Who: Anakin Skywalker and Presto What: Random meeting. Where: Hinkle's. When: Sunday evening. Warnings: None. Status: Closed | Completed GDoc
Presto loved this place. Meeting people, doing magic, and eating good food. And what was more,the people of Hinkle’s didn’t ever seem to be ophased by magic like some of the locals still were. Which was nice. Magic was, by this point, a part of Presto’s life. And so it was and would be. For him.
Here, today, he was there to get good for himself, and possibly Erin, a large package of it, in fact, and he was just humming as he did so.
***
He was on his way home from work that particular evening, and decided that he should quite possibly pick up some food for dinner. He wasn’t sure if Padme had cooked, and thought that maybe the food he picked up could be eaten later if that happened to be the case. So Anakin headed to Hinkles, to pick up some food to take home to his wife.
Anakin stepped into the restaurant, surprised at how busy it was for the time of day. But then again, he thought that maybe he shouldn’t be. People had to eat, no matter what time it was.
He glanced at the options available, though he had an idea of what he was going to get. All they had were burgers, really. And fries or onion rings. That was the idea of Hinkles. It was a burger place. He stepped up to the counter, and ordered two cheeseburgers and two fries.
***
“I recommend the double cheeseburgers.” Presto’s voice was kind and quiet, just out of puberty and just calming down. It was the voice of a man who looked both older and younger than his age. And whose face showed lines most people his age did not.
“This place makes the best food, doesn’t it?”
He was waiting on a quadruple order, and hoping to get it, and get home before Erin did. He’d ordered only a moment before the man had gotten in and asked for fresh food. He didn’t mind paying, or waiting, for that.
***
“The double cheeseburgers?” Anakin repeated. He then nodded, and decided that those sounded like a good idea. He was rather hungry, and could probably finish Padme’s if she could not.
“They make excellent food. And they are usually quick about it as well.”
He made it a habit of eating here often. He thought they were decent and affordable.
“Onion rings or fries?”
***
Presto nodded. “I recommend them.” He grinned at the other man, and was glad to help and explain. He loved to eat, and because he worked and exercised a lot, he ate a lot, too.
“They are. It’s nice to have a place like this here.” It was like a magic food dispensary.
“Do you like breading or potato better? I like the onions rings best, myself, but some people think them too much.” Simple and not important things to talk about, but who cared?
***
Anakin nodded at Presto’s words. He liked French fries, sure, but he decided to try onion rings this time. Because why not? Presto said he liked them, and so Anakin was going to take his word for it.
“We don't have places that serve food like this at home. We have places that serve food, yes, but not food like this.”
He'd never had a hamburger before his arrival in Madison Valley.
“My name is Anakin,” he offered the young man.
***
“I’m Presto.” he offered his hand to the other and nodded. He liked meeting people and with school out of the way, he had more time to do so. Even with two jobs instead of one.
“How is this place treating you?” he shifted as he waited and talked to the other, idly drawing patterns in the air, which lit up for a second before fading.
***
“It is nice to meet you, Presto,” he said, as he shook the man's hand. He didn't mind meeting people, he thought he needed to branch out and not just converse with the people he was accustomed to, the people he was comfortable with.
“Well enough, I suppose. My wife is here, my children. My droid.” He still found it odd that Luke and Leia were older than he, but he was glad for their being here. “What about you?”
***
Presto smiled to the other. “Nice to meet you too.” Madison did bring in the oddest of people and the strangest of days. Sometimes, that went well, sometimes not. He was hoping this would be a quiet day.
“You have a droid? Cool! And the rest is cool, too.” Presto didn’t know anyone had androids here. That was pretty awesome. The small part of him that was still a computer geek totally nerded out for a second.
“I love it here. I never want to go home.” Home sucked, both on Earth and in the Realms.
“And here, I have my girlfriend, who is awesome.”
***
“I do. He responds to the name R2D2, sometimes Artoo. Depending on who calls him Artoo. Mainly me, Luke, and Padme. He may allow Leia as well.” Perhaps Poe as well, be wasn't sure.
He nodded at Presto's words. “I do not want to go home, either,” he admitted. “I am to turn to the Dark Side at home. And become a person I do not wish to become.”
Yes, Anakin was fully aware of what his future held. It was not something he wanted, so he would prefer to stay in Madison Valley.
***
“That’s pretty cool. I was totally into droids when i was a kid,. But these days i am more into magic.” He nodded.
“The Dark Side? Sounds rough. I hope you can avoid it, for sure.” Presto smiled to the other man.
“My home is mostly full of battles and lots of danger. This place is a paradise in comparison.”
***
“I am hoping I can, as well,” he stated. He truly did not desire that, turning to the Dark Side. He wanted to remain himself. He wanted to keep his wife by his side, and his children.
He arched an eyebrow when Presto spoke again. “It sounds like it would be paradise compared to battles and danger,” he agreed.
“How long have you been here? In Madison Valley?”
***
“Over two years now. I was yanked away for a three month period, and then dropped back in again. I was here briefly before that, but only for like a day.” He chuckled.
“Hopefully, i will never be taken away again.”
***
“I hope you will be able to remain here, if that is what you wish.” He understood that life here was better for some than their life back home. Like Anakin. His life back home was too take a turn for the worse.
Just as he was about to speak again, his order was ready. He hadn't realized how hungry he was, until he knew his food was ready.
***
Presto nodded. “Thanks.”
Seeing the man’s food ready, Presto spotted his own and smiled. “Looks like both our orders came up. Maybe we can talk again, sometime, yeah?”
Presto grinned wider.
“This town is not that big.”
***
Anakin nodded in response to his question. “We should definitely talk again,” he agreed. He had enjoyed the conversation with Presto, and would not be opposed to speaking with him again.
He grabbed his bag of food, and offered Presto a small smile. “I suppose Padme will be wondering where I am. I just hope she didn't decide to go ahead and cook dinner.”
***
“Absolutely. I hope you both enjoy.” Gathering his food into his sidepack, he stepped outside as the other did. Glancing around, he winked, thien spoke a word in a slippery ancient language. And just like that, he was gone, teleported away toward home.
A moment later, there was a clatter at Anakin’s feet and a small metal ball bounced off the ground, then hovered at his side and emitted a gleaming card of white, with Presto’s name and number on it.
“Have a nice day!” Presto’s voice echoed for a moment, then was gone.