Checkmate

forcearama:

Anakin: [rushing into the box seats, wearing a nice space tuxedo] Chancellor! I’m sorry I’m late. I was on my way out the door when someone ran into me, and I told them where I was going, and they insisted that I go back to my quarters and get dressed “appropriately” for the opera. [catches his breath] My apologies. 
Palpatine: Oh, don’t worry about it, my dear boy, I’m just happy you – [looking behind Anakin, lowering his voice] You brought a guest?
Anakin: Huh? Oh! Heh, yeah, I brought Obi-Wan with me. He loves the opera and he pointed out that there’s nothing you can say to me that you can’t say to him, and what with us both having rescued you the other day I figured you wouldn’t mind treating him to a night out, too. 
Obi-Wan: [also formally attired, smiling at Palpatine] Hello Chancellor. It’s so kind of you to host us. 
Palpatine: [locking eyes with him] Yes. I am beside myself to see you. 
Obi-Wan: I thought you might be. 
Anakin: [sitting down in between them with a huge popcorn and 17 boxes of candy] 
Palpatine: [uneasily] You brought…refreshments?
Anakin: [mouth full of food, spilling popcorn all over the seats] Yeah, Obi-Wan said that they don’t have a concession stand here so I brought all this from home. You can totally have some if you want, sir! [holds out a giant container of Raisinets]
Palpatine: [trying to smile] Er, no thank you, son.
Obi-Wan: Are you sure, sir? Anakin surely brought enough to last the whole show. 
Anakin: [loudly drinking a soda] 
Palpatine: No thank you. I ate before the show began. 
Obi-Wan: Oh. What a shame. 
Anakin: [still chewing] So what did you wanna talk to me about, Chancellor?
Palpatine: [distracted] Hmmm?
Anakin: That’s why you sent for me, right? You said you had some big thing about the war you wanted to talk about. Obi-Wan was super curious, too. 
Obi-Wan: Yes, Chancellor. My interest was quite piqued about what sort of information you were planning to share with Anakin. 
Palpatine: [waving a hand] No matter. We can discuss this another time. Let’s just…[grimacing as Anakin wolfs down more popcorn] enjoy the show. 
Anakin: OK yeah, that sounds – 
Obi-Wan: When?
Palpatine: Excuse me?
Obi-Wan: When would you like to discuss it? Because Anakin is going to be very busy. For a long time. Possibly forever. 
Anakin: [clueless] I am?
Obi-Wan: [pointedly] Yes, Anakin.
Palpatine: [increasingly annoyed] With what?
Obi-Wan: Oh, Jedi things. You know. We might have to go on a meditation retreat to an undisclosed system for several years. 
Palpatine: [leaning over Anakin to get to Obi-Wan] In the middle of the war?!
Obi-Wan: [firmly, staring him down] If that’s what it takes.
Anakin: [to Obi-Wan, confused] Master, I don’t know if I wanna leave when – 
Obi-Wan: [insistently] Anakin, I heard that Senator Amidala is going to accompany us. And that we’ll all have to share a room. 
Anakin: [settling back into his seat, clearly trying to hide his delight] Oh! Well.
Palpatine: [narrowing his eyes at Obi-Wan, whispering harshly] This isn’t over, Kenobi.