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[letoldthingsdie]

crystal ★ notes & letters ★ etc

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action whaddup

[tagartist]

[ Getting dragged on this stupid, snowy expedition had made her feel more useless than ever. Everyone else seemed to be well trained, good at fighting, able to run missions and all the things that Chloe couldn't. She was only here because she'd proven herself good at fixing things and she was supposed to be taking research notes or... something. She hadn't really listened to her orders. Nothing was breaking and "it's cold as fuck" was about all she'd gotten written down.

It didn't stop her from looking at the weapons cart a little longingly, though. The swords that she'd only ever seen in display cases at home, not actually meant for any kind of battle. She should've taken Loghain up on his offer. Dammit. ]

[letoldthingsdie]

[He had been questioning what brought Chloe along too. She didn't have a sword in her hands or any other weapons that he could tell, yet she looked at them with interest. It probably wasn't any of his business and yet the girl had spent much of their time trying to taunt him and get into his business that it was impossible for him to turn away once he'd noticed her.]

Do you even know how to use one of those?

[He was curious just what skills she really had. He could probe her mind for it if he wanted to, but it was more useful just asking. He knew how uncomfortable it would be having someone picking around your head without permission.]

[tagartist]

[ She startled just slightly when she heard his voice, turning her head to look at him, before giving a snort of amusement. ]

Fuck no, Kilo. These things are ancient where I come from. Collectables, but not used for like. Combat or anything.

[ She said as though she was capable with anything else. ]

[letoldthingsdie]

Where I come from a blaster is more widely used, but there are still some who use swords too.

[Usually electrically run and with fun modifications like electric pulses and magnets and the like, but still. Even light sabers are considered ancient.]

I at least know how to use one.

[Which was something Chloe lacked.]

What do you use to defend yourself?

[tagartist]

[ Blaster. The word sounds familiar. She tilts her head in question, wondering if he's from the same world as Rey, but not sure if she should ask. He doesn't seem like one of those people that she would've called 'friend'.

So she focuses on the question instead. ]

My good looks and sharp wit.

a few days after they're all settled back in at the Gallows?

[provenforce]

[ Rey's sleep has been plagued with nightmares since she was a child, but it was rare that they were so bad she woke with tears on her face or screamed herself hoarse. Then again, she'd never been violated like she had in Snoke's chambers. He may be dead and gone, but his damage remains, and she's still reliving that night in her dreams.

In her mind Snoke's holding her hostage in her own body, his power coiling in her brain like an oiled snake. She tries to fight him but his power dwarfs hers so completely all she succeeds in is letting him in deeper, the pain of being sold as a child ripped raw, overlapping with that fear that Ben would just stand there, allowing her to die.

Every bad thing in her life, every betrayal is stripped bare at Snoke's will, and the sound of his laugh rings in her ears as she screams.

She tries to reach out to Ben, some part of her mind desperate for that connection, their bond, needing his help. The walls that she'd built around her mind are down as she's trapped in the dream, her mind screaming just as loudly as she is aloud. ]

[letoldthingsdie]

[Her dreams had been unknown to him, save for the glimpses he'd seen in her mind when they had first met. He knew Snoke would have impacted her greatly, just as he had done him for so many years. What he hadn't anticipated was the moment her walls came down and her screams and her pain filled his senses, slamming into his heart like a battering ram.

He'd been laying awake, as he often did, trying to focus his own mind and will himself into his world of dark and fitful nightmares that kept him company, when it happened. He saw her near him so clearly he thought she had somehow appeared in his room. Her emotions - the fear, the anxiety from her memory of Snoke sifting through her mind and discarding thoughts like crumpled bits of paper, was so raw when it hit him that it made his stomach lurch.]

She lets me in now of all times...? Rey. [He says her name and, when he finds her unable to listen to him, he rises from his bed, trying to ignore the sight of her thrashing around in it beside him. He can hear her screams and wails ringing in his ears as he moves, barefoot, to the hall beyond his room. He immediately moves to her room and, when he finds the lock barring him from entering, he rips the door knob free with a gesture that splinters the wood where it had been nailed into the door as he does.]

Rey. [He calls to her, his voice low and soothing.]

[provenforce]

[ When the door swings open there's a low growl, coming from the bed where Rey is currently shaking, eyes squeezed shut as tears stream down the sides of her face. Padawan is laying almost on top of her, trying to calm her, which has obviously been something the mabari has done before, but tonight it's not working. The growl is more of a warning than aggression, she knows that this human has some kind of connection to Rey, had picked up as much from body language and smells.

Still, he just broke the door and the dog isn't moving until he gives her a good reason to. ]

[letoldthingsdie]

[He stands in the doorway, eyes leveling with Padawan. He shakes his head, having no patience for the dog's nonsense. He could see she was trying to help her master and it wasn't working.]

You poor creature, you have no idea what she fights in her dreams, do you?

[His voice is calm and he does his best to show her how non-threatening he is, keeping his hands raised as he approaches the two of them. He touches Padawan first, once he's sure she isn't going to rip his arm off, resting a hand to her head as sits beside the inconsolable Jedi.]

This is the price you pay for trying to save me, you know.

[Had she not delivered herself to him like a delicious meal for Snoke to grind his teeth on, she wouldn't be in this mess. Gently, his hand rests on her shoulder. If Padawan lets him, he brings his arms beneath Rey's smaller curled up form and pulls the blankets with him as carries her in his arms bridal style.]

crystal, after returning from the cloudreach rifter arrival

[aenseidhe]

[ he hadn't approached Kylo about this during their trip back from Amaranthine, because having him lose his shit on the boat would've sunk them, and he imagines he'd need some time to cool down and get space. it's a couple days after getting back that he contacts him, ]

You could have won that fight, with the old man. [ his voice comes through the crystal. ] Do you know what he did that you didn't?

[letoldthingsdie]

[He was glad Iorveth hadn't approached him until now. He probably would have punched him in the face if he had. He had already been expecting Rey to speak to him about it, but now that she has he's in a better place to talk about it. That doesn't mean he doesn't groan in annoyance when he gets this message. All the same, it was good to talk to someone he actually somewhat respected.]

He has more experience than I do. Our skills are different and I was- I wasn't fighting with a full deck of cards, or whatever the phrase might be where you're from.

[He'd pretty much lost his temper within moments of speaking to Obi Wan. As Snoke would have eloquently put it: he was unbalanced. He'd certainly tried to get a few hits in but Obi Wan had used his anger and his size against him. It wasn't a fair fight. Obi Wan had more skill than him and years of fighting men like him.]

[aenseidhe]

[ Iorveth has never given two shits about how upset or angry he is when fighting, so long as his focus is still intact, which emotion hasn't ever depleted. Hell, most of his most difficult battles have been done pissed off, given it's the entire basis of the Scoia'tael fight. But maybe that's hand in hand with experience as well. But, that wasn't the point he was getting at. ]

He got out of the way, and let you kick your own ass.

[ much more a technical 'what you didn't do' than what Kylo's siting. ]

You spend ten times the energy you need making a single attack that's telegraphed by the excess of force you put into it. How heavy is that sword you use? Five, ten pounds?

[letoldthingsdie]

[He can't help the frustrated almost snarl Iorveth gets in response to his critique.]

If you think you know better, why don't you try killing him then.

[Yup. Definitely irritated. And a bit childish.]

rey's room//action;

[letoldthingsdie]

[After all of this]

[He makes his way back to the Gallows, leaving Iorveth to his business harassing Thranduil in his office. By the time he reaches Rey's room he's still somewhat a stormcloud of frustration. Most native passerby have had to give him a wide birth, lest he glare them into doing so. When he reaches Rey's room he stops in the doorway, leaning against it to just take a moment to watch her. His dark hair is mussed slightly from running a gloved hand through it, his grim expression completing the overall stressed look he has adopted. His gaze moves from her head downward, drifting over her as he often finds himself doing.]

I spoke with Obi-Wan. Iorveth has gone to speak to Thranduil in person, but I thought better of doing so myself.

[Not with how volatile his temper is right now. He didn't want to make himself a new enemy.]

[provenforce]

[ Rey is sitting in her chair by the fireplace when Ben arrives, her crystal held in her hand as she listens to people talking over one-another. Padawan's head is resting in her lap, a silent presence to help steady the quiet storm building. She's almost as attuned to Rey's moods as Ben is.

When he speaks she looks up, letting the crystal deactivate and nodding her head. ]

That was probably wise. There are cells here built to hold mages, they can hold us, too.

[letoldthingsdie]

Doesn't mean he isn't a kriffing idiot though.

[He shrugs, approaching Rey and Padawan where the two of them were seated by the fire. Caedus trotted in after him a moment later, looking as quietly stern as his master but immediately lighting up upon seeing Rey and Padawan.]

I suppose it's a good thing I haven't had personal experience with the cells yet.

[He stands opposite where Padawan sits with her head in Rey's lap, taking off his gloves and pocketing them before reaching out to comb his fingers through the ends of her hair.]

[provenforce]

He's in a position of power, he can't be publicly stirring up a rebellion.

[ Rey defends Thranduil easily. He's someone Obi-Wan has trusted, and Rey put her trust in him when Obi-Wan was gone. She'll trust he's going to try to do right by the rifters, now.

She leans back when Ben combs his fingers through her hair, reaching back with her hand to take ahold of his, holding it tightly. Just because she's calm right now doesn't mean she isn't a heartbeat away from panic. ]

action : morning time//encounter

[gotyourselfapilot]

[ Poe knew stalking in the night would do him no good. Besides he had busted in on them on their privacy. There seemed to be greater things at stake but he needed to say something. More or less get it off of his chest. He may not have known Rey for long. They were still learning about each other. Kylo Ren had taken the opportunity to hit him low. He knew if Rey were to question him on it he would be honest.

The subject of Rey was why he had been around this tower waiting for that moment to happen to walk across Kylo Ren. That's all he needed. He knew that Rey could take care of herself. He wasn't blind to these things and he did notice Rey putting herself between them. She put herself in front of Kylo Ren protectively. It's not the first time someone has done those motions before.

Relationships is something that can happen within the Resistance. Marriage too. It happens with the freedoms that they are given. There was freedoms here too. He though can't help but want to protect hope, in all ways. Poe is wandering around for what seems like hours when in reality it probably was just minutes. ]

[letoldthingsdie]

[Ever since their encounter with Poe, Kylo couldn't quite get it out of his mind. Even spending time with Rey was usually enough to better his mood but there was a lingering sense of turbulence within him that he couldn't shake. He had a feeling he should expect the pilot to have something to say about him, about Rey. They hadn't been able to hash it out with her there. For him it ran deeper than just Rey and his relationship. It had everything to do with his mother, though Poe had no idea.

The morning hadn't completely changed these lingering thoughts, no matter how Rey tried to silence them with reassurances. She believed so strongly that it didn't matter what anyone thought, but he couldn't shake his own worries. He didn't care about the pilot, but if anyone else came from home it wouldn't exactly be easy to brush away things the more it came up. He was a murderer and a darkside user. There wasn't a happy ending for him in any of this.

With all of this swirling in his head on top of the politics floating around the Gallows in hushed whispers, Kylo's head was full and his mood was like a storm cloud rolling in off the shore. Spotting Poe inside the tower was just icing on the cake. Of course he'd see him. Poe probably lived here too. Instead of running away from the issue he faces it head on, standing tall and facing the pilot down with a grim look.]

You didn't want to wait, I take it.

[He was glad Rey wasn't here for this. It made it easier for him not to hold himself back. He could put on the mask again, however figurative it now was.]

[gotyourselfapilot]

[ Poe didn't know all of where Kylo's true feelings were. All he had seen was the darksider, murder, ghoul of a man hidden behind a mask. Without one, he seemed naturally more human. Finn had been quite the same, but Finn had saved him. Even if all he needed truly was a pilot to get away. Poe never questioned it, he didn't blame him for getting away from the First Order.

There's a lot of things that Poe could say. But he wasn't going to exactly judge people if they actually had true feelings towards each other. He believes that's what he saw, he knew that they were close, not in a fighting way either. No one would get that close to each other unless there's some kind of attraction. Poe hopes for the better and not the worse but he can't help to face Kylo Ren. ]

No, I couldn't. Waiting wasn't really my best.

[ He has faced many different people. He never felt intimidated, right now, all he wanted was to say his piece. Poe presses his lips together as a fist clenches at his side. He was trying to keep his temper in check for now. It's not as if Kylo Ren has started anything.... yet. ]

[letoldthingsdie]

[He could see why he was the Resistance's Golden Boy. A good pilot and probably his mother's best student, Poe Dameron didn't strike him as a fool. He might have a mouth but he wasn't a coward and he didn't lurk like Hux might, if this were him. He wasn't crass enough to try and use a relationship as a sign of weakness.]

You waited for your moment and now you have it. Lets hear it.

[He stares Poe in the eye for a moment, waiting.]

Unless you have somewhere more private to talk?

boops on over here for the inevitable NSFW

[provenforce]

[ continuing from here ]

Rey smiles into the kiss, before slowly tugging Ben backwards towards the stairs. She makes it a few steps before pulling away from him and turning to properly climb the stairs, so she doesn't trip and kill them both by accident.

"You know I'm always a fan of saving on water."

[letoldthingsdie]

"I thought you might be." He follows Rey even as she pulls away from him and turns to the stairs. Suddenly the air felt charged, as if he was a magnet being pulled along by her and he was helpless to let go.

His gaze trails after her as she makes her way to the washroom and he follows, his lips still buzzing from their kiss. When they reach the washroom, he finds a seat to occupy as he starts unlacing his boots. He licks his lips, looking up to her as he gets halfway done the first boot and continues on until he works his other foot free of his shoes before casting the pair aside.

[provenforce]

In the washroom Rey busies herself with getting the water running and checking the temperature. She doesn't light a fire to heat it, it's already warm enough coming out due to the heat in the city that she figures it'll be comfortable. Once that's done she turns to look at Ben, smirking at him as he watches her.

"We do really need to get clean," she comments, even as she's working the leather straps that keep her wristband in place free, before beginning to unravel her arm wraps.

[letoldthingsdie]

He was content to just watch her while stretching his long legs out and wiggling his toes a bit as she got the water ready and began working at the arm straps. She captivated him, even with simple gestures and captured his thoughts, filling them with her. It's just a bath, he has to remind himself. There wasn't a need to get carried away.

His suspenders and socks go next as he rises to his feet again, followed by his shirt as he tugs it over his head. His hair becomes a bit mussed up by the motion and he immediately runs his fingers through it to smooth the dark curls out again, tugging them free of the tie he'd begun wearing to keep it all tame.

His hair was getting longer recently and he hadn't bothered to cut it. The thought was there, but the convenience of having droids to keep him prim and proper was not. So, he lets it grow, along with the faintest bit of stubble on his chin that he did take care to keep at bay.

"We do. Can't have the Assistant to the Seneshal walking around and smelling, after all." He smiles faintly, though there was a hint of wickedness to it, as he moves in on her and his hands drop to her belt to kindly help her remove it.