began from where they were all seated around an ornate dining table where an older woman and man also sat, dressed up. "These are my in-laws," Anakin explained. "Well, copies of them. I didn't kidnap them from Connecticut and make them attend class today. They are a very particular type of relative, though: the sort that will deliberately misunderstand everything you say."

As if to prove Anakin's point, the woman looked deeply insulted. "It's fine that our son-in-law doesn't want to spend time with us."

"Exactly," Anakin said, with an "I told you" expression to the rest of the class. "But dumping cranberry sauce on her head and stomping off, however momentarily satisfying, doesn't actually fix a long-term problem. I will have to see her next Thanksgiving, too. And the one after that."

"No need to sound so excited about that."

Ahsoka, who had been watching all this with great amusement, cleared her throat. "Situations like these require a delicate touch," she said. "Calling out such behaviour will likely make it worse, with them viewing it as an attack. But going along to get along runs the risk of using all your emotional energy to soothe theirs, because you will never be able to abase yourself enough to avoid their bad faith."

"And that just ruins the pie," Anakin said, nodding. "So today we will practice disengaging."

"Thy will be looking for a response," Ahsoka told them "So do your best not to give them one."

Comments

Re: Talk to Anakin & Ahsoka

[sith_happened]

"I think they'd have to be a little artistic," Anakin said.

Re: Talk to Anakin & Ahsoka

[mostnonheinous]

“They do have a most existential view of the world,” Billie noted. “Which many find to be inspiring for artistic endeavors.” She shrugged. “Plus, I know my Death thinks the afterlife is deeply bogus.”

Re: Talk to Anakin & Ahsoka

[sith_happened]

That word, combined with thinking way back to his high school days, tickled something in the back of Anakin's mind. "Bogus?" he repeated.

Re: Talk to Anakin & Ahsoka

[mostnonheinous]

Billie nodded. “It means ‘false’, but is also colloquially used as a broad, negative descriptor.”

She beamed.

Re: Talk to Anakin & Ahsoka

[sith_happened]

"Huh," Anakin replied intelligently. "I've heard it before but a long time ago."

Re: Talk to Anakin & Ahsoka

[mostnonheinous]

"Oh, it is most old-fashoned," Billie admitted. "But my dad and my uncle use it all the time, so it has slipped into my vocabulary as well."

Do you see the resemblance yet, Anakin? Billie is very much her father's daughter.

Re: Talk to Anakin & Ahsoka

[sith_happened]

"Sithspit."

At least he figured it out before Parents Weekend?

"Are you Professor Logan's child?"

Re: Talk to Anakin & Ahsoka

[mostnonheinous]

“. . . I’m Ted ‘Theodore’ Logan’s daughter?” Billie offered. “If he was a professor, I am most unaware, but as with our discussion about various Deaths, I cannot discount that in some timeline he did teach here.”

Re: Talk to Anakin & Ahsoka

[sith_happened]

"He taught music and adopted a miniature giraffe named Earl," Anakin said, "if that sounds right."

Re: Talk to Anakin & Ahsoka

[mostnonheinous]

“Definitely!” Billie said. “Especially the music part. His band was destined to unite our world, you know!”

Re: Talk to Anakin & Ahsoka

[sith_happened]

"That doesn't surprise me," Anakin said with a smile.

Re: Talk to Anakin & Ahsoka

[mostnonheinous]

“He is an extremely talented musician.”

That probably wasn’t what Anakin meant, Billie.