Luke shook his head. Mara wasn't being unreasonable or irrational for a reason. In fact, she wasn't being any of those things. Mara was simply being... Mara, for lack of a better description. And Luke knew ahead of time that he was going to have trouble convincing her to stay on Courscant for a few extra days so he could hitch a ride on her ship to Yavin IV.
Doubtless she was resistant because she didn't want another "recruitment pitch" as she termed it. However, Luke wasn't about to let that stop him from at least trying. If only she'd stick around the Academy for more than a few days at a time, she might actually learn something of use... His thoughts were interrupted by a hand whapping him upside the head.
"Skywalker, you're not ignoring me, are you?"
"No, Mara. Never happen," he replied absently.
"Good. I would hate to have to resort to violence to keep your attention where it belongs."
"Yeah, right," Luke snorted softly, "hate to use violence, indeed." Not soft enough, apparently, since Mara glared at him. Honestly, didn't she ever tire of doing that? Luke asked himself as he turned to face her fully, she doing the same. "I don't see the problem, Mara. You delay your depature for a few days while I finish up my business here, then I hitch a ride back to Yavin IV with you."
"The problem, oh great and magnificant Jedi, is that I don't want to spend a week and a half with you in hyperspace listening to your futile attempts at why I should train to be a Jedi. I don't want to be, so it's not gonna happen. Nope, nope, nope."
"What makes you say that? You're strong in the Force. Strong enough to be a great Jedi if you weren't scared of it."
"What did you say?!" Mara screeched, her voice hitting a pitch high enough to have shattered glass.. Luke winced and put a reassuring hand on his lightsaber to make sure the crystal inside was still in one piece.
"You heard me," he continued. "I think you keep saying no because you're scared."
"No, no, no," she shook her head violently enough to send her long hair flying, her voice rising in volume. "That's where you're wrong, farmboy. I choose not to be a Jedi, not scared of being a Jedi! And if you think that's wrong, then-!" She broke off as Luke raised his hand.
"Maybe we should continue this elsewhere. We seem to be attracting attention," he gestured at the large hallway they stood in, where every single sentient being had stopped what they were doing and turned heads, eyestalks, and psudopods to watch the two "talk".
Mara glared at them all, but that did little to turn their heads away. Her gaze followed down the row of doors until they settled on Karrde, Leia, and Solo. The three were grinning widely and whispering amongst themselves. Luke saw Mara's eyes narrow in disgust at being the centre of attention, a feeling Luke shared. A slow grin worked its way across his lips as an idea formed in his mind.
"Hey, Mara. Since they're having such fun at our expense, how about we have some fun at theirs?"
Mara looked puzzled until she figured it out. Then she grinned too.
Leia shook her head at Luke and Mara's antics, but that didn't stop her from enjoying them. Han nudged her ribs with an elbow and winked at her as both Luke and Mara blushed slightly when they learned that they were making a scene again.
Han swore to himself that if they didn't realize they were flirting with each other, then they each the worst case of denial that Han had ever seen. Then his attention was again caught as Mara flung her arms wide open, her eyes blazing and her face set... but no words coming out of her mouth. Luke cocked his head to one side and raised an eyebrow, but didn't answer back.
Mara scowled up at the Jedi Master and gesticulated wildly, obviously trying to get some point across. Again, she didn't speak a word.
Luke held up a hand to stop her from arguing... if that's what she was doing.
Han exchanged quizzical looks with his wife and Karrde before the three of them realized that they were still arguing... telepathically.
Luke and Mara started off down the corridor, and Luke rolled his eyes. Mara whirled around and blocked his way, her eyes blazing with unspoken anger. Again, her arms flew about as she gestured wildly, as if hand motions could somehow make her point clearer.
"I wish I knew what they were talking about," Leia commented softly.
"There! You see? You see what it's like?" Han demanded, as he was often the one left out of the "Jedi thing" his wife and brother-in-law often shared when they communicated without words. Leia only nodded her head numbly, sill entranced at the sight of Luke and Mara arguing telepathically.
In fact, it wasn't until the two Force-users rounded the corner and disappeared from sight that their laughter carried down the hall to their audience.