[It's still Sanguis, so he's been meditating. He won't assume that that's what it's about. When he does arrive, she'll see his scales in person, the wings he can't really hide overly well. He's glad he didn't have horns, or it would take out her door frame. He was already tall enough without them. His lightsaber is left at home for a change. She wasn't a threat to him so he didn't feel the need to bring it.
When he arrives, he knocks on her door, leaning against the nearest wall until she answers.]
Hi.
[His gold eyes size her up once she's in his sight, the black scales that traveled along the sides of his neck and along his scar looking like burnt embers of coal in some light. The scales were black but flecks of gold, orange, and red could be seen when he moved and the light passed over them.]
[ She'd paced around her apartment, cleaning things and rearranging things in frustration while she waited. She doesn't even really know what to say to him, but when he arrives she just decides to go with her gut on it.
His appearance startles her, and she exhales, stepping back from the door to let him in. ]
This is new. I forgot it was Sanguis.
[ Well, she'd remembered earlier in the day, but when she'd texted him it definitely hadn't been on her mind. That might make this conversation a little more complicated, but it wasn't something she could sit on. ]
[It was better he cool his head for a bit anyway. Hux had left him incensed, but he tried not to let it show.]
How are you?
[He nearly reached out to run his fingers over her arm. Just being near her made him want to reach out and touch her skin. Swallowing, he takes a moment to focus internally onto himself. This would be good practice - meditating without the sitting and shutting the world out. He could do without the heightened anger or lust for a while.]
[ She moves into the apartment, away from him, flexing her fingers as she did, trying to get out the frustration she felt that she's been caught in this obvious trap that Hux wanted her in. That she felt insecure because of that man, and this one. ]
[His eyes widen as he watches her from the entrance of her apartment, staring after her as he rocks back onto his heels. Ah, but of course you knew he would do that. Hux had used his words to hurt her and it was so unsurprising to him that he chokes on a half-laugh half-scoff.]
Of course he'd say whatever he thought was most effective in getting his claws in.
[He wants to grab her, to make her look at him. Instead, he tries to steady himself and breathe through his nose. Should she turn to face him, his eyes are closed and fists are clenched tightly at his sides.]
Would you believe me if I told you that I was telling him what he would want to hear? I knew he'd try to get you to give him his pound of flesh. He knows he won't get it from me.
[ She doesn't turn to look at him, her shoulders tense as she continues to flex her fingers, hands furling and unfurling into fists. ]
I know that. But why does it matter? Why would it matter if he knew what we were to each other? He can't do anything with that information, you're his boss.
He clearly doesn't seem to care about that or he would have done when I asked when I told him to stay out of my affairs.
[His voice is rising, his attempt at calm slipping. He follows her then, his teeth gritted and hands clenched. He wanted to touch her, to pull her against him and make her forget this entire conversation.]
I told him that I was using you because I had hoped he would deem this unimportant to his interests, but I see now he found a way to use it.
[ She feels him move into her space but she still doesn't turn to look at him, it's easier to hold onto her anger if she isn't looking him in the eyes. Even gold and alien those eyes are the eyes of the man she loves. ]
We were dressed up at a party together. You don't do that with girls you're just fucking. I know I'm new to this but even I know that. I'm sure he figured that out, too.
[The fact that she refuses to look at him only makes him more angry. His fists were practically shaking with how hard he had them curled. His voice shook too, barely concealing that anger.]
I know that. I just- I didn't know how to explain it away.
[Which he shouldn't have to, given that they were doing nothing wrong. He had miscalculated, become afraid of what he would be acknowledging. It was one thing to think it but another to say it out loud.]
[ Rey's face crumbles as he says that, her shoulders hunching as she crosses her arms in front of her. She knows it shouldn't bother her so much, but if someone whose opinion was supposedly so inconsequential doesn't get the real story what about those who have value? ]
Why explain it away? We're together. We care about each other. Does his opinion on that matter so much?
[True to his word, it would be where Finn found him, already sitting at a table and nursing a drink. Despite the intense amounts of color in this place, he was wearing as much black as he could get his hands on. Despite the changes he's made back home, that was one thing he still kept to.]
[ It didn't take long to spot Ben in the tavern... and grimace a little at his fashion choices. Finn's preferences from Vaikuntha had carried over, practical clothing that more or less fit into the modern aesthetic, but he hadn't worn all black since-
Well, he doesn't think it's a good look.
But it doesn't matter. Finn tucks his opinions and the grimace away when approaches, motioning at the bar for a drink as he takes a seat opposite Ben. ]
[He could sense his discomfort but didn’t bother trying to pick through his mind over something so small. When Finn takes a seat he looks up from his drink. It had been one thing for them to unwillingly cross paths from time to time before he and Rey had returned home but this was different. He still felt like the same person, just without his mood swinging so erratically.]
Thank you for the invitation.
[He couldn’t repair things nor did he want to sweep it all under a rug, but perhaps they could come to an understanding.]
[ Finn nods before quietly accepting the drink put down in front of him. It's been awhile since he's had alcohol, but he doesn't bother sipping on it yet. ]
I told Rey we'd try to get along. [ Might as well jump right into it. ] She didn't ask-... Well, she said she'd like it if we did.
I thought trying might-... I have my own reasons to try. [ Finn shrugs and sips on the bourbon. He doesn't know if Ky- Ben wants to try, too, but he came out here for some reason. ]
I know it’s something she wants, but I didn’t think it would be possible.
[Their history wasn’t exactly great. He might have had his feelings about the Stormtrooper project but he hadn’t exactly said anything about it. Defying Snoke had been unthinkable until he faced the very real possibility of being discarded, of possibly watching Rey die.]
I want her to have whatever she wants.
[In the simplest terms: yes, he is willing to try too. Will they be good friends? Probably not. He won’t be trying to kill Finn any time soon.]
What else did she tell you? Besides about us living together. I’m sure you had some objections.
[Which would be reasonable. He stares down at the table, his hands curled tightly into fists in his lap beneath it before he reaches for his drink again. The glass was small in his large bear paw hands.]
[ Finn wished he could trust him enough to at least believe that much. That Kylo- Ben really did hold Rey's wishes so dear. Maybe he did, Finn wasn't sure. The problem was that he wasn't sure. ]
If I had any, they don't matter. It's not like she's scared of you or unsure of herself or something like that. She knows what she's doing.
She didn't tell me much more than you had. Our friends that lived and the ones that didn't. Apparently I'm a general now. [ And he actually rolls his eyes at that. It feels unearned. Which... of course it does from his perspective. ] And she... found out where she came from. [ Still not using the "family" word...
He sighs and brings the glass up to his lips. ] Nothing else about you two, though. [ And sip.
[The eye roll wasn’t missed. He can understand his lack of enthusiasm about it.]
I’m assuming that was Dameron’s idea?
[He was hesitant to talk about his mother. He couldn’t even talk about her with Rey. It was still too raw. He blamed himself, of course. Rey would probably try to comfort him if he did talk about it and he didn’t want that. He didn’t deserve to be comforted.]
She only found out because I told her. At the time I thought I could convince her to join me because of it, that we could destroy him and take his seat of power. Of course she said no.
[Eventually he found the strength to do the right thing, thanks to his mother lighting the way for him and his memory of his father guiding him. He just wished going the right way hadn’t cost him everything.]
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[It's still Sanguis, so he's been meditating. He won't assume that that's what it's about. When he does arrive, she'll see his scales in person, the wings he can't really hide overly well. He's glad he didn't have horns, or it would take out her door frame. He was already tall enough without them. His lightsaber is left at home for a change. She wasn't a threat to him so he didn't feel the need to bring it.
When he arrives, he knocks on her door, leaning against the nearest wall until she answers.]
Hi.
[His gold eyes size her up once she's in his sight, the black scales that traveled along the sides of his neck and along his scar looking like burnt embers of coal in some light. The scales were black but flecks of gold, orange, and red could be seen when he moved and the light passed over them.]
Got your text.
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His appearance startles her, and she exhales, stepping back from the door to let him in. ]
This is new. I forgot it was Sanguis.
[ Well, she'd remembered earlier in the day, but when she'd texted him it definitely hadn't been on her mind. That might make this conversation a little more complicated, but it wasn't something she could sit on. ]
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[It was better he cool his head for a bit anyway. Hux had left him incensed, but he tried not to let it show.]
How are you?
[He nearly reached out to run his fingers over her arm. Just being near her made him want to reach out and touch her skin. Swallowing, he takes a moment to focus internally onto himself. This would be good practice - meditating without the sitting and shutting the world out. He could do without the heightened anger or lust for a while.]
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[ She moves into the apartment, away from him, flexing her fingers as she did, trying to get out the frustration she felt that she's been caught in this obvious trap that Hux wanted her in. That she felt insecure because of that man, and this one. ]
Hux was here earlier today. We had a chat.
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Of course he'd say whatever he thought was most effective in getting his claws in.
[He wants to grab her, to make her look at him. Instead, he tries to steady himself and breathe through his nose. Should she turn to face him, his eyes are closed and fists are clenched tightly at his sides.]
Would you believe me if I told you that I was telling him what he would want to hear? I knew he'd try to get you to give him his pound of flesh. He knows he won't get it from me.
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I know that. But why does it matter? Why would it matter if he knew what we were to each other? He can't do anything with that information, you're his boss.
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[His voice is rising, his attempt at calm slipping. He follows her then, his teeth gritted and hands clenched. He wanted to touch her, to pull her against him and make her forget this entire conversation.]
I told him that I was using you because I had hoped he would deem this unimportant to his interests, but I see now he found a way to use it.
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We were dressed up at a party together. You don't do that with girls you're just fucking. I know I'm new to this but even I know that. I'm sure he figured that out, too.
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I know that. I just- I didn't know how to explain it away.
[Which he shouldn't have to, given that they were doing nothing wrong. He had miscalculated, become afraid of what he would be acknowledging. It was one thing to think it but another to say it out loud.]
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Why explain it away? We're together. We care about each other. Does his opinion on that matter so much?
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the most tentative text in existence;
Do you want toI promised I'd
Maybe we could
If you so much as
You want to meet up and talk? Clear the air? Try this
peace
thing
Finn, you absolute cutie haha
[It takes him a minute or two to deliberate before agreeing.]
Yeah, that’s fine. Was there somewhere you had in mind?
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[ A huge sign of trust, in his opinion. ]
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[It surprises him, because he knows that he hasn't exactly been someone trustworthy in the past.]
If you want somewhere private to speak, we can meet either in the markets and find somewhere or there's a tavern in Level 3.
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This tavern sounds fine. I can meet you there in an hour?
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[True to his word, it would be where Finn found him, already sitting at a table and nursing a drink. Despite the intense amounts of color in this place, he was wearing as much black as he could get his hands on. Despite the changes he's made back home, that was one thing he still kept to.]
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Well, he doesn't think it's a good look.
But it doesn't matter. Finn tucks his opinions and the grimace away when approaches, motioning at the bar for a drink as he takes a seat opposite Ben. ]
Thanks for coming out.
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Thank you for the invitation.
[He couldn’t repair things nor did he want to sweep it all under a rug, but perhaps they could come to an understanding.]
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I told Rey we'd try to get along. [ Might as well jump right into it. ] She didn't ask-... Well, she said she'd like it if we did.
I thought trying might-... I have my own reasons to try. [ Finn shrugs and sips on the bourbon. He doesn't know if Ky- Ben wants to try, too, but he came out here for some reason. ]
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[Their history wasn’t exactly great. He might have had his feelings about the Stormtrooper project but he hadn’t exactly said anything about it. Defying Snoke had been unthinkable until he faced the very real possibility of being discarded, of possibly watching Rey die.]
I want her to have whatever she wants.
[In the simplest terms: yes, he is willing to try too. Will they be good friends? Probably not. He won’t be trying to kill Finn any time soon.]
What else did she tell you? Besides about us living together. I’m sure you had some objections.
[Which would be reasonable. He stares down at the table, his hands curled tightly into fists in his lap beneath it before he reaches for his drink again. The glass was small in his large bear paw hands.]
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If I had any, they don't matter. It's not like she's scared of you or unsure of herself or something like that. She knows what she's doing.
She didn't tell me much more than you had. Our friends that lived and the ones that didn't. Apparently I'm a general now. [ And he actually rolls his eyes at that. It feels unearned. Which... of course it does from his perspective. ] And she... found out where she came from. [ Still not using the "family" word...
He sighs and brings the glass up to his lips. ] Nothing else about you two, though. [ And sip.
Should he... say something about Leia...?
He opts not to for now. ]
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[The eye roll wasn’t missed. He can understand his lack of enthusiasm about it.]
I’m assuming that was Dameron’s idea?
[He was hesitant to talk about his mother. He couldn’t even talk about her with Rey. It was still too raw. He blamed himself, of course. Rey would probably try to comfort him if he did talk about it and he didn’t want that. He didn’t deserve to be comforted.]
She only found out because I told her. At the time I thought I could convince her to join me because of it, that we could destroy him and take his seat of power. Of course she said no.
[Eventually he found the strength to do the right thing, thanks to his mother lighting the way for him and his memory of his father guiding him. He just wished going the right way hadn’t cost him everything.]
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