#she would be a better mom than Leia's previous one

[padmeandaloysupremacy]

I have been off tumblr and writing in general for so long that now I finally have the desire to come back now. I have so many stories in the works now that i don't even know where to start, but i wanted to write a little song-fic about Anakin and Leia. My headcanon is that Anakin was actually a very good singer and had a beautiful voice its just that he was very self conscious about it and never really shared it with anyone.

This is basically an Modern AU where Anakin is a single father who raised Leia with the help of Obi-Wan and Ahsoka. He never met Padme he instead had Leia with another woman who found out she couldn't be a mother and left Anakin all alone with Leia. I wrote this mainly bc i like Anakin and Leia and the interactions with Anakin being a big softie for her. I liked writing Anakin and Leia and having her be Daddy's Little Girl. There is a chance where i might continue this and introduce Padme to the dynamic leading into an Anidala story but that is for another time.

The story utilizes lyrics from the song "Light" by Sleeping at Last.

The sun was starting to beat down on his back, but Anakin couldn't even begin to care at all. All of his attention was focused on the little bundle of sunshine wrapped away in his arms. More specifically, on the wide chocolate brown eyes that were currently drilling into him, like she was currently peering into his soul looking for anything her little heart desired.

The bundle of sunshine then began to open her mouth to utter something, but a loud yawn overtook the words that were supposed to spill from her lips.

Anakin brought a finger to tuck a strand of hair behind her little ear, "Leia, how about you take a nap."

The young girl shook her head in defiance, "No." She lifted that chubby finger of hers and began to stick it up her father's nose, stifling a laugh from him. Then she dragged that same finger down from the entrance of his nostrils to his lips which she forcefully opened with all her mighty strength.

"Leia, what the hell ar--"

"Sing for me."

Anakin froze in shock. He glanced down and saw those same big intoxicating chocolate orbs peering again into his soul, but instead of finding inquisitive eyes, these were pleading with him like a little puppy would do to its owner for some snacks.

Sing

Yes, he could sing. Anakin could really sing, as Obi-Wan told him before, "Anakin, you can be the most annoying and obnoxious hellhound I've met in my life, but you have the most amazing voice I've ever heard."

Anakin remembered laughing at Obi-Wan's statement but begrudgingly found it to be true. No matter how much he wished it wasn't.

Shaking himself from his thoughts, Anakin peered around the area and saw the park was pretty busy today. Some people were running along the trail, some children were laughing in the playground, couples were enjoying their picnics on the freshly cut grass, an elderly couple were holding hands in contempt with each other's presence, and a dog was taking a number two in the bush by the creek.

He and Leia were seated on a bench secluded from everybody else which ended up what Anakin wanted in the first place. If he was supposed to sing now for the little princess. 

Singing in public is something Anakin will no longer do. The public atmosphere envelopes him with anxiety, dread, loneliness, and fear. This was caused by what he experienced in his younger years when he sang in front of his school and got made fun of for it. Another traumatic event to add to his life story. I should really write a book, I could make millions, Anakin thought.

He only sang to those he cared about. To the people who made him feel safe and whole, and now one of those said people was currently seated in his arms patiently waiting for him to begin.

Anakin looked down at her and smiled, "Okay, I'll sing for you, Princess." 

He picked Leia up and repositioned her so that she was more comfortable sitting in his arms. He cleared his throat and began to softly sing in her ear.

May these words be the first

To find your ears

The world is brighter than the sun

Now that you're here

Though your eyes will need some time to adjust

To the overwhelming light surrounding us

Anakin took a deep breath and looked down to find Leia's eyes were partially shut. Just a little more and she will be out like a light. He needed to keep going before she started fussing around and being downright spoiled, which Anakin basically helped nurture.

I'll give you everything I have

I'll teach you everything I know

I promise I'll do better

I will always hold you close

But I will learn to let you go

I promise I'll do better

Soft snores invaded his eardrums and he knew that his little munchkin had finally fallen asleep. Anakin won't stop yet though, once he starts a song he has to finish it.

I will soften every edge

I'll hold the world to its best

And I'll do better

With every heartbeat, I have left

I will defend your every breath

And I'll do better

'Сause you are loved

You are loved more than you know

I hereby pledge all of my days

To prove it so

Though your heart is far too young to realize

The unimaginable light you hold inside

As Anakin finished he was shocked to feel tears streaming down his face like a steady flow of salty water. He forgot how much that song took on him emotionally. 

Then he suddenly remembered why.

Shmi

She used to always sing this to him to help him fall asleep when he was a toddler. It always worked in making him fall asleep fast and peacefully. The lyrics Anakin found were to be an intimate experience between a parent and their child. The song highlights the love that shines through the both of them. The song was one of the only reminders that he still has of his late mother. She died when he was nine and he constantly tried to hold onto her memory as much as he could even though it was slowly killing him.

Shmi was his sunshine as much as Leia is, and Anakin couldn't help but correlate the similarities between Shmi and Leia. He can see his mother in Leia. The eyes, the smile, and the love they both showed him. Shmi lived on through his little girl. 

Shmi and Leia will always be with him. 

The thought brought a choked sob to ravish him and he instinctively clutched the now sleeping body of his daughter tighter to his body.

"I--I'll always l-love...you, Leia." Anakin gently lifted his hand to caress her cheek and then kissed her forehead. "No matter what, I'll always l-love you."

#anakin skywalker #anakin deserved better #leia organa #anakin and leia feels #no padme in this story #she would be a better mom than Leia's previous one #anakin and shmi #shmi skywalker #shmi deserved better #obi wan kenobi #leia being Daddy's little girl #Anakin can sing #He is just self conscious about it #anidala is the best

[chriscdcase95]

Ginger Snaps: Brigitte Fitzgerald headcanons

This is a follow up of sorts to an older post of mine,  Ginger Snaps + Jennifer’s Body headcanons/prompts and some ideas in that post are carried over to here.

This also has to do with an upcoming AO3 story I will work on once I’m done Loves Sacrifices, that’ll mix Ginger Snaps, The Craft, and Jennifer’s Body. So far it’s only in the idea stages and not all of these are set in stone.

I figured I didn’t put enough focus on Brigitte in the previous post, and Brigitte herself doesn’t get enough love on this site as her sister. Since Brigitte has been a comfort character of mine for like a decade, I figured I rectify that.

1. For all intents and purposes, werewolves differ here than they do in the Ginger Snaps movies. Since it’s not directly mentioned in the movies, I choose to ignore the idea of “permanent change” for these stories. Werewolves here are portrayed closer to The Vampire Diaries depictions.

2. Brigitte’s final fate, obviously isn’t trapped in Ghost’s basement. In fact, I see her escaping and going free just after the events of Unleashed. While I long subscribe to the idea of Ginger’s resurrection or even Sam not only surviving but becoming a werewolf himself, I’m not sure they’d have anything to do with it. The main events of this story are gonna be set in 2010.

3. In fact, I see Brigitte traveling Canada and the states to come to terms with being a werewolf - as opposed to fighting it or wholeheartedly embracing it - for about a decade before she see’s either Ginger or Sam again. I see Brigitte having few people she can trust, and had a few toxic relationships after she escaped Ghost. Brigitte undoubtedly deserves better, but I think it would be a few years before she goes back to Bailey Downs.

Among the places I can see Brigitte visiting over the years, includes Mystic Falls (The Vampire Diaries/Legacies), Beacon Hills (Teen Wolf) and Devils Kettle (Jennifer’s Body). If she got her high school graduate, she would attend Silas University (Carmilla: The Series). Whitechapel, Ontario (My Babysitter’s a Vampire) is also a neighboring town to Bailey Downs.

4. If and when Ginger and Brigitte meet again, I see them having a relationship comparable to Eda and Lilith Clawthorn of The Owl House. I just haven’t decided who would be who in that scenario.

5. Speaking of Ghost, here’s a fun fact; Orphan Black and Ginger Snaps are canonically part of the same universe - same creators, same locations, etc. With this in mind I like to imagine that Ghost from Unleashed is a Project Leda clone. 

This doesn’t have anything really to do with the story, but it is a headcanon I genuinely held for a long time. 

6. I’m not gonna lie, I have considered parenting prompts for either Fitzgerald sister; I’ve been writing and scrapping ideas for these two for a decade, but one that kept coming back to me was the idea of one of them becoming a mother. Some versions it’s Brigitte, others it’s Ginger

It’s not a set in stone idea admittedly, and honestly, I lean more to a Needifer parenting nowadays - and even then that was filtered by both Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried being moms IRL. Again, it’s not set in stone.

7.  Brigitte is a not-co-closeted nerd and Star Wars fangirl.  We are talking Laura Hollis levels of cultured geek girl, that Brigitte rarely shows due to her usual demeanor.

Specifically, she’s a Star Wars Legends enthusiast (The Thrawn Trilogy and New Jedi Order are her personal favorites. Should she see the New Canon came out, Brigitte would be pretty cool with it, and take to writing on AO3, creating a fanon timeline that combines Canon and Legends. It turned into a collaborative effort with her friends.

With the above, at one point in their childhood, the Fitzgerald sisters dressed as Star Wars characters for Halloween. Brigitte went as Leia, and Ginger went as Mara Jade.

8. This one ties in with one of my previous posts; The Craft + Sarah x Nancy Headcanons. It’s also one of the few ideas that are set in stone.

Among the people Brigitte encounters on her travels, I can see her meeting and becoming very close to Sarah Bailey and Nancy Downs.

I mean, all three of them are long time Comfort Characters of mine, and the fact that Emily Perkins is a Fairuza Balk fan IRL may have influenced this idea. It thought it would be a waste to not link the three together. I personally see Sarah and Nancy reaching out to Brigitte upon finding out her predicament, helping her come to terms with her being a werewolf. “Mentorship” isn’t exactly the word I’d use, but it comes pretty close to what I have in mind.

I don’t know if it will tie into my prompt of Sarah and Nancy as a swinger couple - I can see it happening, although the only other person I seriously shipped Brigitte with was with Sam.

Either way, Sarah, Nancy and the coven are some of the few people Brigitte is on good terms with by 2010.

9. Brigitte has a hidden musical talent, and likes to sing when she’s alone or thinks she’s alone. She is a wiz on the piano, and has a singing voice comparable to Leona Lewis and Christina Aguilera. She isn’t open about her talents, and during her high school years, only about three people heard her singing voice and that was because they’d walk past a seemingly empty music class while Brigitte was alone with the piano.

Of course, Brigitte mostly does covers. In 1999, Brigitte did a cover to Nine Inch Nails Hurt, but Ginger told her that song wouldn’t exactly catch on. There was one song that Brigitte originally wrote, about her and Ginger’s relationship - it ended up being plagiarized by a toxic boyfriend Brigitte briefly had, who went on to use it in his band, Low Shoulder.

Another favorite of Brigitte’s as (surprisingly) Britney Spears Lucky - not that she’s a Spears fan in general, but Brigitte caught on to things pretty quickly and was way ahead of her time; she was in the Free Britney crowd all the way back in 1999.

The main reason why Brigitte doesn’t utilize her talents, on top of all her other problems, can be boiled down to her being stage shy.

#Ginger Snaps #brigitte fitzgerald #ginger fitzgerald #sam mcdonald #jason mccardy #Jennifer's Body #Jennifer Check #Anita Lesnicki #Needy Lesnicki #Needifer #jennifer x needy #the craft #Sarah Bailey #Nancy Downs #sarah x nancy #crossover #Jennifer x Ginger #bisexual prompts #headcanons and prompts #wlw concepts #Orphan Black #The Vampire Diaries #Teen Wolf #Legacies #The Owl House #carmilla the series #my babysitters a vampire #fix fic

[anime-alyssa]

also on ao3. if you enjoy this, support me by buying me a coffee. 

its here! i’m so proud of this and i already have 5 full chapters written. this first chapter establishes things a little more but next chapter we get into it. 

be’jetii masterlist.

o n e.

It had been since years since the Empire had fallen. Six years of peace among the galaxy, the New Republic rising to restore peace that the Empire had stolen. Things were back to normal now, there was no war and life seemingly went on after the destruction of the second Death Star. Everybody seemed to turn their lives around mostly for the better after that, seeing that now there was a reason for living since there was no war on their doorsteps.

Leia Organa-Solo took her place as a Senator for the New Republic, crucial in the re-building efforts of the Senate and the galaxy. People were amazed at how she managed to do so and raise her son, but she was a smart woman who knew what to do and when to stop. Han Solo kept smuggling for a living afterwards, putting a dent in that relationship, but he always made it work.

Luke Skywalker opened up a training academy for the younger generation of Jedi, of course. He wanted to teach the new generation the ways of the Force, and pulled a lot of inspiration from his old masters. He never turned away a student and was determined to see them all through.

And then there was you - the only one out of the group of ‘heroes’ to fall into habits that weren’t necessarily the greatest. After your father Obi-Wan died at the hand of his old padawan, and some disagreements with Luke on the ‘Jedi way’, you left them all behind and fled back to Tattooine to live a different life.

In Mos Eisley, you could find any job you wanted that was under the radar for the right price. Bounty hunting, mercenary work, prostitution, you name it, you had done it. You stole goods off of unsuspecting people on the streets and sold them for double the price - your favorite place to do this was Coruscant. That shit sold for triple the money back in Mos Eisley, there was always someone stupid enough to buy it for more than it was worth.

Leia disagreed with your choices, but she wasn’t going to sway you from them. She knew you too well, you were stubborn as a mule. You never exactly told her what you did for a living, but she assumed correctly enough. You hadn’t been right since your father died, you had cut off most of your relationship with the Force and hadn’t actually turned your lightsaber on in god knows how long. Since the day he died? It had to be then, because it was then that you had Han drop you back off on Tattoonie.

“A lightsaber is a Jedi’s most powerful weapon, my darling. It is your life, you must never lose it.” Your father’s voice echoed in your ears whenever you thought about your lightsaber. It stayed attached to your belt at all times, hidden under layers of tunics and sweaters. Though you may not use it, you couldn’t bear the thought of disappointing your father from beyond the grave by not keeping it on you. So it lives on your bed, the silver metal hilt taunting you every time you look at it. The crystal still calls to you though, a sign to you that it will be there when you need it.

Luke and Leia had tried to reach out to you after you went back home. They were worried about you. You gave them almost total radio silence for a few months after that, until they quite literally showed up on your doorstep.

“I’m done with this fight, Leia, Luke. He was all I had left of my family and Vader took him from me.” you said, tears streaming down your face.

“But Kenobi - that’s why you should come back. Help us take down the Empire, make things right so no one suffers the same fate!” Luke fought back. You and Luke had known each other for years. You went to schooling together, made quick friends. You liked to say that Luke knew you the best, at least back then.

Leia shushed him quiet, pushing Luke out of her way as she walked over to you. You barely knew her at this point, having left right after she had been rescued. But she looked at you with empathy, knowing how you felt. You had forgotten that her entire planet was decimated on the same day, Leia too had lost everything.

“It’s alright. But please - reach out if you need anything.” Leia had said to you, before embracing you. You let the tears fall down your face once more as you trembled in her arms.

You had taken her up on the offer at least once a month since the fall of the Empire. She had taken up residency on Chandrilla with Han and her son Ben, and you would appear in the middle of the night, most of the time at least a little scuffed up. You’d crash at her place overnight while her droids worked on repairing your ship and left before Ben could even wake up. You didn’t want the kid to see you in the state that you were in.

You talked to Leia as often as you could. She reached out regularly to make sure that you were still alive, however your response rate was what was spotty. She let you know whenever you actually responded how stressed it made her - she would never let you live it down.

To make up for it, you told her that after you did this quick little ‘supply run’ in Coruscant you would pop in to Chandrilla to see her, Han and Ben. You hadn’t properly seen Ben since his birthday the previous year and the last time you had seen Han you had punched him in the nose. It was on the same day, and he deserved it, to be fair - he was late to his son’s birthday.

But first you had to steal a few more items off some people in the marketplace. Stuff that looked expensive, too. The more expensive it looked, the more money some idiot would back for it back on Tattooine. You had gotten something for Ben, not stolen to appease the questions you knew Leia would throw at you, so technically you could go. But one more item would do - just so you know you’d have enough money for food when you got back.

A glimmer on the wall caught your eye as you sat in the shadows, observing your surroundings. A Mandalorian walked by you, in full beskar armor. Now that would be something to steal - but you didn’t have a death sentence. Your eyes looked over to an object dangling from his, as equally shiny. It looked like a Mandalorian necklace of some sort, to signify the covert he was apart of or something. That would have to do.

You got up and walked a couple paces behind him so he wouldn’t notice you following him. It was crowded anyway, he wouldn’t notice you even if he tried. This is where being a force-user came in handy; once you got close enough with a flick of your wrist, the necklace was out of his pocket and into your bag on your hip. He hadn’t noticed a thing, as you expected.

You dipped into the next available alley way and speed-walked back to the hangar where you had parked your ship, satisfied for the day. Throwing some credits at the parking droid and leapt up the ramp to your tiny little ship, setting your course for Chandrilla as you sat in your pilots seat and took off. Once you made the jump to hyperspace you leaned back and relaxed.

Your ship wasn’t impressive, but it got you through. It was small, and your cockpit and hangar all connected. You had one bunk on the side wall to sleep on when you were making multi-day trips and a small refresher - one that you worked hard to close off. You had Han and Chewie help you with making sure it stayed off all radars, making it damn near impossible to track.

The console beeped to signal the jump out of hyperspace and before you knew it, you were landing on Chandrilla outside of Leia’s house. You smiled seeing Ben eagerly awaiting your arrival and lit up at his smile when he saw the two miniature X-Wing toys you bought him.

“Just for you bud, straight from the market on Coruscant itself.” you said to him, kneeling in front of the six year old. “Where’s mom and dad?” You asked, standing back up.

“Mom’s in a meeting, but Dad and Uncle Chewie are back here.” he said to you, taking your arm, but making damn sure he wasn’t dropping those X-Wings you bought him, and dragging you to the back where the Falcon was parked. Sure enough, Han and Chewbacca were working on the Falcon. The pair of them stopped to look at you and Ben.

“Look what Kenobi got me! Look!” Ben excitedly said to his father.

“I see, nice.” Han said to his son, looking back up at you narrowly as Ben ran off into the yard, pretending to fly his new toys. “Who’d you steal that from?” he asked you. You scoffed in response, rolling your eyes as Chewbacca let out a growl that sounded like it could be a laugh.

“I bought those with my own credits, thank you very much. You shouldn’t be the one to judge, Solo.” you said, sitting down on a crate and putting your bag at your feet.

“I’ll give you that one. What do you got, anything good?” he asked, taking a pause from the repairs and sitting across from you.

“Nothing that I’m gonna sacrifice to you, that’s for damn sure. I did steal this off a Mandalorian, though - ” you said, taking the necklace out of the bag.

“You stole from a Mandalorian? Kriff, do you have a death wish?” Han interrupted, seeing the necklace in your hand. Chewbacca growled a response, signaling his agreement with Han.

“You guys have no faith in me at all. I can take a Mandalorian. I was a Jedi, you know.” you said to them, offended by their lack of faith in your skills.

“Mandalorian’s don’t take kindly to their things getting stolen. Especially something like that - do you even know what it is?” Han asked. Hearing nothing from your mouth, he continued. “It’s a sigil of a Mandalorian covert - the only way to prove that they belong to the way of Mandalore. And you just stole it.” he said in disbelief, Chewbacca shaking his head behind him.

“Well if it’s made from the same beskar this one had all over his body it’s gonna feed me for months.” you commented, putting the necklace away. Chewbacca growled an ‘Oh god’ as he looked down at Han who had looked away for a moment to keep track of Ben, but then snapped his head right back in your direction upon that revelation.

“A full beskar curiass? You’re dumber than I thought, Kenobi. It was nice knowing you cause once he tracks you down, and he will, cause that particular Mandalorian is a bounty hunter, you’re going to be in carbonite for the rest of your life.” Han said, getting up to begin work again on the Falcon. “And trust me, that ain’t pretty.”

“It could be a different one Han, lighten up.” you mumbled.

“There’s only one Mandalorian that I know of that steps out of the shadows in full beskar, and it’s that one. Rumor has it he got the beskar from doing a job for former Imperials. And stole back the quarry for the job, banned from the Guild.” Han explained to you in detail.

“Well then you’re definitely bullshitting because the Empire is no more. You guys made sure to take care of that six years ago.”

“Believe what you want, just make sure Leia doesn’t see it when she gets here or you’re going to be dead before the Mandalorian finds you.” Now that made you shudder. You weren’t afraid of much, heck hardly anything, but if there was one thing that terrified you it was Leia Organa-Solo angry.

“Mom!” As if on cue, Leia walked into the area, Ben running over to her. You quickly made sure your bag was shut as you stood up, leaving Han and Chewbacca behind. Leia finished embracing her son and she looked up at you.

“Well aren’t you a sight.” she commented.

“Good to see you too, Leia.” you mumbled back. She gave you a one armed hug before ushering you indoors. You felt Han’s eyes burning into the back of your head, but you ignored it.

——

After a very good meal, some playtime with Ben and Leia, and yet another lecture on trying to convince you to move to Chandrilla that you ignored, you were back on Tattooine. Immediately you made way to Mos Eisley, eager to get rid of the items in your pockets. Turning a corner off the main walkway, you spotted Janar’s stall on the market from a mile away - your best buyer. Janar himself was in the backroom you knew of course, so you made your way past the shop keep and into the back room behind the curtain.

“Kenobi! I was beginning to wonder if you had gotten lost.” The Twi’lek said to you. You rolled your eyes as you began to empty your bag in front of him and he dug around for credits. “Is that what I think it is?” he asked, eyeing the necklace you had stolen off the Mandalorian.

“Right out of the pockets, Janar. If it’s made out of the same beskar this dude was wearing - you owe me three times what you got on you.”

“God, you’re good. Alright, here you go.” he said to you, throwing you three bags of credits across the table. You slid them into your bag and made way to leave. “If that Mandalorian shows up here, you’re dead though.” Janar made a point to add what Han had already explained to you earlier.

“God, why are people so terrified of Mandalorians? Solo said the same god damn thing.” you said to him, turning on your heel and leaving the stall. You walked frustrated, but still with a feeling of satisfaction inside of you and in your bag.

If the Mandalorian showed up, you could take him. Right?

taglist (let me know if you want to be added): @waiting-for-motivation @theocatkov @killtherandomness @domino-oh-damn

#the mandalorian x reader #mandalorian x reader #din djarin x reader #myshit #bejetii

[peace-coast-island]

Diary of a Junebug

Rainy day gyroids

Rainy days are the perfect excuse to stay inside with a cup of warm tea and a good show to watch while letting the day pass on by. How fitting is it that the theme of this gyroid event happens to be rainy days?

Joining us on this rainy day adventure are Robert and Mace, two former members of Jamie's entourage back when she lived on Peace Coast Island. Robert Azarias is a writer and actor, best known for his work in the TV show Faerie Town, which just ended earlier this year. Mace Callaghan is an actor whose career kicked off thanks to people like Jamie and his cousin Amelia, who's also an actor as well as a producer. Both have been super busy as they're on a new show that's set to premiere in the fall so they're at the camp for a short vacation after pretty much working nonstop for the past several weeks.

The new show is called Mount Barley, RFD - which stands for rural free delivery - and it's about a journalist who moves back to his old hometown to take care of his aging father and reconnects with his old friends. Mace plays the main character, Alex, an ambitious creative who has a tendency to get carried away with his ideas. Robert's the co-executive producer/showrunner and has a recurring role as Jerry, a friend and colleague of Alex's who sometimes gets dragged into everyone else's problems due to bad timing. Other characters include Alex's dad Emmett, the wise father figure everyone looks up to, Blossom the pharmacist who's a neighbor to Alex, Leia, a childhood friend and work colleague, and Deedee, the hairstylist who serves as Alex's source for gossip.

Having insider information is kinda a blessing and a curse. Well, what I mean by curse is that I can't say too much about something because of non-disclosure stuff, which means I have to be careful not to let anything slip. Especially with a lot of show creators, writers, and actors being active on social media, it's kinda easy to accidentally reveal something that wasn't supposed to publicly come out yet. It's not usually anything super confidential but some companies are more particular about what people say more than others. While being able to interact with crew members has its perks, it also has its drawbacks - then again, that's social media in general.

Robert's previous show, Faerie Town, ended last year after five seasons. A good number of the entourage members were in that show like April Wingate, Melody Muto, Linus Cooper, and Cecelia Argent. Robert was a writer on the show as well as a recurring character who became more prominent from season three onwards.

Ending the show was one of those cases where they were told ahead of time that they weren't going to get renewed. By then, the overall story they wanted to tell was coming to a conclusion so it made sense to start wrapping things up. Being an ensemble show, it kinda suffered from a large cast - I'm overall satisfied with the way the main characters were handled but at the same time I felt that it could've been balanced better. And I'll admit, the writing during the last two seasons were weak, but not to the point where the show went downhill.

The way I see it, there's a difference between a show going downhill and a show where the writing isn't as top notch. Downhill is bad, as in this has a negative impact on how I feel about the show in general. An example of downhill is Popular Besties, which, looking back wasn't entirely good, but I enjoyed it as a kid. It was one of those shows which the quality dipped a lot - and knowing the issues going on behind the scenes, it makes a lot of sense as to why - and it gets to the point where you're watching a new episode out of obligation or dropping it all together.

Hogan Family Values is an example of a show that has fallen to weak writing. Like Faerie Town, it has a big cast, though it struggles more in terms of having too many characters to handle. It's ending after three seasons, which has ten episodes left. Season three started out pretty strong, but since then it has been a mixed bag. We all kinda suspected that it was ending as some of the episodes kinda had that vibe and that was later confirmed by the creator just recently.

I think the biggest problem with this season is that the pacing's kinda rushed and I feel like the show has kinda written itself into a corner by trying to wrap up various plotlines while introducing a bunch of new characters/plot points at the same time. On one hand the show could use another season just to pad things out a bit, but at the same time it makes sense why they would end it there.

The show's still good though, it's just season three doesn't have the same spark as the first two did. I mean, the stronger episodes of this season are some of the best in the show overall while the weaker ones aren't entirely terrible, just mediocre, or at worst, somewhat boring. And despite my reservations at the moment, I have faith in the crew that the ending will be satisfying, even if rushed.

A show with a satisfying ending is Star's Universe, which has become one of my top favorite shows of all time. I think, if it wasn't for the network, the show could've easily run for another season to even out the pacing towards the end. It also suffered from the uncertainty of being renewed, which then led to a movie. While working on the movie, the network decided to order an additional season at the last minute to fully wrap things up. There's still a lot the show can touch on but it's all extra stuff - and while it could've focused more on the supporting cast, I can understand why they couldn't because it's essentially not their story.

As for the overall story the show wanted to tell, they not only succeeded, but exceeded my expectations. The conclusion's satisfying in a way that it's open enough to revisit but if that's the end, then I'm happy with that as well.

I think Star's Universe has ruined me in terms of judging series endings. It still kinda doesn't feel real that the show literally just ended less than a year ago. The writing has also remained consistently strong for the most part and it's just a brilliant show. Now I feel like binging on a bunch of episodes. I guess you can say it's one of my comfort shows.

While collecting gyroids, we got to talking about Mount Barley, RFD a bit as well as catch up on life in general. Robert's got an interesting backstory that Hollywood has been wanting to make into a movie for years. He was known as the Etienne Falls Baby as he was born en route on the ill fated train that crashed in the desert. His father died in the accident while his mother passed away shortly after, leaving Robert in the care of three friends who helped bring him into the world. Only one of them survived and he, while carrying Robert, made a dangerous trek through the desert to find help. After the tragic ordeal, he adopted Robert, becoming somewhat known as a hero.

Mace is the nephew of actor Gary Stewart, who's well known on stage and screen, as well as his daughters Amelia and Lesley. It was Amelia who helped Mace pursue his dream of acting by helping him stand up to his father, who was against it. At the time he was going through a lot and as a result of everything, he finally had enough. It wasn't easy going against his father's wishes, but he had to or else he'd be stuck working at the bank being his father's successor.

He's still hoping for a reconciliation, though it seems unlikely at the moment. Since moving to the island, Mace rarely spoke to his father, who has pretty much disowned him. Back home he heard that his father's not too crazy about Mace having his own show as that'll make him more well known. At least his cousins and uncle have always been supportive of him - he had always been closer to them, especially after his mom passed.

It's been raining all day, though it started out as a light drizzle at first. I don't mind the rain too much - it adds to the rainy day theme! I love how gray and cloudy the sky gets - there's just something about rain that's calming and cozy. Also, it was the perfect excuse to break out my new umbrella - and it was worth every leaf ticket because not only it looks pretty, it kept me dry. Aside from the mud, collecting gyroids in the rain was a lot of fun!

When it started pouring we headed back to the cabin to begin crafting some stuff. I was surprised that we managed to collect a lot of gyroids today, then again, I think the rain might've helped some. We also managed to do some fishing and bug catching as well, which the guys had never done before. Robert's a fast learner when it comes to fishing - and a lucky one too as he managed to catch two king salmons!

Aside from collecting gyroids, we didn't get to be able to do too much sightseeing today. Once the weather clears up, I'm thinking of setting up a picnic in the meadow and a short hike along the trail. Then, depending on Gulliver's schedule, I was hoping we can catch a ride with him and explore an island or two. Robert mentioned that he always wanted to try out sailing so I want him to experience that. As for Mace, he says he's content with anything the camp has in store and he enjoys running errands for the campers.

With the rain pouring, we all were in the mood for some tea so I put on the kettle as soon as we got inside. While waiting for the tea we set up the TV to watch some shows while helping Daisy Jane package orders from her shop. Nothing like cozying up with a nice hot cup of tea on a cloudy rainy day!

#animal crossing #animal crossing pocket camp #Diary of a Junebug #headcanon ramble

[imagines-for-the-fangirls-soul]

Return to Me - Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen: The Story of Tonight

A/N: God! I’m so sorry this is late, I’ve just been finishing up midterm stuff! Here’s the next chapter, I’ll work on queuing up a few more so I won’t fall behind again. I’m really excited for this chapter! It includes one of my favorite dresses that gives off big Swan Princess vibes (which is one of my favorite movies) and sets up a LOT of drama for the next chapter! Ahh! Let me know what you think! Again, I’m sorry it’s late. I love your comments. I love you all. Let’s talk!!! 

Pairing: Poe Dameron x Reader Word Count: 4,724 Synopsis: Poe and the reader begin to establish their plans for the Resistance, Poe’s on Yavin-4, and the reader’s on Naboo. Poe is tasked with a mission to Bespin with his father, meaning that he’ll miss the dinner party the reader is throwing to gain more allies. As tensions start to heat up at this party, new information comes out that could mean trouble for Poe and the reader’s future.

Tag List:  @xeniarocks, @too-many-baes, @araceli91103, @idocarealot, @treblebeth, @treestarrrrrrrr, @thescarletknight2014, @charlottie2998, @ibikus, @mellow-f1, @mrsdaamneron, @trustme3-13, @missjess71, @ella-solei, @minelskede, @gleigh42, @usuallyweepingnacho, @givemethatgold, @and-claudia, @constantdisgrace​, @wordsinwinters​, @readingvogueonprivetdrive​, @trshbb​, @kaitlynw011​, @ihave2muchtimeonmyhands​, @fairytalesforever​, @thanos-jeep​, @mixedfandxms​, @pastelbunny1501​, @emotionalcal​, @daniellajocelyn​, @getyourselfaunicorn​, @spider-starry​, @jimhalpertcanbuymelove, @angelicaxhouston, @roserrys​

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“So, what do you think?”

Poe looked around at the remains of the old rebellion base. The frame of the building was intact, but everything else had fallen to shambles. The technology that remained was so out of date that it probably wouldn’t have started up, if not for the fact that thick Yavin-4 branches had grown through them. There was a rustling throughout the entire building, signaling Poe to believe other creatures had taken control of the base since the rebellion abandoned it so many years ago.

Truthfully, it was a mess, but it was the best mess Poe had seen in while.

“I think it’s perfect. It’ll be a hell of a lot of work, but I think we can make some of this stuff work for us.”

“That’s what I thought, too,” Kes said with a smile. The older Dameron surveyed the room with excitement but found that the same joy wasn’t in his son’s eyes. “You okay?”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine.”

“You’ll see Y/N again soon,” Kes said. Poe looked up at his father and smiled.

“I’m not so sure. Our lives are on different paths right now.”

“Yeah, but they’ve both got the same destination,” Kes said, giving Poe a reassuring smile. “So, I think we’ll start storing our supplies here. I know that we’ll run operations out of Serenno, but this will start off as a storage hangar until we can find a better location.”

“Sounds good to me. Now, all we need are those supplies. And people willing to fight. And about a million other things I don’t even have the time to list.”

“Relax,” Kes said with an easy smile, “We’ll figure it out. It’ll all come together.”

“Well, I admire your confidence.”

“You should try to embody it sometimes,” Kes said, walking out of the old base.

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“So, what do you think?”

“I think we’ve had this conversation before,” you said with a sigh, closing the book in front of you.

“You cannot deny the benefits marrying Lin Ral would have,” your father said.

“Yes, and that’s exactly the kind of thing that one looks for in a marriage. Benefits!” you said, crossing your arms across your waist, the puffy sleeves of your dress ballooning out around you.

“I would be so good for our people. For the galaxy.”

“For political ties, you mean. Once the Senate is rebuilt, there’s no way that a Serenno delegate would refuse to side with a Naboo delegate, I mean, after all, we’d practically be family,” you said, batting your eyelashes mockingly.

“What’s so wrong with political ties?”

“Absolutely nothing. It’s the forcing of marriage in order to retain those ties that I have an issue with. Now, has anyone gotten back to you yet?” you asked.

“No, but we’re still hopeful,” he said, although his tone didn’t convey his message.

“And Mom?”

“She’s meeting with some friends from other planets. Everyone’s still grieving, Y/N, it’s going to take time to—”

“I understand.”

“I know you do,” he said. You went back to working in silence for the next few minutes before Henri spoke again. “You doing alright?”

“What?” you asked, looking up from your book. “Of course. I’ve just got a lot on my mind.”

“Poe?” he asked.

“That’s the first time you’ve said his first name in two years,” you said, watching him in surprise.

“What happened with the two of you?” he asked.

“You made us get divorced, remember?” you said cynically.

“I mean this week.”

“Just Resistance stuff.”

“I just don’t want you to get hurt again,” he said. You tried to take his word sincerely, but knowing that he had been one of the ones to push you away from Poe, causing you to hurt more than you ever had, it was difficult to believe him.

“I still know my place, Dad. I have a duty to Naboo, and until they kick me out, which is entirely possible, considering I left them to the First Order, this is where I’ll stay. And I hope, once this is all done, you won’t push me one way or the other.”

“I only want to do what’s best for you.”

“So let me decide,” you said, giving him a gentle smile. “I’ve been reading up on the reformation of the Republic after the Empire was defeated,” you said, changing the subject.

“Good,” Henri said, pulling his chair closer to yours. “Anything useful?”

“Yeah, the death of the Emperor and Darth Vader was a big rallying cry that it was okay to finally go against the Empire,” you said. Your father laughed slightly and nodded his head.

“Well, we’re making progress. Supreme Leader Snoke is dead.” You nodded your head and studied the text in front of you for a few more minutes.

“What made you decide to join the Rebellion?” you asked.

“There had been rumblings all around the galaxy. In small increments, people were starting to see the progress that the Rebellion was making. No one liked the Empire. We were all ready to see it end, we just didn’t know how we’d get there yet. I was inspired by it all and wanted to be a part of the fight, but it wasn’t until I spoke to Sarsa that I knew what I had to do.”

“Broden convinced you?”

“Yes. He spoke to me about how the galaxy could be. He basically reformed the Republic back then on his own. He had so many ideas, it was hard to say no to him.”

“So you didn’t,” you said.

“So I didn’t,” he agreed. “Broden was charming and persuasive, that’s how he gets people on his side. You do the same. People around the galaxy don’t want to hear what older generations like Broden and your mother and I have to say, they want to hear from the people who will be leading them out of the dark.”

“Dad, I—”

“I know, you don’t want to pursue a career in the Senate, but I think you’d be foolish not to.”

“The Senate is your and mom’s territory, not mine. I can barely do this queen thing.”

“Well, I would tell that to your polling numbers. Since your return, they’ve already gone up by three points. You inspire something in people, Y/N,” he said as he stood. He gave your forehead a kiss. “I’ll see you later. I’m going to Sullust to meet with a friend of mom’s from the Senate. Think you’ll be alright without me?”

“I think I’ll manage.”

“Call me if anything changes.”

“I will,” you said, “And do the same.”

“I will. Love you,” he said, walking out of the library.

“Where is Henri off to?” Broden asked as he stepped into the library a moment after.

“Sullust.”

“To get more allies?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“It’s a shame we can’t bring them all in one space. It would be much simpler to address them en masse, instead of sending what little allies we have all around the galaxy.” You nodded in agreement and suddenly picked up your head.

“Why don’t we?”

“Why don’t we what?” Broden asked.

“Why don’t we bring them all together? We can throw a banquet here, invite all of our friends from around the galaxy, all of my mother’s connections from the Senate, and speak to them all about our cause.”

“It seems rather risky,” he said, “What if someone wasn’t loyal and leaked our mission to the First Order?”

“Then we’ll invite only those we trust, or we won’t reveal too much. The First Order knows that there are people out there who want them gone. Our coming together won’t surprise them.”

“When do you suggest we have this gathering?”

“As soon as possible. I can reach out to my parents and the Resistance. We’ll bring Leia along and a few other Resistance members to stoke the fire. This will work,” you said, touching his hand when he looked less than enthusiastic.

“I think it might, but I’m not sure,” he said with a frown. “But I do trust you. I’ll get the staff to work cleaning up the grand hall.”

“No, no, I don’t want this to be too fancy,” you said. “However it looks now is fine. I can have my handmaids clean it up and decorate last minute, but right now we need to focus on rebuilding the village. Too many of our people find themselves without a stable home. I am glad to keep them in the palace, but I know they would eventually like to return to their own homes.”

“I know. We’ll continue work on the village. I’ll oversee it, if you want to plan this gathering.”

“I will,” you said with a smile.

“Perfect,” he said, smiling back.

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“You want me to come to a party?” Leia asked in disbelief as she stared at your holographic image.

“Not a party,” you said, “We’re wasting our time flying around the galaxy to gain our allies. If we have them all together in one room, it would save us time, and they could see all of their friends joining along, and want to join, too.”

“It’s a great idea, but why do I have to come?” she asked.

“Because you’re General Leia Organa. People listen to you.”

“Sure, they used to—”

“They still do. Hell, I wouldn’t have joined the Resistance if it wasn’t for you,” you said. Leia smiled.

“It’s been quite some time since I’ve schmoozed with politicians.”

“Then don’t schmooze,” you said, “Tell them the truth. Everyone here will have been affected by the destruction of the Hosnian System. These people aren’t stupid.”

“Alright, I’ll be there,” Leia said, a little reluctantly.

“Glad I have your support and enthusiasm. How’s it going there?” you asked.

“We’re doing alright. We’ve been flying back and forth between Serenno. I explained to Lin Ral that we’re working on setting up a new base, which he is very excited to hear about once we find it.”

“He’s just eager to help,” you said. “Although, I know what you mean. I’ve put off inviting him to Naboo all day because I don’t want to deal with his excitement.” Leia laughed softly. “So, you’ll bring a few Resistance stars with you, right? I need some people working the room to ensure that we can flip as many people as possible to our side.”

“Absolutely.”

“Thank you, Leia.”

“Of course,” she said, lifting her hand to shut off the transmission.

“Wait,” you called.

“What?”

“How is he?”

“He’s doing just fine. He’s in his prime right now,” she said with a smile.

“Good, good.”

“I’m afraid he won’t be joining me to your party though,” she said. “I’m sending him and Kes to Bespin this evening.”

“Bespin? What do you need from Bespin?”

“Lando,” she said with a smile. “You were, of course, our first choice for this mission, as he took a liking to you so long ago, but Poe needed to return his ship to Grakkus the Hutt anyways, and they agreed on a Bespin drop off.”

“Well, that’s great,” you said, trying to mask your disappointment.

“It is. Lando will be a great friend to have back on our team. He’s one of the most persuasive people I know.”

“Oh, believe me, I know,” you said with a laugh.

“I’ll talk to you soon,” Leia said. “May the Force be with you.”

“You, too.”

As you signed off, the door to the conference room inside of Serenno’s castle opened up, and Poe walked in. He was wearing his formal Resistance clothing, an annoying habit that Leia had asked him to pick up while they stayed on Serenno, surrounded by counts and other high-ranking members of Serenno’s government.

“You asked to see me, General?” he asked.

“Yes, I just wanted to check in with you before your trip to Bespin. Is your father all set?”

“Yes,” Poe said, walking up to the table and sitting next to Leia. “He’s convinced that Lando will be eager to help us.”

“You’re not so sure?”

“He wasn’t so eager when we reached out to him the first couple of times. I still think it was because of Y/N that he agreed to help us.”

“He never could say no to a pretty face,” Leia said demurely.

“Well, then it’s a good thing I’m going,” Poe said, offering her a smile.

“It is. But I’m afraid that means you’ll miss out on a party on Naboo.”

“A party?” Poe asked, “Who the hell is throwing a party in times like these?”

“Y/N. It’s not necessarily a party, but a gathering of our closest allies.”

“To bring them over to our side?” Poe asked. Leia nodded her head. “It’s a good idea. I’m gonna miss it while in Bespin?”

“Yes. But I’ll be sure to tell you all about it.” Poe laughed.

“Well, thank you. When did you hear about this?”

“Y/N called a second ago. You just missed her.”

“How’d she seem?”

“Good,” Leia said, giving him a gentle smile. “She asked about you. I’m sure she wanted you to be one of the Resistance stars I’m supposed to bring along with me.”

“You don’t like this plan?” Poe asked.

“No, I think it’s a great plan. I’m just not excited to have to go back to my old political roots. Politicians can be a nightmare,” she said, relaxing in her seat.

“Oh, I know. Who are you thinking of bringing?” he asked.

“D’Acy, of course,” she said. “Javos is always good with people, and has firsthand experience with our fight, so I’ll probably bring her along. And then I was thinking Finn and Rey. Who better to preach our mission than a reformed First Order stormtrooper and a powerful Jedi who overtook Kylo Ren?”

“I can think of few better.”

“If we had our best pilot, I know we could really persuade them,” she said with a smile, touching his hand.

“I’ll be there in spirit.”

“I’m sure you’ll be in at least one person’s thoughts.”

“She’ll surely be in mine,” Poe said, offering her a weak smile.

“Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll be invited to the next dinner party.”

“Hopefully,” he said with a laugh. “I should head back to Yavin-4. Any other advice for convincing Lando?”

“Tell him if he joins he can go to all kinds of parties with pretty politicians,” she teased.

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This was the first night in many that you had to once again put on heavier makeup than your regular look. Tonight, you would be speaking to your parents’ friends, grieving family members of the destroyed Hosnian System, and other Resistance-hopefuls, hoping to convince them to join in your fight, and you would need to do it as Bhavisama. Loré stood in front of you, putting the finishing touches on your makeup, while Sondé tied your hair into a long, flowing ponytail down your back. The makeup didn’t cloak your face, it just enhanced every feature you had, as if showing off that you were truly the real Bhavisama, and not Sondé in your place.

“Almost ready?” Nové asked, stepping into the room with your gown in her arms. Sondé came in behind her, carrying the hoop skirt that would go underneath.

“Yes,” you said, standing up, “Just waiting on the dress.” Nové helped you into the hoop and then dressed you into the gown, zipping the back for you.

“How are you feeling?” she asked, as you looked at yourself in the mirror, checking for any unqueenly imperfections.

“Good. A little nervous, but good. You’re coming, too, aren’t you?”

“Of course,” she said, giving your hand a squeeze. “I’m going to be one of the schmoozers.”

“Did you talk to Leia?” you asked, snapping your head around when she used the former princess’s exact wording.

“We may have run into each other in the hall.”

“Whatever. Call it what you want. I’m just glad you’re going to be there with me.”

“Loré and Sondé will be there, too.”

“As silent handmaidens,” you said, frowning, “I wish you all could work the room. It would mean I would have to do it less.” Nové laughed as she looked at herself in the mirror, fixing her matching dress slightly.

“I know,” she said, “But we can never be too careful. We don’t want you completely on your own. We don’t know who we can trust yet.”

“I know,” you said, taking her hand, “It’s just frustrating. All of this is.”

“I know. But at least Lin Ral will be there.” You rolled your eyes.

“He’ll be good at convincing people.”

“Oh, I’m sure he’s good at a lot more,” she said under her breath as she walked towards the door. You picked up the pillow closest to you and chucked it at her head. She very nearly ducked and looked back at you with a quick wink. “See you down there.”

In the first twenty minutes of entering the grand hall, you had already spoken with three former members of the Senate. As you quickly learned, many people were off planet when the Hosnian System was attacked. Although more representatives were lost than spared, and everyone was still grieving, there were still plenty of fighters ready to take on the First Order, albeit a little reluctantly.

“Before you even start,” Senator Avania Rebianakl from Manaan began, “Lin already spoke to me.”

“Oh,” you said, dipping your head.

“No, not like that, child,” she said, taking your hand in hers. “Manaan wants to see the end of the First Order, too. Whatever we can do, we’ll do.”

“Thank you, Avania.”

“Of course. Those bastards deserve to rot for what they did,” she said. You nodded your head and gave her hand a soft squeeze. “I know there are some others here who will be less than eager to join your cause. Go on and talk to them. I’ll try to convince some of my less than enthusiastic friends, too.”

“You’re the best.”

“I know,” she said, giving you a smile as she walked away. You let out a sigh and turned slightly, ready to talk to another member of your party.

“What? Don’t tell me Avania changed her mind. I wasted almost all of my charm on her,” Lin said as you almost ran into him. He grabbed your forearm to steady you and gave you a smile. It was clear he hadn’t wasted all of his charm.

“No,” you said, backing up slightly, “She’s still on board.”

“Good.” He smiled at you, taking you in for the first time that night. “Might I say that you look very lovely tonight, Your Highness.”

“Thank you,” you said with a diplomatic smile, “So do you.”

“How does it seem to be going?” he asked, moving to stand by your side as you surveyed the room. From afar, you could see your father and Leia talking to a few of his friends he had brought along. Commander D’Acy was showing Finn and Rey around the room. The pair never left each other’s side, although many of your party guests tried to break them apart. It wasn’t every day that a reformed Stormtrooper and a Jedi graced the halls of Theed Palace.

“I think alright. I’ve got a few people who swear they’ll help in all of our upcoming battles, but whether that comes true or not . . .”

“It will,” he said, giving you a kind smile, “People are ready for some real change. They’re tired of living in fear of the First Order.”

“I hope you’re right.”

“I am.” You looked up at him and smiled.

“Thank you, Lin.”

“For what?” he asked.

“Your confidence. And for being by my side through this. It is much nicer than doing this with my parents,” you said. He laughed and nodded his head.

“Glad that I could be of some assistance.”

“Y/N!”

You both turned to see Suralinda moving towards you, sporting a dress that only she could have pulled off, bringing along a young woman with her. You and Lin gave her kind smiles and introduced yourselves. She introduced herself as an old friend of Sura, Meg Junari. She hailed from Chandrila, one of the planets that had lost all of its representation in the destruction of the Hosnian Systems.

“I am truly so sorry for your loss,” you said.

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

“Meg thinks she might know of a place for our new base,” Suralinda said. You looked at her, your eyes wide as you tried to keep your regal composure.

“What did you just say?” you asked.

“Meg knows the perfect spot to set up our Resistance base again. It’s got hangars for all of our ships, storage facilities for supplies and food, and accommodation for all of our troops, it’s—”

“Suralinda, can I borrow you for a moment?” you asked, looking from her to Lin. He took the hint and suddenly started up a conversation with Meg about Chandrila’s beautiful flora.

“Don’t you want to hear about the base?” Sura asked.

“No,” you said quickly, as you pulled Suralinda to a quieter corner of the room. She looked into your eyes and began to shake her head.

“What?” she asked.

“The whole point of this dinner party is to—”

“Flirt with that guy from Serenno?” she asked, jutting out her hip. You breathed through your nose as you tried to keep your cool.

“The whole point is to gain allies. Maybe a few resources. Your friend, Meg, seems perfectly lovely, but I don’t know her. Can you vouch for her that she is completely trustworthy? That she won’t turn her back on us and give away this base if given the chance?”

“Yes, I can. She’s been my friend for ages,” she said, her voice getting a little louder.

“Well, then, why don’t you go suggest the idea to General Organa. See what she thinks of it,” you said, beginning to turn away from her.

“I will,” she said as you walked away.

Loré and Sondé hadn’t been far away when you talked with Suralinda, and the second you stepped away from her, they were right by your side again.

“Are you okay?” Loré whispered. You continued to walk around the room, greeting people and thanking them for coming.

“I’m fine.”

“What do you think General Organa will say?” she asked.

“I don’t know,” you said truthfully. You stopped in your tracks and looked around the room for Nové. Once you spotted her, you sent Loré to go fetch her, and together, you and your handmaidens stepped out of the hall and into one of the secret hallways built into the palace.

“Is everything alright?” Nové asked as you all crammed into the tight hallway, tucked away behind a thick curtain.

“Suralinda Javos thinks she has found a new Resistance base location.”

“Why aren’t we more excited about that?” Nové asked.

“Because the person who has procured this base is a friend of Sura’s, who no one else knows.”

“Like Lin Ral was when you suggested a base on Serenno.” You nodded your head, taking a deep breath.

“Well, it still has to go through General Organa, right?” Sondé asked. “And Poe is still working on the base on Yavin-4.”

“I know, I’ve just got a bad feeling about this.”

“Why?” Loré asked.

“Suralinda wants the best story. She doesn’t want what’s best for the Resistance.”

“If that was true, I don’t think Poe and Organa would trust her so much,” Loré said.

“It is true,” Nové intersected, “Jess was telling me all about her. She’s more concerned in the best story than in doing what’s best.”

“I don’t want to doubt her credentials,” you said, shaking your head, “I just need more information. Especially on this Meg Junari. If this really is the best course of action, then I’ll be all for it, but it seems almost too convenient that Junari has the best location to fit every single accommodation we need. I can’t look into her, but . . .”

“Say no more,” Sondé said. “I’ll get started now. I’ll reach out to some of the guards, too.”

“Thank you.”

“Now, we should really get you back to the party, my lady,” Nové said.

“I know.”

So as to not draw attention to the secret passage, the lot of you took the hallway which led out to the terrace outside, and then made your way back into the hall. After another hour of deep discussion with everyone who would talk to you, your mother grabbed your arm and led you over to a Rodian man she knew from the senate. He introduced himself as Barth Hoangid’y, a merchant who specialized in supplying ships to both sides.

“My mother’s best friend was our elected representative,” he explained sadly, “She practically raised me. Whatever you need, I’ll get it for the Resistance.”

“Thank you so much,” you said, grasping his hand.

“Of course.”

Your mother led him away and went to introduce him to your father. As you looked across the room, you found Sura’s unmistakable dress and saw that she was talking with Leia. Her hand gestures signaled that she wasn’t delighted with what Leia was saying, and she quickly turned away from the general, only to run into one of the waiters. She, the waiter, and his tray of food clamored to the floor, turning every head in the room.

You moved towards them quickly, helping to stand them up. A thick syrup now stained the ends of Leia’s gown, but she kept her cool.

“I think maybe it’s time we leave,” Leia said firmly, keeping her face looking as kind as possible.

“I don’t want to go, yet,” Suralinda said, shaking her head. Leia reached for her hand but Suralinda quickly pulled hers away.

“You’ve had too much to drink, Javos,” Leia said, her voice growing more serious by the syllable.

“I’m fine,” Suralinda said with a snort, “Is that why you don’t agree with me? Because I’m drunk?” she asked, hiccupping on the last word.

“No.”

“Is it because she told you to?” she asked, pointing in your face.

“Let’s get you out of here,” you said as the crowd around you started to grow larger. “I’ve got a nice, comfy room you can stay in.”

“Don’t touch me,” she said, shaking you off. “I’m not your friend.”

“Suralinda,” Leia said firmly. You held up your hand to her.

“It’s fine.”

“No, it’s not,” Suralinda said. Your royal guard had started to step closer, but you signaled them back. What you didn’t need was for this to get any worse than it already was. “You got into his head. He only made those decisions because you were there. And now, we’ve lost almost all of our resources and we’re shit out of luck,” she spat.

“What are you talking about?” Leia asked, holding Suralinda up as she started to slump.

“Poe. She got into his head. She brought all that shit to us, and that’s why we’re here now, pretending that everything is fine. We can just party! It’s not like the entire fucking galaxy isn’t in danger!”

“Alright, it’s time to go,” you said, grabbing her arm firmly as Leia grasped her other. Your parents quickly got to work dispersing the crowd, but they couldn’t look away from what was happening.

“Things were so much better when you were gone,” Suralinda said, “When it was just us.”

In the hall, Commander D’Acy was waiting anxiously with Finn and Rey. Finn put his arm around Suralinda, and she didn’t fight anymore as he led her to the rooms you had blocked off for them.

“I’m so sorry about all of that,” Leia said, catching her breath. “She’s not usually—”

“Don’t worry about it,” you said, giving her a smile.

“And what she said about Poe, it isn’t true.” You gave her another smile but couldn’t find the words to say. “I should go check on her.”

“Of course.”

As she walked away, you took a few moments to calm yourself before returning to the hall. Her words had stung, but none more so than when she said ‘us.’ The way she said it – it wasn’t the Resistance she was referring to, or even Black Squadron, it was her and Poe. 

#poe dameron #poe dameron x reader #poe dameron x you #poe dameron imagine #sw imagine #poe dameron fanfic #poe dameron fanfiction #star wars #star wars imagine #star wars fanfic #star wars fanfiction #sw #sw fanfic #sw fanfiction

[ohemgeeitscoley]

Ben Solo is the recently assigned editor for Rey Johnson’s book about star-crossed lovers in space when the world is turned upside down and stay home orders are issued. Ben and Rey begin working together over Zoom and their relationship grows.

Or, an and they were zoomates fic.

Based on this Tumblr post. 

The one I have been waiting for (Part One of Two)

Fandom: Star Wars

Pairing: Rey/Ben Solo (Reylo)

Note: This was going to be a really, really short one shot. It turned into a 12k two-shot. Whoops. This is pure fluff. 

As always, the biggest thank you to @andyouweremine for being the world’s best beta and friend. Seriously, thank you for all of your cheerleading and input and for convincing me that one more scene never hurt anyone. You’re the absolute best.

Read below or on AO3.

From: Leia Organa-Solo <[email protected]> To: Benjamin Solo <[email protected]> Subject: Quarantine assignments 

Ben,

Unfortunately with everything going on right now, I've decided that we are going to close the office and have everyone work from home. I know you were looking forward to the big welcome lunch I had planned. Hopefully we will be able to reschedule in a few weeks once the risk of spreading COVID-19 lessens.

In the meantime, I am going to assign you to Rey Johnson. She is working on a new novel with a goal of having the first draft submitted by May 30. I'm attaching her contact information and what she has sent over so far. Please coordinate with Rey to schedule an introduction meeting. 

Warm regards,

Mom

Leia Organa-Solo CEO Rebel Publishing, LLC

From: Benjamin Solo <[email protected]> To: Leia Organa-Solo <[email protected]> Subject: RE: Quarantine assignments

Leia:

I am deeply saddened that the welcome lunch you coordinated over my many, many vocal objections to has been cancelled. I suppose we will have to plan another inner-office get together wherein I can find a way to embarrass and let you down. I'm greatly looking forward to the opportunity.

On that note, was it really necessary to use my full name in my email address? Was Ben already taken? I am fairly certain as my mother you are aware that you are the only person who ever calls me Benjamin. Would it be possible to have IT change this before tomorrow? 

I think closing the office is the right decision. Social distancing is quite important now more than ever. I'm assuming this means that Saturday dinners will also be postponed?

I'll look over what you sent and reach out to Ms. Johnson. I'm looking forward to working with her. 

Sincerely, 

Ben Solo Editor Rebel Publishing, LLC

From: Leia Organa-Solo <[email protected]> To: Benjamin Solo <[email protected]> Subject: RE: Quarantine assignments

Benjamin:

I distinctly remember writing Benjamin down on your birth certificate. I'm unaware of any name change order being in your personnel file. The email stays.

The lunch has not been cancelled, it has been postponed. Despite your assertions, you will not embarrass or let me down in any get together. However, I make no such promises. Seeing as how I'll be trapped at home with your father for the foreseeable future, maybe I'll finally have time to find some of those old pictures of you. I've been meaning to redecorate my office.

It does appear that Saturday dinners will need to be postponed. However, I am working with Chewie and Luke to see if we can perhaps get them set up to attend virtual dinners. I'll keep you updated.

Warm regards,

Mom

Leia Organa-Solo CEO Rebel Publishing, LLC

-----

Ben sighed, pushing his hands under his glasses as he rubbed at the corners of his eyes. It wasn’t that he necessarily thought that agreeing to go work at his mom’s publishing company was going to be the easiest of transitions, but he also hadn’t been prepared for his name to be on the list of things they would argue about. 

It only made sense, then, that it was one of the first things. 

He considered sending another email, pushing the issue. But he knew better than to think it was an argument he was going to win. And, honestly, he was hopeful that if he didn’t respond maybe she’d never again think about coordinating, or asking him to coordinate, a virtual Saturday dinner. 

Instead, Ben opened the contact card his mom had sent for Rey, and got to work.

From:  Benjamin Solo <[email protected]>  To: Rey Johnson <[email protected]> Subject: Introduction Meeting

Good evening Ms. Johnson:

I’m the assigned editor for your next book. Leia has already provided your initial pitch, character sketches, and outline. However, I usually prefer to talk with an author prior to reading these materials. I have found in the past that going into these conversations without any preconceived ideas based on the initial workups leads to a more organic understanding of the material. As such, I’d love to have the chance to talk with you about your book prior to looking over the material.

Given the increased concerns of spreading the virus, Leia has closed the office and has asked that we conduct all of our work from home. Please let me know what your availability is tomorrow or the next day so that I can coordinate the conference. I am just transitioning to Rebel Publishing, so my calendar is currently fairly open.

Of course, if you’d rather me read through the materials and start the process that way, just let me know. 

I look forward to working with you.

Sincerely,

Ben Solo Editor Rebel Publishing, LLC

From: Rey Johnson <[email protected]>  To: Benjamin Solo <[email protected]>  Subject: RE: Introduction Meeting

Mr. Solo,

Leia let me know today that we would be working together. I’m really looking forward to hearing your thoughts. I’d love the opportunity to talk with you prior to you reviewing the materials that have been previously sent. This is a different approach than my previous editors have taken, but I am intrigued by your theory. 

With that said, given the recent orders to stay home, my schedule is very flexible. I usually try to block out specific times to focus on writing so that I can turn off notifications and limit distractions. With the times I had previously blocked out for tomorrow, I could make an 11:00 am work? If that doesn’t work, just let me know what does and I’m sure I’ll be able to make that work.

I look forward to meeting with you.

Sincerely,

Rey Johnson

-----

Rey was the first one in the Zoom meeting the next morning. She fidgeted with her web camera, adjusting the angle until the image on the screen blocked out most of her messy apartment. She spent a few minutes pushing things out of the way before sitting back down and waiting for Ben to appear. 

She glanced down at the clock on her computer screen, sighing at the time. The meeting wasn’t supposed to start for another five minutes. Being early had never been one of her defining characteristics, but she also hadn’t had any real human interaction in days. 

The day the stay home order had been issued by the Governor, Rey had planned on meeting up with Poe and Finn for drinks. They had been on her for days to avoid slipping into a writer isolation. Poe had a lot of experience in knowing just how easily Rey could spiral when she was writing, hiding away from the world for days at a time. It had always just been easier for Rey to stay in when she was writing. Easier to stay focused on what kept her paid and fed and a roof over her head. 

She didn’t have to worry about getting too distracted and forgetting where she left off or what she had planned for another scene if she just stayed home. Poe liked to remind her that she was ridiculous and that going out also was what provided her with actual inspiration to write.

There was a balance, she was sure. She just hadn’t achieved it yet. Then the stay home issue was ordered and Rey found herself wishing that she had listened to Poe sooner. 

Not that was going to tell him that.

The computer dinged when Ben joined the meeting room. The image was fuzzy at first, Rey could really only make out that he had dark hair and rather broad shoulders. In fact, he looked rather… large, his body taking up most of the space that she could see. The image cleared and Rey took in the rest of his features, the sharp nose and pouty lips. 

He was definitely attractive. Which was not what she needed to be thinking about at the moment.

“Good morning, Mr. Solo,” Rey said, smiling politely as she held her hand up in a tiny, awkward wave.

“I would say Mr. Solo is my father,” he responded, shaking his head slightly. “But he also hates being called that.” 

“Right, so, Benjamin then?”

“No, no, no, no,” Ben grimaced, as if the word personally offended him. “Ben. Just Ben.”

“Okay, just Ben,” Rey laughed softly. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“It’s nice to meet you too, Ms. John-”

“Rey,” she interrupted him with a grin. 

“Well, Rey, tell me about your book.”

Rey took a deep breath before, running her teeth over her bottom lip before she began. She started by attempting to introduce the main characters, Kira and Kylo, and their backstories, but she was easily distracted with certain points of plot that felt so imperative to interrupt and explain.

By the time she finished, she wasn't really sure what information she had shared or left out.  But she was fairly positive that she had failed to hit all of the main plot points.

Rey waited for Ben to say something. She knew that he had told her that he found it beneficial to hear about the story in an organic way, but the longer the silence stretched, the more she wished she had spent more time preparing last night to explain to him the story and the characters in at least a logical way.

“So they are connected?” He finally asked. “What was the word you used?”

“A dyad,” Rey answered. “Soulmates, really.”

“Star-crossed lovers fighting on opposite sides of a galactic war," Ben paused, jotting something down on a piece of paper next to his computer. "Doomed from the start?"

"Hardly," Rey snorted. "It won't be easy, but I fully plan on a happily ever after ending for them."

"Really?" Ben seemed surprised. "That's unusual for star-crossed couples."

"Your words," Rey reminded him, "I said they were soulmates."

"That you did," Ben conceded. "I just assumed since they are fighting for different things that one would fall."

"But they aren't."

"What?" 

"Fighting for different things," Rey clarified. "It seems that way, at first. But really, they are both fighting for a place in the world. For a family. For a balance that they are being told can't exist."

"It sounds like quite a world," Ben noted. "I'm excited to see you build it."

"Yeah," Rey looked away from the screen, staring at the knick knacks that filled up the shelf across from her. "It's a little scary actually, creating a world this complex."

"That's what I'm here for."

"Right," Rey smiled at him. "Well, I'm glad I have you."

Rey thought that maybe Ben was blushing, even though logically she knew that it was more likely just a shadow or reflection from his computer. Either way, she liked the way it made him look.

"So, same time next week?" Ben asked. "I'll go over everything Leia sent me. Now that I know what I'm getting into, I think my notes will be a lot better."

"Yeah, same time next week," Rey glanced down at the notes on her desk. "Should I send you things throughout the week as I'm working? Or save it for next week?"

"For now I say save it for next week. I have a lot of material to get started with."

"Sounds good."

"It was nice meeting you, Rey." Ben held one hand up in an awkward wave.

"Yeah, you too, Ben."

-----

From: Rey Johnson <[email protected]>  To: Benjamin Solo <[email protected]>  Subject: Earlier meeting?

Hi Ben:

I know that we have a meeting scheduled in four days, but I was just wondering if you might be available earlier than that? I’m having a bit of difficulty with the corner I think I’ve written myself into, and I am hoping that a fresh pair of eyes might help me find my way out. I understand if you want to keep the meeting as scheduled, I know you haven’t had a lot of time to go through the materials that had already been submitted, but I’d really appreciate any insight.

I hope you are staying inside and staying healthy!

-Rey.

------

Rey groaned, rereading the email she had sent Ben. It wasn’t necessarily a bad email, it was actually lightyears better than the first draft she had written at 2 am. Which went something like ‘Hi Ben, as it turns out despite my years of believing otherwise, I need human interaction and your face is the only face I’ve seen in a week and I’m slowly losing my mind. I sang to my plants. I’ve never written this much in my life, I’ve started reading the dialogue out loud because I’m no longer sure what human conversations sound like. So, if it wouldn’t be too much trouble, could we move up our meeting? I’m a little worried I’m becoming an insane person. I swear I’m not normally this weird. Quarantine life.’

She, thankfully, pressed the delete button instead of the send button. The other three drafts were slightly more professional, but all with the same undertone of her being slightly desperate for any conversation that didn’t involve her voicing both sides. She had tried facetiming Poe, but he and Finn had been keeping each other plenty busy. Which really, she should have expected.

Logically she knew that she could reach out to either one of them anyways, or Rose, or any of her other friends and just tell them that she was potentially on the verge of a self-isolation mental breakdown and they would be there for her.

But that was a showing of vulnerability that despite years of therapy Rey wasn’t comfortable with demonstrating.  And so she emailed Ben instead.

It wasn’t like it was a complete lie. She had written more than usual and she was at a point in the story that she would appreciate some feedback at this point. 

Kira and Kylo were at a turning point in the story. Their connection had been steadily growing stronger and more frequent, forcing them to face each other. Now was the time for them to come together and join each other or for them to pull away and keep fighting against each other. 

It wasn't a terrible idea for her to get some feedback and opinions before moving forward full speed. Her reaching out to Ben for an earlier meeting had nothing to do with her ever increasing thoughts about how he was rather attractive and his smile was rather enticing and that she wanted to see it again. 

At least, she was fairly confident that wasn’t the main reason.

She glanced at the sent email one last time before closing out of her email tab. Only fifteen minutes had passed since she sent the email and she already felt regret settling over her nerves. 

It was going to be a long day waiting for him to reply.

-----

In hindsight, Ben probably should have found it strange that he had not received a single company email in over 24 hours. Especially since Leia had a habit of sending him personal messages to his work email. Despite him reminding her numerous times that she had his personal email, and his cell phone, and, really, at least four other ways of contacting him.

A part of him knew that Leia did it because she genuinely enjoyed reminding herself that he came back to her company, that he came home. He also knew her well enough to know that the larger reason was because she also genuinely enjoyed annoying him. And Leia had to know that he would find knowing that her personal assistant had access to all of her emails about whether or not he was interested in attending a virtual dinner, if he had enough food in his apartment or if he would like her to make an instacart order for him, and that Han had been cleaning out the garage to make more room for his ‘quarantine projects’ and found boxes of his old toys and baby blankets and she was just wondering if he perhaps wanted her to bring the belongings home so that he could come get them, you know, for the future.

So, he should have known that something wasn’t working, but he had been distracted going through Rey’s materials, making notes of his questions and of his proposed edits. She was a fantastic writer. The world she had built was fresh and lively, jumping off of the pages in clear images and descriptions. She had provided extremely detailed character sketches for most of the characters, but he hadn’t found that he had to read through them or refer to them to understand any of the characters or to analyze any of the choices the characters had made simply because she wrote them so well.

It was very impressive.

He had finished going through the materials that Leia had sent him in two days. He was working his way through them again, going slower and providing more detailed notes and able to ask more pointed questions given the knowledge of where the story was heading. Still, he found himself wishing that he had told Rey to send over more work. 

He noticed his phone light up on the corner of his couch. He picked it up, glancing at the message icon showing that he had four messages from his mother and… 48 unread emails.

Mom: Servers are back up at the office.

Mom: Sorry for the onslaught of emails you are probably going to start getting in five minutes.

Mom: I didn’t realize at first that they weren’t going through.

Mom:  It’s possible 75% of them could have been text messages.

Ben: The server was down at the office?

Mom: You didn’t notice that you have received no emails in the last day?

Ben: I guess not. 

Mom: That’s an unusual thing for you to not notice.

Mom: What have you been doing?

Ben: Going through the materials you sent over for Rey’s book. 

Mom: Ah.

Mom: That makes sense then. 

Ben sighed, closing the messaging app to start going through the emails from his mother.

They were exactly what he had expected them to be. A few emails from HR and IT that were sent company wide about how to submit hours when working from home, a reminder to sign up for direct deposit if you hadn’t already, and a few guided walkthroughs on common computer and technology issues. His mother’s emails focused more on whether or not he had all of the ingredients for the Risotto she wanted to make for dinner on Saturday. Followed by an email with the receipt. And another email that went to him, Luke, and Chewie, wondering why it was too much to ask them all to make the same meal as her so that the virtual dinner felt like an actual dinner and not a happenstance of people meeting at the same time.

He almost missed the email from Rey.

 -----

From:  Benjamin Solo <[email protected]>  To: Rey Johnson <[email protected]>  Subject: RE: Earlier meeting?

Dear Rey,

I’m truly sorry for my delay in responding to your email. I was just informed that the server at the office went down, which affected our email host and I am just now getting this message.

I would love to go over this with you sooner than we had planned. I have already reviewed the materials you had previously sent, so I believe I will be of much more use in hopefully helping you figure out where you want to go next. I do find it hard to believe that you’ve written yourself into a corner, you seem to have a great grasp on the characters and the story you want to tell.

I’d hate for any future requests to be severely delayed due to technological issues beyond our control. My cell phone number is 917-555-3298. 

I am available whenever. I suppose that’s the upside to a quarantine.

I look forward to receiving the materials and discussing them with you.

Ben

Benjamin Solo Editor Rebel Publishing, LLC

-----

Ben: I think it’s abusing your power as owner of a company to go through and change your employee’s email signatures without consent.

Mom: I have no idea what you are talking about.

Mom: Benjamin

------

929-555-4593: Hi Ben. This is Rey. I just got your email and figured I’d send you a message so you have my number. I sent over what I’ve been working on. I’m also free whenever. So, just tell me when and I’ll be there.

Rey Johnson: Thanks again for agreeing to meet up with me earlier than planned. I appreciate it. 

-------

Rey threw on a blazer over the red tank top she had been wearing for the last two days when she got the Zoom invite from Ben. She glanced at her reflection in the mirror to the side of her desk, double checking to make sure she didn’t have dried mascara on her cheeks and that her hair looked moderately presentable.

She clicked on the link in the email and---

Oh

Ben wore glasses. Ben wore glasses and Rey was not at all prepared for how he looked wearing them. Really, it didn’t seem quite fair that something as innocuous as glasses managed to make him go skyrocketing up from ‘fairly attractive’ to ‘how inappropriate would it be to initiate sexting with her new editor that she had maybe spent a grand total of twenty minutes communicating with’ in her mind. 

Rey really, really needed the stay home order lifted. Clearly, she was worse off than she thought.

“Hey,” Ben greeted her. “How are you surviving the stay home order?”

“Oh great. Some might even say I’ve been thriving,” Rey rolled her eyes, shaking her head as she laughed. “At least I’ve been able to get a lot of writing done.”

“I would say,” Ben ran his hand through his hair, and Rey could hear him clicking open something on his computer. “I’m not going to lie, I’ve only skimmed through everything you sent over today. So, depending on what has you stuck, I’m not positive this will be a very productive meeting.”

“The part I think I’m stuck at?” Rey opened the word document on her computer, her eyes narrowing in confusion. “You mean it isn’t obvious?”

“I guess, no?” Ben responded, and Rey can tell from the way he’s focusing on his computer screen that he must be going through the document again. “I just assumed you were stuck on what to do after Kira took Kylo’s hand? But that didn’t make much sense either because you have such a clear plan for the story.”

“Kira doesn’t take Kylo’s hand.”

Ben glanced up to the camera, his mouth slightly open. “What?”

“Kira doesn’t take Kylo’s hand,” Rey repeated, lifting her shoulders in a small shrug. “At least not yet.”

“What do you mean she doesn’t take his hand yet?” Ben asked, and Rey has to bite down on her lip to keep herself from laughing at how insulted he sounded. “You’ve spent the last eight chapters building their relationship for her to take his hand.”

“That doesn’t mean that this is the right moment,” Rey pointed out. “I’m not sure it’s the right moment.”

“Okay,” Ben leaned back in his chair, lifting his hands to rest behind his head. “I guess I’m going to need you to explain to me what you think the right moment will be then.”

“That might take awhile,” Rey admitted. “I don’t know that I even know the answer to that.” 

“That’s okay,” Ben said with an encouraging smile. “I have plenty of time.”

-----

They ended up talking for over two hours. By the end of the call, Rey at least had a better idea of the different paths she could take Kira and Kylo down. Even if she still didn't know which one she would choose.

But they also talked about other things besides the book and Rey's struggles with where the characters should go. Rey discovered that Ben was also sheltering in place by himself. She was pretty amused when Ben didn’t immediately end the video call when she started discussing the finer points of being ordered to stay in, like what Netflix show he was binge watching and whether or not he had enough toilet paper to last.

She was oddly unsurprised when he refused to discuss his toilet paper situation with her and when he said that he didn’t watch a lot of TV and wasn’t planning on binge watching anything. Rey gave him a week before he caved on that.

It was nice. 

Rey’s mood had significantly improved half way through the conversation. She had forgotten just how wonderful it was to talk to someone else. It also didn’t hurt that Ben Solo wasn’t exactly hard to look at for two hours. It wasn't even the obvious physical features that Rey found herself thinking about hours later, although she was certainly going to be thinking about them for a while. But Ben had a certain way of moving and mannerisms that only added to them. 

Getting to know someone over a video call was interesting. Rey kept waiting for the normal wave of must look away to hit her like it would if they had been face to face. Staring at someone the entire time you were together wasn't normal.

If they had been in person, Rey would have felt uncomfortable with the amount of time she had spent just staring at him. Noticing the way his hands dwarfed the size of his coffee cup and the way he talked with his hands when he was particularly passionate about whatever he was saying.

She particularly liked how his face was open when she said something he disagreed with, the way he would narrow his eyes and shake his head, but waited until she was done to raise his counterpoints. There was something about the way that he was just himself that was refreshing. 

He listened intently, scribbling down notes when she talked about the story. Even when she started mentioning shows that he should watch, if he were to get really desperate, and he pretended to be uninterested, Rey was fairly positive she saw him write them down as well. 

They set up another meeting in two days, and Rey was determined to have at least made a decision on whether or not Kira was going to take Kylo’s hand by then.  She had to admit that Ben had made a convincing argument as to why it was the right moment for the characters to move forward together. 

Rey sat down at her writing desk, opening up the current version of her project, and began writing.

#reylo #reylo fanfic #reylo fanfiction #reylo fic #reylo au #and they were zoommates #my fic

[supernaturalee]

Then & Now: Part 3 - Gwilym Lee x Reader

Pairings: Past!Gwilym Lee x Reader, Platonic!Joe Mazzello x Reader

Warnings: Swearing, Cheating, Sexual Themes, Character Death, Overall Angst and Sadness 

Word count: 5k 

Summary: It has been nearly ten years since Y/N had last stepped foot in London and made a promise to herself to never return. Yet, here she is back again for two weeks with her best friend in tow. After being left the apartment of her late mother. The same one where she had her heart taken and broken into two by the blue-eyed boy across the hall. When a mistaken knock is answered, blue eyes come flooding back into her life and suddenly two weeks seems like a lifetime.

Previous Parts: One Two

Author’s Note: This is it. The story behind them. I will keep this short but the part is not. Thank you for the love on the last part. Let me know if you want to be tagged in part 4. 

Tagged List: @ixchel-9275​​ @slutforbritdick​​ @reavenedges-lies​​ @rogertaylorsfalsettogivesmehives​​ @what-wicked-delights​ @itsametaphorgwil​ @imgonnabeyourslave​ @beepbeephardy​ @findingillyria​ @theatrefreakgirl​ @ramimalekpan​ @drivenbybri​ 

“Okay. It started when we were five…” Gwilym let out a breath and began the story of he and Y/N. His eyes on his friend as he took another sip of scotch. “This flat belonged to my grandparents before they left it to my mum who in turn gave it to me. Her great aunt lived across the hall. Y/N and her family used to visit every summer holiday and that's how it all began. The story of us.”

Age 5:

Gwilym stood behind his grandfather’s legs at the top of the stairs. Trying to catch a peek of the strangers at the bottom of the stoop. His grandfather’s hand resting on the boy’s head messing with his hair.  Before moving beside him and getting a better look at his grandparents’ neighbor’s visitors. A small family of three consisting of a taller burlier man with a large mustache, a short blonde woman, and a tiny girl. The man hugged Mrs. Amelia before carrying two large suitcases up the stairs. Amelia leaned down kissing someone’s cheek before moving to hug the adult woman. He then watched the small Y/H/C girl struggle to pull her small suitcase up the stairs. Turning down the help from both adults with her, a man with the same hair color and a woman with a kind smile. How could someone so small, seem so stubborn. The little girl grunted softly as she pulled the suitcase up a single step at a time. Gwil laughed as he watched her. 

“Gwilym, why don’t you go help the little one?” His grandfather said to him looking down at his grandson that he shared the same intense blue eyes with. “Be a gentleman.” He smiled at the young boy before watching him make his way down to the little girl. 

“Hi. Could I help you? I can do it.” Gwilym smiled at her. She huffed looking up at him from behind her bangs and pigtails. 

“No.” She said, shaking her head. 

“What? You can’t say no.” He said. 

“Yes I can. I can do this better than any boy!” She stated before starting up the stairs again.

“Well my grandfather said I had to help you. Makes me a proper gentleman!” He said. All the eyes of the adults were now on the slightly quarrelling children.

“Don’t want your help.” She said ignoring him again as she made it slowly closer to the summit of the stairs. To her this stoop was her Everest climb, she was a mountaineer close to her final peak. To him, it was a chance to be the fastest and the strongest. 

“You are crazy.” He said racing up the stairs to beat her. As soon as he reached the top he looked down at her on the steps and struck his tongue out at her. The adults had since moved on from the children below them. 

“I am not crazy!” She yelled before narrowing her eyes and lugging the suitcase up the last step and onto the landing. She turned back to him and stuck her tongue out. Gwilym couldn’t help but laugh. She may have been stubborn, short, and spoke funny but to the five year old that was everything that he thought was cool. His laugh was infectious to the small New Yorker and she couldn't’ help but start laughing herself. He may have been kind of mean, too tall, and spoke funny but she liked him. 

“Be my friend?” He asked. His blue eyes wide with what adults would call desperation. Yet to him, he just wanted another kid to play with. Everyone else in the building was much older than him, so he needed a friend. Y/N on the other hand, thought she had plenty of friends, they were just of the stuffed variety. So the chance to make one that could talk back to her without her making a funny voice for it was huge for her. 

“Okay!” She smiled sticking out her hand to him like she had seen her dad do so many times to his friends. “I’m Y/N!” Gwilym took it and shook it, smiling back. His eyes now filled with happiness.  

“I’m Gwilym but my mum calls me Gwil.” 

“You have a funny name!” She said as his smile turned to frown. 

“Well you talk funny!” He said. 

“My daddy said we have an accident. Cause we are from New York City! You know the bestest place in the whole wide world!” She threw her arms up and opened dramatically. 

“I have never been to America.” Gwil stated looking at her, “My name is Welsh cause my family is from Wales which is the real bestest place in whole wide galaxy! That is like a hundred zillion times bigger than the world.” He said. 

“What makes it cooler than New York?” She asked as the two followed the adults inside. Y/N’s mom taking the little girl’s suitcase happy to see her daughter making a friend already.

Gwil began to explain how cool his house was and all the stuff it had inside of it. Y/N would counter with something cool from her own home. They spent the rest of the day on Amelia’s floor talking and playing. On track to become fast friends.

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“She wouldn’t let anyone carry her suitcase?” Ben laughed pouring himself his second glass of scotch. 

“Nope. Stubborn as a mule that one is but she was the cutest little girl. I mean, those eyes of hers were always wide with curiosity unless they were narrowed at you in anger.” Gwil chuckled a bit. He was telling the stories of a part of his past he hadn’t thought of in a long time. God, how they returned in an instant, vivid and colorful in his mind. 

“Well keep going. Now you have peaked my interest.” Ben said. He now had an eager need to know what caused such anger and disdain from both parties. He mostly just thought that Y/N and Gwil needed to fuck and get it over with. Cut that angry sexual tension with a very sexy knife, like a katana or a dagger. He pushed the thoughts of what was the sexy type of knife out his head, for now. 

“Alright.” Gwil tipped back another sip. “We are going to skip about ten years ahead in the story. I don’t have the time or the mental capacity or the scotch to do a year by year background.” He said letting out a soft breath. “She and her family started to visit every summer and I made sure to spend at least a month and a half with my grandparents to see her. You see, Y/N’s mom was Amelia’s only family left other than Y/N and Y/N’s father would make his financial trip to the American military base here to do his admin work for the Air Force. We became best friends. We were pen pals and secret keepers. She would write these long letters that had all these pictures attached from her father’s old polaroid. I would write back on postcards from all over England and then Europe, stapling on ripped pages from old books I found that made me laugh or think of her. It’s terribly romantic and cheesy now that I think of it, but we were kids.” He let out a longer breath this time. “She was the most interesting girl in the world to me and I was basically in love with her.” 

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Age 15:

Y/N ran up the stairs quickly, taking her suitcase with her as she made it to the waiting teenaged Gwil. She hugged him tightly, her arms wrapped around his neck. She was pushed up on her toes, he had grown like a weed over the year since they had last seen each other.  

“I missed you, Gwilym Shakespeare.” She said burying her face in his chest as he hugged her back. His arms around her back, she had grown up as well. A bit more developed than the girl he saw last summer. 

“I missed you too Princess Leia.” He teased her with the name of her favorite fiction character. She always filled her letters with doodles and often it was the rebel insignia. He had even agreed to being Han and Leia for Halloween once they were together at University. In every letter and call, they told each other everything. Secrets, hopes, fears, dislikes, likes, everything and anything. They could keep talking for hours or not talk at all and just hear one read to another. He kissed the top of her head before noticing her father staring at her. He pulled away clearing his throat. “How was your flight, Y/N?” He asked her, pulling away from the hug. 

“Long and Dad complained the whole time that the pilot was incompatent.” She said before laughing. Gwil couldn’t look away as the laughter filled her beautiful eyes with light. 

“I could have gotten us there an hour earlier, I am just saying.” Her father said moving to the teen boy. “Hello Gwilym. You have gotten taller and better looking, young man. Still not as good looking as me but who could be that lucky.” He shook Gwil’s hand before laughing.

“Thank you sir.” Gwilym said smiling lightly, his hands at his side through he longed to hold Y/N close and kiss her. God, how badly he wanted to kiss her.��

“He’s joking. Hello dear. How are your grandparents?” Her mother asked him, hugging the teen. 

“Hello Mrs. Y/L/N. They are quite well, just moving a bit slower. You could never tell with my grandfather though. He still thinks he is as nimble as ever.” Gwil hugged her back. Both adults laughed, as Y/N watched Gwil. He was cuter than any boy she had ever seen, cuter than any pop star or boy band member. She was harboring quite a large crush on the teen aged boy and she needed to tell him. 

“Can Gwil and I go on a walk?” She asked. Her eyelashes battered at her parents. Her father’s smile dropped, sure he trusted young Gwilym but he was still a teenaged boy. Her mother laughed, taking her husband’s hand and nodded. 

“Of course but after you say hello to your aunt first. She misses you.” She smiles. 

“Got it. Gwil, wait here.” Y/N ran inside, her suitcase in tow as she disappeared into the building. Her mother laughed before following her in. Leaving Gwil with the older man. He took a step closer to the boy. Remaining silent for a few moments, the tension between the father and the young man was palpable. Gwil watched him with caution, scared to move and scared to show fear. Thinking the military man could smell it on him. His eyes narrowed at him, he was still taller than teen for now. His Y/H/C cut into the typical military style, his mustache now had gray peppered throughout it.

“You promise to keep her safe?”

“Yes sir.”

“You promise to have her back here in one hours time?” 

“Yes sir.”

“You promise to treat her with the respect and dignity every woman deserves?” 

“Of course sir.”

“Good and know that I have the full force of the United States Air Force behind me. I can find you even if you hide.” He said seriously before smiling. Gwilym gulped nodding. 

“Understood sir.”

“Good. Have fun.” He said before her father moved inside the building, meeting his daughter as she made it to the door. He kissed her cheek, placing a bill in her hand. Y/N smiled moving outside with Gwil.

“Ready?” She asked. He nodded smiling at her. Both teens walked next to each other down the street. Their hands were not touching but close enough for the back of their knuckles to graze each other. They didn’t say anything at first, both teens awkward still. 

“How was the rest of your school year Y/N?” He asked looking down at her as they moved into a nearby park. 

“It was good. I finished with good marks but I was so ready to come here.” Y/N smiled. 

“How was your school play? Did you rock the stage?” Gwil laughed before nodding. 

“Yes, Twelfth Night went off without a hitch.” He said smiling. The two continued filling each other in, just enjoying being with each other again. They walked the length of the park before stopping near a small pond. Watching a small group of ducks swim across the surface of the water. 

Gwil turned his head, watching the teen girl. “Um, Y/N. Can I ask you something?” 

“Of course.” She gave him an honest smile. 

“I was just wondering...um well...um…” He stammered nervously. 

“Yes?” Her smile grew, her hands waiting on her sides. 

“I was...we have been....I have been thinking.” He still stammered. A blush on his cheeks as he got a bit embarrassed. Scared she would say no.  

“Would you want to be my boyfriend?” She asked him, her hand gently taking his. Her fingers interlaced with his. His palms were a bit sweaty. 

“Really? Because I was just trying to ask you to be my girlfriend but I am nervous because you are the most beautiful girl, Y/N. I have always been thinking about you every day since I last saw you.” He said as she blushed. She giggled softly before nodding. 

“Yes. I wanted to write you in a letter but I thought it would be better to wait until I saw you. And about long distance, I think we can do it because you are the only boy I ever think about, Gwil. We can call and write. Then once I graduate, I can come to university over here and we can be together forever.” She said. 

“That sounds wonderful.” He smiles, a blush on his face, as he turned to face her. His free hand went up cupping her cheek as he leaned down and pressed his lips to her. She didn’t move for a moment before kissing him back. This was everything both had thought about for the past few weeks. It was their first kiss and both hoped it would be the first of many. Her hands laid on his chest as he kissed her still. The two broke apart and world began to spin again for them.

Gwil blushed as he pulled away, Y/N was smiling wide. Her eyes filled with so much joy and happiness. He spoke first, letting out a soft breath.  

“Wow. I have wanted to kiss you for so long, princess.” He shortened her nickname as she blushed in return.  

“Me too, well except with you, I mean. Like not saying I would kiss myself, I mean I do find myself pretty but not in a conceited way I guess. I’m just going to kiss you again.” She rambled for a moment before kissing him again. This kiss was quicker but the same amount of young love and emotion was behind it. She pulled away, grinning, her hands playing with the collar of his shirt.  

Gwil ran his hands up and down her back trying to remember everything about the outfit she was wearing. From her purple t-shirt to her beat up old checkerboard Vans to the color of her jeans. Everything was important to him in this moment because he was with her. He needed to know what to their future children what their mother was wearing the moment they first kissed. He had already remembered every little detail about the park around them.    

“Who knew Gwilym Shakespeare would be such a fantastic kisser and an even better boyfriend.” She said giggling now as his cheeks returned to a light tint of pink. He smiled back at her. Both teenagers were just happy that they had finally moved from best friends to boyfriend and girlfriend. Thinking nothing could stop them from being together forever.  

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“She had on this purple t-shirt with the New York Yankees logo on it. They’re her favorite baseball team. I kept thinking to myself how did I get this beautiful American girl to kiss me. None of my mates were going to believe when school started back up. That whole holiday we were together, we went everywhere. I mean she even met my parents and of course they loved her. I mean who wouldn’t she is strong, smart, funny,  and beautiful.” Gwil took a long sip of his scotch looking at Ben. 

“Don’t you mean was?” Ben smirked not hearing his friend deny these things.

“No, she still is but now she hates me. It doesn’t detract from the fact that I royally goofed.” He says. “I may have cheated on her at uni. And I don't mean may, I did, I did cheat on her at uni.” Gwil hung his head down in shame. 

“Everyone makes mistakes Gwil.” Ben says. “Is this the reason she has continually slammed the door when seeing you?” Gwil nodded. 

“We were eighteen and I was an idiot.” He began again.

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Age 18:

Gwilym stumbled into the first years’ dormitory drunkenly. The redheaded girl giggled who followed closely behind him. He shushed her as he spotted his roommate asleep in his bed.  Gwil’s hand in the girl’s as he pulled her into his small single room, closing the door behind him. Forgetting to lock it as she kissed him again. The kisses were sloppy and tasted of cheap scotch and beer. He pushed her back against the door as he trailed  his wet lips down her exposed neck, his fingers pushing up the camisole she wore. Her skin was hot and her cheeks were flushed as she pulled it off over her head.

Gwil, having pulled away, pulled his polo shirt over his head. Leaving the two eighteen year olds’ shirtless. He moved back cupping her cheeks, kissing her with a hast. His lips were swollen and bruised from the many kisses they shared. The alcohol had blurred his mind of his very real girlfriend of three years back in New York. Plus their fight earlier in the week about her not getting into his university had her far from his mind. He had just wanted to drink Y/N’s anger away, not completely break her trust and cheat on her. Yet here he was semi naked in his dorm room.

A few more important articles of clothing were gone and the two were in the bed. Grunts and moans filled the small dormitory room and then into the living room area. Gwil’s roommate woke up, his fist banging on the wall. 

“Fucking wanker!” Gwil yelled back, before returning to the attention of the redhead. 

His roommate huffed as he heard a knock at the main door to their quarters. He got out of his bed thinking their resident advisor was coming to tell them to quiet down. The young man moved to open the door, expecting the senior who was in charge of them. Instead a young woman stood there, barely eighteen with bags under her eyes and an old suitcase in her hands. She gave him a smile before speaking. 

“Um, hi.” She had an American accent and a voice heavy with sleep deprivation. “I am looking for Gwilym Lee. This is his dorm right?”  

“Yes this is his dorm.” He confirmed. “And you are?” 

“Oh I’m Y/N, I’m his girlfriend.”  She gave the other man a polite smile. His eyes widen in fear and regret for a moment. Before trying to mask it. 

“Oh yeah, he talks about you all the time. He’s um, in his room, that door.” He points to

the closed door knowing behind it, Gwilym was in the throws of drunken passion with a girl who was not his girlfriend. 

“Thank you. Sorry for bothering you so late but my flight just landed and I came right here from Heathrow.” She said, her tiredness fading away as she moved to the door, knocking gently before walking in. There in his bed was Gwilym with a redhead on top of him. Both in a position that Y/N knew well enough for they had done the same one the last time she had seen him. “Oh my god.” Was the only thing that left her mouth before Gwil heard her voice. His eyes moving past the girl on top of him to the girl he loved standing in the open doorway. Her Y/E/C were filled with shock. He felt himself sober up in an instance. 

“Y/N?” was all he said before she turned around and moved out of his room. Her body was clearly shaking with rage. She slammed the door behind her shaking the whole wall. A picture frame falling from it, shattering on the ground. “Y/N! Wait!” He gently pushed the red head off him and pulled on discarded sweatpants. 

His head now throbbed as the shock of seeing her. What the hell did he think he was doing? Why the hell did he do that? Jesus, he was such a fucking idiot. He chased her down the stairwell, as she struggled to pull her suitcase behind her. 

“Do not talk to me!” She shouted, her eyes drilled forward. 

“Y/N Please stop!” He called out after her. She ignored him continuing down the stairs. “Y/N, I love you!” He continued. He could see how angry she was, her whole body looked like a dangerous ticking time bomb. 

“Princess please!” This caught her attention as she reached the bottom of the stair whipping her head around. Large, hot tears ran down her face, god how he wanted to reach out and hold her. Hold her in his arms and tell her how he made a mistake. How he missed her and how he wanted her in every way. But none of that came out, all that came out was. “I’m sorry.” His voice was soft and slightly slurred. 

“You’re sorry? You’re fucking sorry! I just flew over three thousand miles to see you! To surprise you and show you that I was sorry that we fought the other day. Yet how do I find you, your dick in some other fucking girl! How long have you been cheating on me?” She snapped, her accent thick with the words that cut him like a knife. She dropped the suitcase, wiping her cheeks with the back of her hands. 

“I...I haven’t been...just tonight.” He said just watching her. Her chest heaved shakily, her hands curling up into fists. He could see the white of her knuckles as she squeezed her fists close to her body. 

“Oh fucking perfect timing!” She throws her hands up, letting out a single laugh with no humor behind it. Her eyes were drowning in sadness and rage as she picked up her suitcase. “I am going home. I do not want to see you again. And to think I left my sick dad to be with you cause I love you. Cause I couldn’t sleep since our fight the other day. I just wanted to show you how much you matter to me.” She said her voice no longer raised but just full of Gwil’s worst fear disappointment. He loved Y/N so much that even the thought of her this upset broke his heart, yet here she was and he had caused it.  

“Please stay. We can talk about this.” He pleaded softly but he knew her. He knew that he had lost her.

“I never want to talk to you again. We are over. We are done. Never call me, never see me, and if you think about me, don’t.” She said, her voice dripping with venom. “I hate you.” She said before moving out of the building. Gwil stood there for a moment just watching the first girl he loved and his best friend storm out of his life.

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“Mate, that was rough.” Ben said softly, patting Gwil’s shoulder. 

Gwil’s head hung looking into the dark amber liquid. It had been so long since he had thought about that night. 

“I fucked up big time. Since then I haven’t had a relationship last longer than six months, when things get too serious, I just freeze up and break it off. No one has ever made me feel the same way I felt then.” He admits. “Maybe it is because she was my first love or maybe because part of me never stopped loving her. I don’t know.” He said standing up, putting the glass down on the table. 

“Well I think you should go talk to her.” Ben said. Gwil looked at him before chuckling. 

“That’s not the end of the story, but this next part she doesn’t even know about.” He said moving to his office and getting something out of a drawer of his desk. 

“Wait, what?” Ben said. “How does she not even know about it?”

“I never told her but it was something I did for her after her dad died.” He said, moving back into the room. He held this item close to his chest as he sat back down next to Ben. “She was still 19, and I had just turned 20.”

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Age 19 and 20:

Gwil arrived in New York on a cold, deary rain soaked day. The rain that fell was cold and cut through your skin straight to the bone. It almost seemed as New York too was grieving the loss of Y/N’s father. A man Gwilym had come to respect and trust. It was his words and funds that brought Gwilym here. A few weeks earlier, a letter had arrived with a check and a few short words of wisdom. 

                 She will need you even if she says she doesn’t.

  Gwilym had gotten a plane ticket after a call from his mother confirmed his fear. Y/N’s father had passed away. He got to New York and even attended the crowded funeral, never taking his blue eyes off her. Her head down with her hair hiding her face. He knew she was crying but he also knew she was trying to be strong for her mother. He wanted so badly to go to her, to help her grieve, to tell her how he still loved her but his cowardice was too strong. He never forgave himself for cheating. 

He stayed in New York for a week, staying in a nearby hotel close to Y/N’s apartment that she now shared with her mother. It rained every day. Even if he didn’t have the courage to see her, he would let her know the sun would once again return to her life. Everyday for that full week he would leave a bouquet of sunflowers on the front step with a simple note. ‘To make you smile Y/N.’ He didn’t sign it but he hoped she would know they were from him. Sunflowers were her favorite and the yellow in the petals complimented her eyes. 

As he went on the seventh and his last day there, her mother caught him. 

“Gwilym, honey, you’ve been the one leaving Y/N the sunflowers.” She gave him a small smile. Gwil could see the sadness on her features. “They are making her smile, bringing some light back into her eyes. She thinks they are from her father but I know he wrote to you. He could never get anything past me.”

“Yes ma’am.” He said nodding, smiling back. “I didn’t want her to see me because she doesn’t need the trouble I bring her.” She shook her head.

“You are a good man Gwilym Lee. I’ll tell her.” She said hugging the young man close. He hugged her back before pulling away. Right then and there he made a choice, a difficult one. 

“No, please don’t Mrs. Y/L/N, let her think they are a gift from her father. I want her smile to be caused by him rather than by me.” He said. Mrs. Y/L/N just nodded and kissed his cheek. 

“You two will find each other again, true love always does.” She said before moving inside. “Be safe honey, tell your family I said hello and thank you for the condolences.” She left the bouquet on the ground, where they both knew Y/N would find them. 

Gwil left New York later that day and returned to London. Hoping Y/N would find him sooner rather than later.

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“That’s it, Ben. That’s our story.” Gwil downed the rest of his glass of scotch. He felt a familiar buzz of warmth in his stomach. The item from the drawer laid on his lap, a broken picture frame with a picture of a young Y/N and Gwil in it. Their cheeks touched as they tried to fit in the lens of the disposable camera. It was yellowed and aged with some water damage. “I haven’t looked at this photo in nearly ten years.” He admitted. “Not since the day it fell from my wall.” 

“It ended on such a beautiful note. You don’t even seem angry with her anymore.” Ben said. 

“I’m not angry with her. Sure she shut me out and never let me explain myself but would I do the same to her?” He said rubbing the back of his neck.

“I think you should still talk to her because her mom was right, True love always finds each other.” Ben smiled. 

Gwilym smiled for the first time in a long time at the thought of Y/N being with him again. How could he make her see all their mistakes were in the past? How could he make her see past her anger with him? He placed the picture frame on his coffee table. Getting up and before he knew it he was standing in front of her door. Knocking and hoping she answered. It was time to move past their mistakes, because that was then and this is now.

#gwilym lee x reader #gwilym lee #gwilym lee angst #borhap #then & now #ben hardy #joe mazzello #joe mazzello x reader #tnn #bohemian rhapsody #queen

[stillwinterair]

Pretty sure this thing is rife with typos and inconsistencies because I spent way too long writing this and Refuse to proofread, but, some notes from the writers’ room (my brain) on my Personal Mental Sequel Trilogy Rewrite:

On paper, I think the Kylo/Snoke situation as it occurs is really compelling. Killing Snoke midway through the trilogy was a stupid move in the context of the trilogy we got, but could have very easily been made to work well with a few changes... many of which in The Force Awakens.

(This is gonna mostly be focused on Kylo Ren, but in this version of the story he’s far from the focus, it’s just kinda what I would want to see from a villain)

The ultimate goal in my own personal version of the trilogy would have been to make the late-second-act twist (this trilogy’s “I am your father” moment) be Kylo Ren becoming Supreme Leader, and cementing himself as the big bad. But to do that effectively... we have to make Kylo Ren more sympathetic. We have to trick the audience into thinking he’ll come around. As it stands... the movies don’t actually do this. A certain subset of fans certainly think they did, but there’s really no buildup to “Bendemption” aside from a single scene where he’s hesitant to kill his mom, I guess. Other than that, he’s all evil, all the time.

He should still do all the same things: slaughter a village of innocents, torture multiple people, stand idly by as his fascist regime destroys the seat of galactic government. But give him moments of pause before they happen, and feed into the “pull to the Light” with whispered voices calling through the Force, begging him to stop. Every time, he almost listens... but he pushes them away. And every time he pushes them away, something in him changes. He stands taller, grips his blade tighter, and his power with the Force grows a little stronger.

Now, another crucial building block to the twist: move Kylo’s “doesn’t wanna shoot Leia” scene up a movie... and give it to Han.

The scene plays out as we see it in TFA: Han Solo pleads with his son to come home (I would have had them find Luke by this point for the sake of a trio reunion but that’s an entirely different thread to follow). Kylo Ren -- or, perhaps, Ben Solo? -- grips the silent hilt of his lightsaber, visibly unsure. Is he going to submit to his father? Does he plan to kill him?

We don’t find out. Not in this movie, anyway.

A blast rings out. A bolt hits Han in the chest, his eyes glaze over, his fingers drift from his son’s cheek, first slowly, then altogether. He tumbles aside, falling to his death. The camera pans: someone, perhaps Phasma or Hux, is looking down the smoking barrel of their rifle. They salute, then quickly take cover as the distraught and agonized trio of Rey, Finn, and Chewbacca begin firing on them.

Rage fills Kylo Ren’s eyes. He tenses. His lips twist into a twitching grimace. It seems entirely focused on Phasma/Hux. Bands of white-hot electricity trace the lengths of his fingers.

And then it all subsides.

He turns on his heel and pursues our trio, and the film proceeds as we’ve seen it, except again, Luke is also there. I’ll figure out that puzzle piece later.

EPISODE VIII:

Snoke should be heavily involved here, very clearly the puppet master pulling Kylo’s strings. Kylo is clearly haunted, though: those whispers we heard throughout the last movie are growing louder. Who are they? Jedi of the past? The souls of the dead? Anakin Skywalker himself, his spirit shattering itself into a million little pieces trying to push past the jagged barrier of Dark-side energy Kylo Ren surrounds himself with?

But Kylo needs to be less composed in this movie than he is in TLJ. No standing around calmly or stoically, he’s constantly on edge, looking over his shoulder, feeling judged by everyone and dreading it. Kylo Ren is tortured and haunted and it feels like at any moment, the facade will break. Clearly, the source of all his problems are because he isn’t being who he’s supposed to be, right? Clearly he could turn around at any moment and become someone better, right? Right?

Rey ends up before Snoke and Kylo Ren again, because she thinks Ben Solo can be saved, because the narrative is at least putting some work into making us think he can (“he’s haunted by the choices he’s been making, why wouldn’t he turn back to the Light?”). Snoke plays them against each other, yadda yadda yadda, but it perhaps becomes apparent that Snoke has an ulterior motive:

He doesn’t want Kylo Ren anymore. He wants Rey.

He toys with them, makes them duel to the death, but there’s a lot at play here: Snoke wants the strongest to survive, to shape them into a more worthwhile apprentice. Rey fights defensively, refusing to give up on Ben. Kylo is as aggressive as we’ve ever seen him, more conflicted than ever, raging against the voices in his head. Turn away from her, and strike him down, they say. Join the girl, rebuild the Jedi. Come back to Luke. Come back to your mother. The voices are familiar: Jedi from the past, friends who have died along the way. And then a final voice rings out, more ghostly than the rest: Come home, son, says Han Solo, an echo of his soul which has left a stain on the Force surrounding his son.

He knows what he has to do.

The electric currents we saw in our previous episode return, stronger now. The ground around him is charred, ash-black. Years of so-called “Gray Jedi” in Legends jump back to mind: are we actually going to see a Light-sider using Force lightning? you might wonder. All of his energy goes into a singular blast, aimed at Rey...

But it arcs past her, decimates Snoke’s guards. The Supreme Leader stands, shocked and enraged. He challenges Kylo: “You dare slaughter your own allies? You, boy, are nothing but a worm! But it matters not. I never needed you, anyway. The girl will take your place, and you’ll die as they did.”

Snoke attacks, but his mastery of the Force is nothing compared to what comes next: a torrent of lightning from the fingers of Kylo Ren.

The blast knocks Rey back, flings Anakin’s lightsaber from her hands. But when she stands, there’s a smile on her face. She did it. She won. The evil in Ben Solo has been vanquished, the Light has prevailed, and the First Order is finally defeated.

She asks him to come back with her, back to Luke, to Leia, to the Jedi. He can start again, help rebuild, save the galaxy.

He turns back to face her, and his eyes are bloodshot and yellow. He’s seething. He extends a hand, and an offer: join him, let the past die, create something new. Feel the power of the Dark side. There’s nothing like it. There never has been, and never will be.

This is the true Kylo Ren. The first steps of his manipulation were led by Snoke, but it was the taste of power that led him the rest of the way. It seduced him. Consumed him.

We cut back to the lightsaber of Anakin Skywalker, lying on the ground far away. We see Ren and Rey far in the background, standing opposed, but they’re out of focus. The lightsaber is all we can truly see. It begins to shiver, as if being called by someone. Presumably Rey. We cut back.

Rey refuses his offer, refuses the power, tempting as it may be.

“No? Then you’ll die as he did. As all your weak friends will.”

Another torrent of lightning bursts forth from Kylo Ren. But Rey makes no moves to defend or attack: she’s utterly in shock, confounded by this turn of events.

When the lightsaber ignites, it isn’t Rey who’s holding it. It’s Finn. Lightning crashes into it, holding it back, long enough for Rey to regain control, Force-push Kylo, and for the two of them to run.

Rey and Kylo’s Force bond from TLJ is maintained, as is the ending shot of Rey closing the door of the Falcon in Kylo’s face... but with it comes a darkness. The bond is severed. The door has been closed forever.

The twist of the Original Trilogy’s second act was that the villain was of our hero’s blood; in the end, it saved him.

The twist of our Sequel Trilogy’s second act is that the tortured soul we thought might have been a hero, never was one and never could be. You ~subvert expectations~ but in a way that builds the mythos and actually pays off a plot thread. Looking back at all of Kylo’s moments of tortured almost-goodness, the realization hits that he always had a chance and never took it, that the whispering voices which followed him, his pull to the Light, were an annoyance that pushed him the other way.

Anakin, Luke, and Ben were easily corrupted by the Dark. The difference is, Anakin was manipulated, Luke had the force of will to be a hero anyway, and Ben reveled in the Darkness. These are the Palpatine genes resurfacing.

And then in our Episode IX, we wouldn’t [re]introduce a new (well, old, but new to this trilogy) villain in the LAST ACT, but would instead build the story and mythos of one villain throughout the trilogy, off the puppet master when his role is done, and let him flourish as the evil bastard he always should have been. And then the Force-ghost of Anakin Skywalker can show up and basically confirm that he hasn’t been around because he’s been trying for decades to reach his grandson, that it consumed all of his power, etc.

Anyway. This is a lot but we could have had a really compelling villain here but they didn’t do fucking ANYTHING with him

#star wars #idk how the hell to tag this #anti reylo #for good measure #anti bendemption

[kazsinej]

okay... so i watched it... thoughts... spoilers incoming since i’m on my phone

it’s A LOT. jumps around and goes from place to place to place to place to place...

aside from that i WAS enjoying the first hour (around that). i saw someone on twitter, i think, that said the first hour was enjoyable... then the r*ylo fight happens and you’re like well this is going downhill

more detailed thoughts here that will be a mess...

fuck i REALLY wish the trio had been really established before the LAST FUCKING MOVIE. it should’ve been there THE WHOLE TIME.

i am annoyed that they had rey and poe at odds at first. i don’t dislike the idea but more the fact that they started their relationship off like that but then don’t do much else with it bc HEY no time

i got my force sensitive finn!!!!

however, why couldn’t HE have been trained hmmm???

john looked so good this whole movie and i really did love finn. he really was my savior for this movie.

jj flat out LIED about giving finn’s backstory. and he was making statements about it just a few weeks back

i am highkey annoyed about poe’s characterization. poor boy has been all over the place. then making him a DRUG DEALER. the whole disrespect to the backstory he has in the comics??? like it’s not acknowledged whatsoever and i saw someone go “well, it fits here and can be explained by his mom’s death” but that wasn’t even a thought in the movie. that’s a fan having to make the connections to something the general audience doesn’t look at.

i loved what we got from lando.

rose was just... there. which is sad because when she’s not berating or physically harming finn i feel like she could be amazing??? i say could because again she didn’t do much.

sighhhh i wish we could have gotten jannah sooner. I liked her!!! they didn’t go there with her and finn like i thought people were insinuating they would, but i would’ve been all for them if they had had the time!! i was kind of WHOA with how quickly she was ride or die with him (i mean i get it because i was too after watching him for five minutes) and yeah quick connection i get but you barely know him!! and poor bbs didn’t get the proper time to really dive into that connection!! #shouldvehadjannahsooner!!!!!

also jannah spin-off teaser!!!! gimmeeeeee!!!!

however when does finn get to find his origin??? (not letting it go)

i love how they gave No explanation as to how palpatine survived. i wish they hadn’t brought him back. he was amazing the way he was.

okay i’m about to get real ranty

okay so i’m not even sure why leia died. she was trying to reach k*lo and died???? idek i really hated it and only cried because they really did just kill off my original trio like that.

so leia dies to reach her son and OH there you go!!!! he’s b*n again!!!

???????????????????????????

you almost killed her in the last movie?????? both of your parents tried to reach out for you for YEARS. both of your parents died for it. it took you a fuck ass long time for it to finally CLICK and a lot of irredeemable things.

like it really was Dumb

sighhhhh... rey....

why the fuck did she even heal him??? because his mom just died??? because she wanted to hold b*n’s hand??????????

who the fuck is b*n to you????? you don’t even know a b*n???????????????

i really hate that they had her force fling finn back and how she got all no one understands me with him.

but really she was doing fine... until that point... like what happened to my girl. it’s sad that rey never returned after tfa. what happened to her on that island?

i’m really mad that r*ylos got it ALL. they have that stupid f*rce b*nd. which was apparently powerful enough that it revived palpatine (?????) they couldn’t kill each other. she fucking heals him. he becomes b*n. after many previous attempts. comes to fight with rey. he crawls out of a freaking hole that he should’ve died in and heals HER. they get a giddy af k*ss. (i couldn’t even WATCH) rey miraculously knows who tf b*n is (who is he rey????) but they’re upset because he died (a way better death than he deserved)

i will take his death as a win. and the fact that she just went on with her life.

i’m so sad because i loved her. my girl had so much potential.

i loved my trio hug 😭

i’m tired. i’m complaining a lot and this is really long. i did enjoy some of it.

#tros spoilers #sw spoilers #anti reylo #long post #really long sorry #needed to get my thoughts out #but i mean there are even more thoughts there

[mbti-notes]

Would you mind explaining why you see Rey as ESFJ and Kylo Ren as INTP from the new Star Wars? I've always seen Rey as a stereotypical ISFP action hero (quick to adapt to new situations, hands on, a fierce sense of 'moral right' borne of self), and I'm undecided on Kylo, but thought he exhibited FP tendencies -- a struggle between self-identity and rationality, that indicates a F/T imbalance.

[con’t: In reading Leonore Thomson’s book on personalities, the Fi-dom section brought Kylo to mind – unless prone to developing Se/Ne, the IFP fiercely guards their sense of ‘identity’ / self against outside influences and becomes rigid. Isn’t that what he’s doing, in differentiating himself from his parents and refusing to see reality any other way than what he has decided it is, based on his feelings / experiences?]

Judging by the debates I saw online, there doesn’t seem to be any general consensus on either character, which is interesting. It’s a trilogy and the character development beats are scattered and difficult to piece together. And there were several blanks that I had to fill with my own speculation. I didn’t really enjoy the process of typing these characters, but I did it because I kept on receiving requests week after week ever since the first movie came out. I found the character development arcs shallow and poorly paced, and the resolutions were too pat to be very interesting. I reviewed the Kylo and Rey scenes several times, with different personality types in focus each time, in order to ensure that the function pieces fit together to my satisfaction.

      ***** Major spoilers ahead! ******

Kylo

Although I think there are weak points in her book, I don’t take issue with Thomson’s description of Fi doms. I mainly disagree with the motive that you ascribe to Kylo. I don’t think he’s being protective of his identity, I don’t think he cares about identity, in the way that Fi doms do. I will concede that he gives the impression of being a rebellious teenager in defying his parents/mentor/birthright, but defiance alone does not make him Fi dom. Pretty much everyone (even some animal species) goes through a stupid teenage phase of rebellion at some point in their life, and some people never properly get past it. To me, he looks like a stuck-in-adolescence INTP: entirely too full of himself and blind to everything else.

One little point made it difficult for me to settle on a type. Leia was absolutely convinced that Kylo was “manipulated” by Snoke/Palpatine to join the dark side, but there was little indication from Kylo, Luke, and Han that this was actually the case. Should we trust Leia, since the movie portrayed her as being much more powerful than meets the eye, or should we trust Kylo’s subjective experience of himself as being fully and completely the master of his own fate? I go for the latter. If anyone’s going to be prone to blind belief, it’s a mom who doesn’t want to admit that she’s lost her son to her enemies. And I see no compelling evidence that he is a person who’s easily manipulated, emotionally or otherwise, which is a big strike against F. If you see such evidence, please present it.

The most revealing aspect of Kylo’s development was found in the conflicting and exaggerated accounts about what happened with Luke that led to the destruction of the Jedi academy. If you grow up being fed a constant diet of legends about galactic warfare from the Alliance, you’re naturally going to think of the Jedi as the good guys and the Empire as the bad guys (as we, the audience, are supposed to). However, if you’re Ben Solo, you don’t experience the Jedi as good guys, at all. He was “abandoned” by parents who were too busy/neglectful/high-minded to properly care for him and he was “abandoned” by a supposedly saintly mentor/uncle who wanted to kill him (even if the urge was fleeting). Additionally, Jedi training is essentially martial arts training in that you’re not supposed to use it violently unless you absolutely have to, which leaves the Jedi looking like total wusses much of the time, politically, always leading from behind and allowing evil to get a foothold over and over again.

Therefore, my theory is that Kylo turned, completely willingly, because he saw nothing but pathetic posturing and hypocrisy around him. It was an extremely deep cynicism (the belief that “good”, “love”, “happiness”, or anything that makes humans noble, don’t really exist) that allowed him to fully embrace his own darkness to very powerful effect - no manipulation necessary. This wouldn’t work with Fi-Te but fits with Ti-Fe. I postulate that his conception of morality was extremely reductive and childish. Essentially, “good guys should be totally free of bad”, so any whiff of anyone feeling conflicted or making dumb choices and they no longer get the privilege of being labeled as a “good” person. Accordingly, any hint of conflict in himself cements the fact that he is bad, irredeemably bad, because he’s full of conflict. 

But I argue that the reason he’s full of conflict is not because he’s bad or a Feeler, it’s because the way he was being taught was not well-suited to his personality at all, in fact, it was quite damaging to him, which pushed him into skepticism and alienation. Here’s the blank I’m filling in: Luke is Fi dom. Fi and Ti do not communicate easily. Being forced or shamed into being good with no proper reasoning process by Fs tends to really aggravate inferior Fe grip problems in young Ti doms (it’s a common relationship dynamic). Fi doms construct beliefs from their feelings and it’s easy for them to expect that everyone should feel-believe the same. How is a person supposed to react when you keep telling them to Fi everything but they simply can’t or have no idea what the fuck you’re talking about? External manipulation or not, I speculate that Kylo was already in a deep state of doubt about whether he was in the right place. Luke’s intense fear and disgust in that fateful moment only confirmed Kylo’s suspicions that he didn’t belong there, and that Luke was no “good” guy. 

Seeing oneself as irredeemably bad is a big blow to the ego, so one must engage in self-defense. The fact that turning dark allowed him to realize the full potential of his force capabilities, to him, meant that the Jedi were completely wrong in their conception of what is “good”. Therefore, he doesn’t consider himself to be bad per se, rather, he believes that he has discovered the truth about what it means to be great - being great via T is better than being good via F. He was trying to discover his true self through dominant Ti, perfectly normal part of development, but he chose the wrong path, because it was a reactionary decision that was merely rebelling against all the people who were trying to force him into being F. This poor choice meant that he had to keep trying to sever his connection to everything good in himself = disowning F. In his mind, the Jedi were stupid, weak, and deluding themselves all along, but he knows what’s up, and that granted him a high degree of confidence in his decisions. He saw himself as the real deal because he was smart enough and strong enough to be brutally honest about what he is. In essence, he’s no faker, and that makes him superior. These mental gymnastics happen with Ti, not Fi. 

When Fi doms (even just start to) see themselves as bad, it ruins them and renders them impotent and dysfunctional (see previous post about Zuko from Avatar: The Last Airbender as a great example). Yet I see no compelling evidence that Kylo’s identity, feelings, or conflicts held him back, rather, they only served to fuel his rise. Despite appearances, he didn’t lust for power and validation like Te loop/grip, rather, he was only interested in self-mastery, and was willing to do whatever it took to achieve it, because he had no other ideal outside of himself to believe in. Nothing could really stop him unless he decided to stop. When he was frustrated, he would let it out in a quick burst, and then continued on as though it never happened (Fe). He was actually very disciplined in growing his abilities by setting consistent and logical challenges for himself to overcome (Ti), and he always succeeded in achieving his goals and reaching whatever potential he had envisioned for himself (Ne). Furthermore, someone who is very “defensive of their identity” wouldn’t be able to change themselves on a dime, as he did at the end. When faced with the right counter-evidence, he did a whiplash 180 without hemming or hawing or performative self-flagellation or whining about “losing myself”, etc. Would that be possible for Fi-Te?

Rey

Is she introverted? She is unapologetically assertive, she gets involved even when it doesn’t/shouldn’t involve her, she never balks at interacting with people/objects, she always faces situations immediately, she has trouble holding her tongue, she has difficulty introspecting (as evidenced from Luke’s training sessions), and most importantly, she exhibits no sign of needing a lot of down time to recharge. I’ve never known an introvert like that, let alone an ISFP, as they often dwell in their feelings away from the world and dislike taking on too much responsibility due to inferior Te. If she’s introverted, provide me with evidence, since I seem to have missed it.

I don’t think that there’s any evidence of N. She’s resourceful to a certain extent, but she seems to rely very heavily on other people to generate positive ideas and possibilities for reassurance, because she starts to panic when thinking on her own about “what could happen” (low Ne). She doesn’t easily come to intuitive insights about anything, let alone the future (no Ni). One scene in particular made me LOL. Luke was training her and asked her to close her eyes to meditate. He instructed her to “reach out” (to feel the energy of the force), and she extended her hand out physically into the air. That is the exemplar of being too literal. Furthermore, she spent how many freakin’ years following the same set routine day after day, in the same crap dump of a town, waiting obediently for her parents to pick her up? That’s the exemplar of Si discipline. Would SPs be capable of that patience or living in the dreary past for so long? 

I agree that she is primarily motivated by her feelings when making judgments and decisions, which means F. She had to fend for herself since childhood, so her skills are unsurprising. Yet she irrationally lacks self-confidence despite the fact that she’s proven over and over again to be quite scrappy and capable, and people even tell her as much all the time - this is likely to indicate an inferior T insecurity. She has great difficulty (i.e. is unconsciously resistant to) probing around within herself, which is common for inferior Ti in not wanting to feel one’s own darkness. The fact that introspection results in her discovering that her deepest, darkest fear is being completely and utterly “alone” as a “nothing” in “nothingness” is very compelling evidence for inferior Ti.

If inferior Ti, then dominant Fe is a must. I see lots of evidence. She is inexplicably able to communicate with anyone, of any species of bot or animal, with effortless empathic understanding? Her first stance is to give people the benefit of the doubt, no matter how strange or wayward they seem. She has a very naive trust in the goodness of people despite dealing with crooks all the time. She takes it upon herself to bring out the good in people whenever she is in a position to. I don’t think she’s always sure of her feelings (Fi-Ni), rather, she’s always sure that there is goodness to be found if one only looks hard enough (Fe-Ne). A lot of people have strong moral feelings and values, so I’m a bit tired of the lazy stereotype that Fi doms have the monopoly on morality. If you’re going to reference a person’s morality, go deeper to see what exactly it is they believe, how they came to those beliefs, and how they express those beliefs in detail, as that would be more revealing of their functions.

For such a goody-goody-two-shoes, her response to Kylo wasn’t the judgmental disgust that Luke barfed up (Fi-Te) but rather a scary desire to figure him out (Fe-Ti). She seemed quite UNcertain about her personal feelings about him (not Fi), which made their relationship one-sided for quite some time, as she struggled with the push-pull dynamic. ESFJs are often attracted to “dark and mysterious” people due to the unconscious yearnings of inferior Ti, even when Si-Ne warns them that these people are bad news. And it doesn’t get more mysterious than some powerful dude dressed in black donning a mask that shows up in random visions. When avoiding him was no longer possible, she made an admirable effort to dive deeper into his perspective, even when she rightfully feared losing herself in the process. She felt compelled to “get both sides of the story” in typical diplomat fashion before deciding what to do, in hopes of “fixing” Kylo through repairing his relationship with Luke.

Although there seemed to be constant teasing about the possibility of Rey turning dark, I never really saw any possibility. She gave no major indication of being afraid of turning, and it seemed that she never lost touch with her strong desire to be good. She only ever indicated a fear of failing to perform her duty capably (Si) and of failing all the people who were relying upon her powers to succeed (Fe). Discovering her true lineage didn’t really shake her because her parents were good in spite of their bloodline, so there was already an “exception to the rule” for her to follow and emulate. Turning dark would sever and betray her emotional connection to her parents - totally out of the question.

As far as I can tell, the only reason she survived her horrible childhood relatively unscathed was because she held on to the belief that her parents loved her enough to come back, i.e., emotional connection to others is her lifeline. I don’t think it’s an accident that, in her moment of greatest need, it was the connection to past Jedi and their encouragement that saved her butt. She was existentially SHOOK when Kylo claimed that her parents were horrible and abandoned her. And she was only able to find her footing again by inserting herself (i.e. “belonging” to) the Skywalker clan, essentially by being the model of a kid that Ben should’ve been. What self-respecting ISFP would be happy latching on to someone else’s mom, riding someone else’s coattails, and literally defining their identity through someone else’s name and legacy? 

I’ve heard some people critique Rey as a flat mary sue character, and I see where they’re coming from. But which type is most likely to resemble a mary sue at first glance? She is supposed to be the hero in a fairy tale after all, so one would expect her flawedness to be minimized.

Relationship Dynamics

In the final movie, the audience is bludgeoned over and over again with the claim that Kylo and Rey are meant to be a dyad. This all but guarantees that they will be exact functional opposites, otherwise, there would be no strong sense of complementary forces pulling them together into one perfectly harmonized and united front. Although the chemistry between them wasn’t properly developed IMO, I think I saw on paper what was meant to be happening in terms of the writer’s intentions.

Luke was unsuited to helping either of them with questions of identity and morality because, being Fi dom, he took these things for granted, presumptive, already settled non-issues, which amounts to him being closed to any real questioning and discussion. As a result of lacking good guidance, what drew Kylo and Rey together was an underlying need to help each other make sense of themselves, with the unconscious suspicion that the other person held the missing piece of the puzzle. 

Rey was only able to reach her potential by confronting the full extent of her own darkness within (inferior Ti), which was what Kylo forced her to do in incremental steps, as he kept nudging her to question her fundamental beliefs about who she is and what she stands for, presumably in the same way that he had done for himself. But it’s not as easy to twist someone’s sense of morality when F is at the top and healthy versus the bottom of the stack. By making it through his gauntlet of tests and critiques and facing down her fears, she was able to develop into a stronger and more self-assured person to eventually achieve inferior Ti closure. Don’t forget how her eyes would light up when hearing stories of Jedi masters and their achievements. It is mainly EJs who run headfirst toward responsibility rather than away from it. We see, in the end, a picture of Rey as a beaming, confident, and self-possessed person who feels like the world is her oyster, fully inhabiting her role in the hero story that she had always wished to be a part of. The audience is meant to believe that she’s the rightful heir when she finally believes in herself.

By questioning Rey’s identity, Kylo eventually had to question his own as well, since he was the one who wanted to believe that they shared a similar path to feeling lost. Kylo is stuck in adolescent cynicism as explained above, with Si loop resentment from the past preventing him from seeing other, better possibilities for himself. Late in the trilogy, I see in his face that he’s probably suffering from the sunk cost fallacy of thinking that he is past the point of no return. Perhaps he believes that he has no choice but to resign himself to the fate he has chosen (parallel to Vader) since Ti doms strongly believe in personal responsibility. He’s not wrong. If he wasn’t irredeemable at first, he certainly was after the profound destruction he had wrought. Ti doms are rarely wrong as their logic is usually impeccable, but they tend to lack perspective. E.g. He’s not wrong in believing that people are hypocritical because they really are (Ti factual judgment is spot on), but then he defines his terms too narrowly in dismissing all people as unworthy of being called “good” (Fe value judgment is very immature).

What finally broke the mental confinement of Si loop? IMO, three contributing factors: 1) He started to suffer the same skepticism about the dark side as he had with the Jedi, since Ti promotes impartial judgment, which opened him up somewhat to questioning his choices. INTPs deeply dislike sheep mentality and blind ideology, so being constantly asked to prove his “allegiance” and quietly “submit” all the time by his superiors only served to reveal their flawed mentality in the same vein as Luke, which gave him the logical justification he needed for eliminating one boss after another. 2) He was drawn deeper and deeper into Rey’s psychology, which backfired on him, because it proved to him, again and again, every which way, that goodness is indeed possible, as Rey easily aced every temptation and challenge that he was able to fling at her. For NPs(Ne), believing in possibility can’t help but create a strong desire to actualize it. 3) Leia intervened with what I’m assuming was one last-ditch attempt to communicate how much she truly loves him despite what he’s become, which perhaps served to expand his thinking about what it means to love. 

In the end, he redeemed himself on his own terms (even if he was not fully redeemed for the audience). As a result, he discovered something resembling happiness in his last moments of connection with Rey. You can’t tell a Ti dom to be good “just because”, or take goodness as default without question, or present a fake and idealized image of goodness for them to live up to, because that will never satisfy Ti. At the same time, morality cannot remain an abstract concept or else it is very easy to twist upside down. Goodness must be deeply FELT in order to be a motivating force, and he, at long last, felt goodness in his bones, through his decision to place the greater good above himself - inferior F often means arriving very late to the feeling party. He finally caught a glimpse of what he could be and should be through Rey’s, and possibly his mother’s, eyes, which allowed for inferior Fe closure. He had always gotten by okay without love and only believing and trusting in himself, but he realized that he was far better off for opening himself up to something more. 

That’s my take anyway. Or perhaps that’s what I needed to see to make the story more interesting for myself, lol.

#star wars #rey #kylo ren #fiction #fictional depictions #esfj #intp #ask

[midnightartemis]

Invisible Stars: Chapter One

Chapters: 28/? Fandom: Star Wars Sequel Trilogy Rating: Explicit Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Underage Relationships: Kylo Ren/Rey, Rey/Ben Solo | Kylo Ren, Rey/Ben Solo, Finn/Rose Tico, Poe Dameron/Rey, Poe Dameron/Finn, Poe Dameron/Ben Solo | Kylo Ren Characters: Rey (Star Wars), Ben Solo | Kylo Ren, Ben Solo, Finn (Star Wars), Poe Dameron, Rose Tico, Leia Organa, Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, Maz Kanata, Larma D'Acy, Amilyn Holdo, Snoke (Star Wars), Boba Fett, Bossk (Star Wars), Armitage Hux, Chewbacca (Star Wars), Arashell Sar Additional Tags: Mentions of Suicide, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Abuse, Drug Use, Suicide Attempt, Star-crossed, Dreams, Alternate Universe - High School, High School, School Dances, Angst, Angst and Hurt/Comfort, Teen Angst, Foster Care, Forbidden Love, Implied/Referenced Character Death, Near Death Experiences, Multiverse, Reincarnation, Attempted Sexual Assault, Assault, Graphic Description, teenage romance, Teenage Drama, Horny Teenagers, Fluff and Smut, Angst with a Happy Ending

Chapter One

The call came suddenly like it always did. A new home. A new foster parent. A new school. At least this time I would be starting right at the beginning of the year. That was easier. I could work with that. I only hoped that this one would last.

I had my small bag of things packed within five minutes and I sat waiting anxiously on the edge of my government-issued co-housing bed. I wondered what shitty luck the universe had decided to drop on me this time.

It wasn’t that I was a bad kid. I tried to keep my head low, my grades high… it’s just that I usually got the short stick when it came to foster parents. The bad eggs. The abusers who somehow slipped through the cracks of the shitshow that is the United States child protective services.

It had become some sort of sick game for me. I move into a new home and it’s okay for a few days, weeks even. Then the abuse would start and I would start gathering evidence. When I had enough I’d wait until a particularly bad day to call the cops, drop the evidence, and get their licenses revoked.

I was a survivor. I could take the punches, the days without food, the yelling, and everything in between, but others couldn’t.

I check my watch and grab my bag. Time to go. My caseworker and house mom are waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs. My caseworker is a tall, skinny woman with white-blond hair and a kind face. She tried her best, she really did. It wasn’t her fault I always found the worst homes. My house mom, known affectionately as Aunt Z, was much the opposite, short, large, and with a permanent scowl on her face. I also couldn’t blame her for that. She had to deal with all the girls who came through. I had only known her for two months, but that was long enough to know that she had a big heart. My heart hurts a little at the thought of leaving her, but I had very little control over where they sent me. Miss Holdo, my caseworker, breaks into a huge grin at the sight of me. “Miss Niima! All ready to go?”

I nod. It wasn’t like I had much of a choice.

“Girls,” Aunt Z barks. “Get in here and say goodbye to Rey.”

I bite my lip. I didn’t want a big send-off. I hardly knew most of the girl’s names. I only ever talked to most of them at group therapy sessions. It was better to not get attached. One by one, they trailed in. There were six of us in total. Most of them mumbled a goodbye and slunk back out of the room, but Ara raced up to hug me with tears in her eyes. She was the youngest of the group and had grown attached to me over the course of the summer. I hugged her back.

“It’s okay. I’ll make sure to text you and visit if I can.” She sniffled back her tears and I ruffled her red hair.

“Alright, time's a-wastin. On with you.” Aunt Z grumbled but affectionately patted my shoulder. It was her version of a hug.

Miss Holdo smiled and I followed her out the door, chatting as we walked to the car. “I think I found a good one, Rey.” Her eyes were a little guilty. “We’ve had really good success with her in the past. She only takes cases like yours and as soon as she saw your profile, she called me to ask about you.”

Great. I tried to hold back that flicker of hope in my subconscious. I had gotten my hopes up before and, yet, here I was again. I got in the passenger seat of Miss Holdo’s car and immediately took a piece of gum from the container on her dashboard. She started the car and I buckled up. She handed me the AUX cord as she always did.

I plugged the cord into my beat-up iPhone and started scrolling through my songs. Hozier sounded good. “Where are we headed?”

“Not far, just an hour. Republic.”

Republic. I had never been. New school. New people. New everything, then. Okay. “And this foster mom?”

“Unmarried. A bit older, in her fifties. She seemed very nice and very interested in you. She runs a tavern on the northeast side of town by the river.”

I frown. “Is she going to make me work there?”

“No. She told me that she likes to keep her work separate from her home life, especially when there is alcohol involved. She let me check her cupboards. There’s not a drop of alcohol in that house, Rey.”

I breathe a sigh of relief. “Okay.”

“I did a super thorough inspection. Even called her previous cases. They all stayed with her until they came of age. I really think this could be a good fit for you, Rey.”

In other words- don’t fuck it up. All I wanted was to put my head down and get through junior year in peace. “If you say so.”

We drive in silence. I look out the window watching the town of Jakku, Vermont slide away into the past. Holdo is bobbling along to the music and I close my eyes, soaking it in.

It’s late afternoon when Republic appears in front of us. Worn down houses and trailer parks line the streets of the southside. There are sketchy gas stations and abandoned storefronts. People sit on their porches and stand on corners, their eyes watching Holdo’s sleek black car as we drive past. I’m waiting for her to put her blinker on and turn off the main road towards one of the broken-down houses or parks, but she keeps going. The cracked sidewalks get a little nicer, the storefronts, less abandoned. We pass through two stoplights and then we’re crossing over a river and a trainyard. This side of the river, the houses are nicer, many of them newly renovated. We pass through a downtown shopping area filled with little boutiques, an ice cream shop, an old fashioned movie theater, a coffee shop. It’s quaint, perfect. “I think you missed your turn.”

Miss Holdo laughs. “Nope.”

Shit. Well, okay. I’d dealt with rich fosters before. It didn’t end well for them. Let’s just say that the dad was a little too hands-on. The anxiety is back in my chest. I worry my lip between my teeth. The downtown area slowly morphs into old historic houses and residential housing.

“I want to show you your new school first.” She seems much too excited. We keep driving until the historic houses have turned into rows of newer developments and gated communities. She takes a turn and we pull into the parking lot of a huge tan building. New Republic High School is marked on the side in large silver block letters. The front is filled with huge windows and the inside looks incredibly new and clean with white walls and wide stairs and solid oak doors leading to classrooms and offices.

I raise my eyebrows and Miss Holdo chuckles at my shocked look. “I know. It’s huge. Some of the best teachers in the state work here. They were very impressed with your transcripts, especially with everything you’ve been through. They still want you to take some placement tests, but they’re excited to have you.”

“Oh, okay.” I think I’m in shock, just a little bit. It all seemed too good to be true. Everything was completely different from the shitty schools in Jakku.

“Oh, shoot. We better go, I don’t want you to be late to meet her.” Holdo sped us out of the parking lot and back towards town. We pass by the new developments and into the historic district. We turn down a tree-lined road filled with huge Victorian, Colonial, and 1920s style houses. Everything seems picturesque, each lawn trimmed and cared for, the vines perfectly placed. Holdo slows and we pull up in front of a tiny 1920s bungalow. I breathe a little sigh of relief that it’s not one of the giant houses that flank either side. There’s a huge, old oak tree out front, a little brick path leads to the steps of the porch. There’s a light on. A white swinging bench is hung from the porch roof. The siding is painted almost a teal, seafoam green-blue with white trim. Flowers line the house and there’s a seashell wind chime hanging from the porch. My nerves make my stomach twist.

Holdo turns off the car and we get out. She grabs her bag of paperwork and we start up the path. I’m holding my breath as we climb the stairs of the porch and Miss Holdo knocks on the door.

“Oh! One second, one second! I’m here.” The door swings open and I look down at the smallest woman I think I’ve ever seen. She can’t be more than four-six, four-seven. I tower over her at five-eight. Her eyes are huge behind her round, black, thick-framed glasses. Her grey hair is coiffed perfectly and she’s dressed like she’s been working in the garden all day. I smile. She opens her screen door and beckons us in. “Come in, please. I hope you’re hungry. I made burgers on the grill. It’s such a nice day out and I couldn’t resist. Oh, where are my manners? You must be Rey. I’m Maz. Maz Kanata. I would prefer Maz over Mrs. Kanata, but,” she clicks her tongue. “I’ll also take ma.”

I’m completely overwhelmed. I glance at Miss Holdo and she shrugs. The door opens straight into the living room which is filled with an eclectic assortment of chairs and a couch. Art hangs on almost every surface and there’s a small TV over the fireplace. It’s warm and inviting if a bit chaotic. A set of stairs leads up to a second floor. We follow Maz through the living room and into a large kitchen. Everything seems like it was pulled out of a vintage magazine and cobbled together with love and color. There’s theory to the chaos. An archway leads to a dining room with a huge colorful table and none of the chairs match. A door in the kitchen leads to another porch outside. This one isn’t covered, but it overlooks the backyard. I can’t help but gasp at it. Stone paths circle raised garden beds. There are a hoop house and a pond and a bench beside a huge fir tree surrounded by flowerbeds. It’s beautiful. What the hell is happening?

There’s a table on the porch beside a grill and it’s been set for three. Maz hurries over. She’s awfully fast for an old woman. “Sit, sit. Please. I wasn’t sure if either of you were vegetarians, so I made some bean burgers that can make even a carnivore cry.”

I smile and take a seat. Shock. Yep. Definitely in shock. What’s the catch? Maz builds our burgers and piles our plates high with chips and fresh fruits and vegetables. She pours us a glass of lemonade each and finally, takes a seat. I hesitate, looking between Holdo and Maz, unsure of the protocol. Everyone was different. Maz's huge eyes glance at my plate. “Well, eat up, hun. You’re as skinny as a stick.”

I eagerly dig in and moan. It’s so good. “This is the best burger I’ve ever had.”

“Good. I’ll teach you how to make them. Now, business is best discussed over a good meal, let’s get on with all the legal mumbo-jumbo.” Maz winks at me and I giggle to myself. She was definitely different, like no foster I’d met before.

“Right.” Miss Holdo wipes her fingers on a napkin and pulls out my case file. It was far too thick and I glance at Maz, but she didn't seem fazed. Right. She would have seen it. “Miss Niima is to remain in your care for the foreseeable future. She will be taking classes at New Republic High, as we discussed. We will have weekly check-ins in person for the first two months. And if all parties are comfortable after those two months, we will move to bi-monthly check-ins until Miss Niima turns of age on October 13th, 2021, one year and two months from now. Miss Niima will also continue to go to group therapy sessions once a week with the local therapist. I believe you’ve already contacted him and gotten an introduction session set up?”

“Oh, yes.” Maz pulls a card out of her pocket. “Here’s the number and the date and time of the appointment.” She looks at me. “Wednesday afternoon, once you get out of school. But, we can schedule around any after school activities you want to take on.”

“After school activities?” My jaw drops. I’d never been given the opportunity.

“Oh yes, they have a billion different little groups and teams there. I’m sure you’ll find something.”

“Okay.” Holdo grins. “All I need for you to do is sign and Rey is in your care.”

I sign and then Maz signs. It didn’t take a lot for me to sign my life away. It was signed away a long time ago. This wouldn’t last, it never did.

“Now.” Maz folds her hands together. “I like to set down my expectations for you in front of your caseworker so that we can all be on the same page. If that’s okay?”

Again, not like I have much of a choice. I nod, curious to know. “Yeah. Yes.”

“School comes first. You can get a job if you want to, but you have to keep up your grades. Judging by your past transcripts though, that won’t be much of a problem, but I know that junior year comes with a lot of stress. I will make sure that you are safe, fed, and clothed. It’s up to you how you want to take my hospitality. I’ll hold you responsible for your actions, and breaking rules will have consequences. All the rules are posted on the fridge and you are welcome to discuss them with me at any time if you would like to amend them or add more. Okay?”

I nod.

“School night curfew is 10 pm. For every time you’re more than five minutes late, that curfew will be moved up by fifteen minutes. Weekends, we will start at 11 pm and go from there. There’s also a list of chores you’ll have to complete. They’re designed to help you become a self-sufficient adult. So, you’ll do your own laundry and clean your own room and dishes. You’ll also help me cook and work in the garden on the weekends. But,” Maz’s large eyes go very serious, and I still myself for the catch. “Above all, I want you to build relationships and trust. Trust goes both ways, Rey. You have mine, right now. From the start. If and when you have problems, I want you to be able to come to me. I will never call anyone on you as long as there’s no immediate harm to anyone. I’m on your side. And, I’m here for the long term. That means we work through our problems, together, okay?”

That was not the catch I was expecting. My heart is racing and I feel like I’m about to cry. It’s too good to be true. I guess I would believe her when I see it. “I- yeah… Okay.”

Maz smiles. “Good. School starts in the morning. I’ll be starting you off on a twenty-five dollar allowance. It should be enough for snacks at school and coffee with friends. If there are any other supplies you want, talk to me and I’ll see if I can get them for you. How’s that sound?”

“Okay. Twenty-five a month is more than I usually get, so-”

Maz chuckles. “No, sweetie. Twenty-five a week.”

My eyes go wide. “Oh.”

“I’ll be taking you to school and picking you up, but if you want to start learning to drive, I can make that happen. This is going to take a lot of communication, Rey. Probably a lot more than you’re comfortable with. But you can ask me any questions you want, okay?”

I nod, feeling overwhelmed.

“How are you feeling, Rey?” Miss Holdo looks over at me, a gleam in her eye.

“Ah… A little overwhelmed. I guess.”

“That’s perfectly normal. Should I let you get settled in?”

“Yeah.” I glance at Maz and she’s happily biting into her burger. She’s strange, but… I think I like her.

“You have my number, so don’t be afraid to call. I’ll see you Saturday morning at ten, okay?” Miss Holdo stands to leave and grabs her paperwork. “Thank you for the dinner, Maz.”

“Any time, hun. You should call more.” Maz raises her eyebrows.

“Sorry, Maz. I will. I promise.” Miss Holdo gives Maz a small hug and I’m left bewildered.

Maz sees my face and chuckles. “Long before she was your social worker, Rey, Amilyn was causing quite a bit of trouble for me.”

I suddenly understand Holdo’s certainty that I would be a good fit here. “You were in the system?”

Holdo nods. “Almost didn’t get out of it, if it wasn’t for Maz. She’s a good one, Rey. I promise. Just keep that nose out of trouble.”

“I don’t go looking for it,” I grumble. Holdo smiles and bids her goodbye. Maz gives a big old sigh and starts gathering plates. I automatically grab my plates and follow her into the kitchen.

“Just put the scraps in the compost bin and set your things on the counter. I’ll take care of it tonight. The rules are on the fridge if you want to read them over and sign them. We can discuss any of them that you want to.” Maz steps up on to a stool so that she can reach into the sink and starts running water for dishes.

I shyly make my way over to the fridge and read the list. It’s what she basically already told me plus a few extra notes about cleanliness and food. Anything not marked in the fridge is fair game. Shower regularly. Add necessities to the shopping list before Friday. All of it was already more room than I had ever been given in most households, that is beside the ones that didn’t give a shit. The last bullet just says- Respect is built. Love is given freely. Responsibility is learned. Trust goes both ways. Beside the rule list is a whiteboard daily chore chart. Weeding the garden is marked for Saturday and Sunday (subject to weather). Clean dishes and homework are marked every day. Sweep is marked every other day. Laundry and clean room are unmarked. The date of school starting and my therapy appointment is marked in red on a calendar. Despite the eclectic feel of her house, Maz seems incredibly organized. I pick up one of the markers stuck to the fridge and sign the rule list. I date it.

“All good?” Maz is waiting for me at the entrance to the living room. I nod and she gestures for me to follow her. I climb the stairs behind her and we end in a hallway. There’s a door in front of us, and another to my left and right. Maz gestures to the door in front of her. “My room. You need anything at any time and I’m in there you can knock .” She points to the door on my right. “That’s the office. There’s a computer in there that you can use to research, watch your Youtube videos. Though I think they give out laptops at that school now. I don’t know, I’m not the most technologically up today as the kids these days. I apologize in advance. There’s no cable and I can’t figure out the Apple TV doo-dangle-thing.” She points to a half-open door on the right side of the hall. “That’s your bathroom. I never go in there so, you’re responsible for telling me when shit breaks. I went out and got you some supplies, but if there’s anything else you need, let me know. Now…” Maz opens the final door on my left and flips on a light. She leads me into a simple room, painted cream and blue stripes. There’s a twin bed covered in a white comforter pressed against the wall, a wooden desk under the window, a dresser against the wall with a record player and a box of records, and an open door to a walk-in closet that looks like it’s filled with clothes. I can’t help but stop and stare.

“This is mine?” I set my one bag down at my feet.

“All yours, hun. You can arrange it and paint it how you want. Most of this stuff is leftover from previous girls. You can have whatever you want and anything else, I can put in storage. I think Jyn left a lot of her old clothes and you’re about her size.” Maz looked over the room. “Tomorrow, if you want, we can go shopping for any clothes you might need. Underwear. Bras. Whatever. Oh, and this is for you, for your first day.”

Maz picked a plain blue backpack up off the bed and handed it to me. I took it hesitantly and unzipped it. It was filled with notebooks and pens and pencils and even a calculator. Tears sting at my eyes. It’s too good. It’s too good to be true.

“Oh, hun. Can I give you a hug?”

I nod and her surprisingly strong arms wrap around me. I break and tears fall and I’m sobbing now. I didn’t deserve this. I didn’t deserve any of this.

#reylo #kylo x rey #ben solo x rey #reylo fanfic #highschoolau

[desiraypark]

When the Sun Sleeps in Canto Bight [8]

Previous Entire Series CHAPTER PLAYERS Kylo Ren, Leader of the Knights of Ren Ruby Girard Solo, The Beautiful Singer and Wife of Kylo Ren CHAPTER CONTENT Fluff and romance quickly turns to angst and annoyance. Mild sexism TW. Also, Kylo may have a newfound breast-related kink lol

Kylo and Ruby have been married for just over a year. They live in a stunning four-bedroom home in the vibrant heart of Canto Bight. Word Count: 1,780

Before Kylo stepped inside, the scent of Ruby’s cooking hit him in the nose and the sounds of jazz hit his ears. He walked inside and closed the door behind him, excited to see what was waiting. Ruby was in the dining room putting down plates of a pork chops, mashed potatoes, and green beans on the table with glasses of ginger ale. He leaned in the archway. “You tryin’ to get me to stay home tonight?” he asked. Ruby shrugged and walked to him.

“Maybe,” she said. She gave him a kiss on the lips, and they took their seats. Kylo went straight for his pork chop. “How was your day?” he asked. 

“We recorded four songs today. I provided vocals for all of them. It was so much fun, baby.” Kylo nodded and took a sip of his ginger ale. “We’re going to introduce one of them at the Galaxy.” “That’s great, Babydoll.” Ruby knew that Kylo wasn’t going to detail his day with her, but she always asked anyway. “And what about you? How was your day?” He shrugged a shoulder. “It was alright. Usual shit.” She nodded and let the clink of their silverware fill the silence. Then, she dabbed her mouth with a napkin and smiled. 

“I did a little shopping before I came home.” Kylo met her smile with his own. “Oh, yeah?” Kylo always encouraged her to spend his money up. And she did occasionally, only to buy stupid shit like appliances and cookware. For once, he wanted her to shimmy down their steps in a fur or some diamond rings. He always had to be the one to get those things for her, but he didn’t mind it. And neither did she, for that matter. It’s not that she didn’t like looking nice--quite the opposite--but why get a three-hundred credit coat, when you could get one nice coat, a waffle iron, and a nice radio from the Nears catalog for just over a hundred credits?! “What’d you get?” he asked. Ruby got up and disappeared into the kitchen. Then, she returned with a little bag and placed it in front of  him. She beamed as she rested her hip against the dining table. “What is this, a pair of measuring spoons or somethin’?” he asked, moving the wrapping paper around.  “Just open it, Kylo,” Ruby said with an eye roll. Kylo pulled out the smallest pair of shoes he’d ever seen in his life. Both shoes fit in just want one of his hands. He looked up at Ruby, then down at her belly. It protruded only a little. Then, he put the shoes down, pivoted to face her and pulled her down to his lap. Ruby giggled on her way down. “This ain’t no joke, is it?” he asked--eyes almost pleading. Ruby took his face in her hands. “No, it ain’t no joke.” He looked at the shoes and picked them up by the openings with his middle and index finger. “I’ll be damned.” He looked up at her again. 

“I’m gonna be somebody’s Pop?”

Ruby laughed and nodded. “Yes, Kylo. You’re about to be somebody’s Pop.” She pushed her forehead against his, and he held her jaw, pulling her in for a kiss.  “I’m losin’ my fuckin’ mind,” he said. Finally, he let out the heartiest laugh that ever fell upon Ruby’s ears. He pulled her close and kissed her once more, passing ever ounce of passion he had to her. And she received every bit of it.  “Bedroom,” she mumbled.  Kylo pushed the chair back and carried her through the dining room, and into the living room. He placed her on the couch. “I ain’t waitin’ that long.”  They tore at each other’s clothes until they were both naked.

_____________________

LATER

Eventually, Kylo and Ruby finished up their cold dinner and bathed together. She ironed some fresh clothes for him--just a pair of pants and a shirt. Then, he’d leave her for a night of overseeing business at The Garden Lounge. “You sure you don’t wanna come, Babydoll?” He stepped into his warm pants. “I’m sure, Sweetie. I’m a little tired now,” she said, running the hot metal against his shirt. “Gosh, honey,” Ruby said, her mind having drifted away. “Everything is gonna happen so fast. I still haven’t talked to Finn and Poe. I’m not going to be able to perform for months.” “Months?” Kylo asked. He sat on the bed beside his jacket, undershirt, and socks. He grabbed the latter and slipped them over his feet. “Yeah. When I start to show, and then for a little while after the baby is born...”

She lifted Kylo’s shirt and looked it over.  Kylo grabbed his undershirt and pulled it over his head. “You’re still gonna work after the baby’s born?” Ruby looked around the shirt at him. “Well, yeah, honey. Work doesn’t have to stop because we have a child.” She walked over to him and handed him the shirt.

“I just assumed that...”

She went to unplug the iron. “Assumed what?”  She put the iron on her dresser and closed the ironing board.  “I assumed you’d want to slow down on that life when we started havin’ kids,” he said, working on his shirt’s bottom button.  “I don’t know why you made that assumption...” Ruby carried the ironing board out of the room and to their linen closet. Kylo drew in a deep breath, and released it.  “I just think it’s better for a child if their mama is present. Wouldn’t you agree?” he asked. Ruby walked back toward the bedroom--her footsteps heavier than they were when she left. She stood in the doorway. “What makes you think I won’t be present? Both my parents worked and both of them were present, too.” Kylo buttoned the last button on his shirt. 

“But you went to work with your mom,” he said. “You were always with her. At least, that’s what you told me. You can’t take a kid to a saloon.”

He reached down and grabbed the shiny black shoes that sat inches away from his feet.  “Well, neither one of us can. But somehow you’ve decided that I’d be the only one taking our child anywhere...” Ruby said. She walked into the room and stopped to face him. “Besides, we have friends and family. I mean, Leia and Han are both dying to get their hands on some grandchildren. My parents, too...” “Leia and Han are dying to fix their fucking mistakes with grandchildren,” Kylo corrected.  Ruby shook her head and marched to her dresser. 

“Either way, Kylo. I’m not about to give up my career.” She began to wrap the cord of the iron. “And it sounds like you’re expecting me to be the only one taking care of our children, and that’s not gonna happen, either.” Kylo looked over his shoulder at her, then back down as he stuffed his foot into his shoe. Ruby continued. “We’re both gonna do the feeding, the changing, the burping--all of that shit.” “I didn’t say I wouldn’t do any of that.” He examined a small scuff mark on the toe of his shoe. “You implied it, though. You said it’s good for a child when their mama is present,” Ruby responded. She grabbed the rubber band she kept specifically for the iron cord and tied it around the bunched strands. 

“I can’t take a child into a saloon. What about you? You work in a saloon. It’s good when a child’s daddy is present, too. But you didn’t say shit about yourself.” She slammed the iron down on the dresser.

Kylo sighed, stood up, and ran his fingers through his hair. “We’ll talk about this later.” “There’s nothing else to talk about,” Ruby said. She carried the iron out of the bedroom. “Enjoy the fucking lounge.”

“Hey, look!” Kylo shouted from the room. “We can fuckin’ talk about this later but don’t start fuckin’ cursin’ at me like I’m some fuckin’ asshole in the street or somethin’.” Ruby flew back into the bedroom. 

“Shut up, Kylo.” She yanked her drawer open and pulled out her silk headscarf. “You curse at me all the fuckin’ time, and now you want to talk about language?”  She slammed the drawer closed and started tying the scarf around her head. “I just fuckin’ curse. I don’t curse at you. So, calm those fuckin’ milk-filled tits of yours down,” Kylo shot back.  Ruby tightened her scarf and glared at Kylo in the mirror. Her face softened and she laughed. Kylo shook his head, and started laughing, too.  “That’s why you were squeezing them so hard, to see if milk would start coming out?!” Ruby asked. Kylo started walking toward her.  “I couldn’t help myself, Doll...” He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her neck.  “That’s weird, Baby,” she said. “I just wanted to see what would happen,” he mumbled into her neck. Then, he ran a circle around her belly with his right hand. Ruby stared at their reflections. “I don’t want my kid to be fucked up like me,” he whispered.  “You’re not fucked up, Kylo,” she said. “And look, Sweetie...” Ruby turned her head to look up at Kylo. He looked down at her. “I know you don’t want to hear this, but can you go easy on your mom, please? She’s really trying to make things right with you.” Kylo averted her gaze and opted to look at their reflection. He added his second hand to her belly, then caught a glimpse of his scar. His eyes quickly fell down to Ruby’s belly; the silk nightgown she was wearing. He noticed the glow. She looked so radiant in his arms. He planted another kiss on her neck. “Get some rest, Babydoll...”  He removed his hands, kissed her cheek, and grabbed his jacket. Then, he walked out of the bedroom, leaving Ruby to look upon her glowing reflection. Glowing, but suddenly singular. Kylo’s scent and the remnants of his touch quickly dissipated from her senses... ____________________ “Hey, Sheev. It’s Kylo...” Kylo held the phone to his ear as Vic sat on the other side of the desk, smoking a cigar. Kuruk sat on the sofa, doing the same.  “Your offer is still on the table, right?” Kylo asked, the handset of his Western Electric suddenly feeling warm to his ear. “Good. I’d like to meet with you to discuss some details...” He rolled his eyes and nodded. “Yeah. I’m glad that you’re glad. But I want to come right out and mention the thing that’s suddenly got my interest. I hear you’ve got dealings with a few of the big recording companies. Any truth to that?” ____________________ TAG LIST @aloneandsleepless​ @tsarinastorm​ If you’d like to be tagged, leave a comment here, or on my official tag request post!

#when the sun sleeps in canto bight

[multi-fandom-trash-heap]

Quick, Kiss Me! Ch. 11 (Ben Solo x OC College AU)

Look, a halfway reasonable update. XD

TW: Mentions drug use and drunk driving causing death, and there’s smut at the end.

I got wine drunk to write the smut. You better like it.

Enjoy.

First Chapter

Previous Chapter | Next Chapter

***

“Ben.” His mother repeated, almost as though she couldn’t quite believe he was in front of her. Given their past Kira suspect that might actually be the case. “You’re home.”

“Yes.” Kira didn’t miss how his voice caught on the end of the word. She stepped off to the side as the mother and son embraced, reunited after so many years. She wanted to let them have their moment in peace. Ben stepped back, eyes a bit more glassy than before. “Mom, I’m so sorry.”

The older woman shook her head. “You’re home, that’s all that matters.” It was only then that she seemed to notice Kira standing a bit awkwardly to the side, rubbing her arm nervously with a small smile on her face. Leia’s eyebrows rose a bit. “Are you going to introduce your guest?” She asked with what sounded like a hint of amusement.

“Oh!” Ben reached out making Kira move closer to him once more. “Mom, this is Kira, Kira my mother Leia.”

“It’s nice to meet you.” Kira said smiling a little more brightly now. 

Ben set his hand on the small of her back and Kira relaxed some. Leia was watching their interactions with heavy interest, and Kira noticed the way she followed Ben’s hand with her gaze. “She’s my girlfriend, mom. I see you trying to piece it together.”

“I had suspected as much, but given everything, I wasn’t sure.” Leia smiled at the young girl. “I’m very pleased to meet you, too. It’s good to see my son is doing well for himself.”

“ Mom. ”

“You vanished for nearly seven years, I’m allowed to worry about your choices.” She chided. “Now then, let’s go inside, shall we? The air is still biting, and Kira doesn’t seem quite prepared for it.”

She was right. Goosebumps had raised up over Kira’s arms and she was shaking slightly. "The sun was warm. I didn't think about night." She admitted, embarrassed. 

Leia just smiled at her. “It happens. Come on.” She motioned her forward, Ben close behind. “Ben take your bags to your room.” Ben looked at her with a raised eyebrow. “Don’t look at me like that. You’re both adults, I’m not oblivious. Now go.” Ben eyes his mother suspiciously before taking his and Kira’s bags and going up the stairs. Kira was then left alone with Leia, and that left her fidgeting once again. “Come with me to the kitchen and we’ll get you warmed.”

Kira gave the woman a small smile and followed her. She accepted the hot tea offered to her gratefully. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, dear.” Maybe she imagined it, but Kira thought she saw Leia’s eyes look her over calculatingly. It happened so quickly she wasn’t sure if it was real. “Now then, how old are you, Kira?”

Kira knew this was coming, had expected it. So she was prepared for the string of questions Leia would ask while Ben was occupied. It had been so long since he was home Kira suspected Leia knew he would get distracted. “Twenty-one.”

“You’re in school?”

“Yes. I go to Corellia like Ben.”

“Major?”

“Still undecided. I’m only a freshman.”

Leia latched onto that fact, and Kira realized she’d been searching for a topic. Smart woman. “You started school late then.”

“Yes. I graduated high school later than expected.” She admitted, now shift in her seat a bit. This was a dangerous line to toe, especially with her boyfriend’s mother.

“I see.” Leia seemed to study her face. “Personal reasons I presume?”

“I had some unexpected obstacles.”  Like rehab. She thought, bitter with herself. “I had to repeat a year because of them. Then I took a gap while I figured out how to pay for college.”

“Your parents didn’t offer help?” It was an innocent question, but one that made Kira bite hard on her lip.

Her voice was a lot less confident when she answered. “I’m an orphan.”

Leia fell silent at that, sorrow crossing her face. “Oh. I’m sorry.”

Kira gave a half-hearted shrug. “You didn’t know.”

Even Leia looked a bit unsure of herself now, and somehow it was almost calming. She realized this very confident woman had her own insecurities as well. “I was trying to gauge your background, as you no doubt realized.” Leia finally said after a period of silence. “Despite his absence, I’m still Ben’s mother, and after everything, I needed to know who he had brought home.” 

Kira had a sinking suspicion she knew where this was going when she caught the woman’s eyes shifting from her face to her arms. Leia seemed to be an incredibly observant woman, she had likely noticed what most people always seemed to miss, Ben included. “You can ask.” Kira sighed out. Kira was watching her worst fear come true. This is not quite the impression she was hoping to give, but it was bound to become known eventually. Might as well get it over with.

Leia waited a moment longer and Kira felt like the silence was suffocating. “The marks on your

 arms…”

“Are track marks.” Kira finished for her, voice barely above a whisper. They weren’t overly obvious and there weren’t many. Most of her marks had healed completely with no lasting damage and fast fading scars. However, there were a few places she used too many times, before she understood the long term effects. Those scars had yet to fade, and given their locations it was easy to tell what they were from when noticed. “I’m clean if that’s what you’re wondering.” She muttered, eyes focusing on the wall behind Leia. Anywhere but the woman’s face. “Have been for three years.”

Kira didn’t know what she was expecting. Maybe it was for Leia to kick her out the front door screaming. To tell her Ben deserved better than someone with her past. That he had enough toxicity in his life without adding her. Any of those made sense in her mind.

What she didn’t expect was for the woman to smile at her. “I can see why he chose you.”

Kira blinked. “W-what?” She couldn’t help but meet the woman’s eyes with a furrowed brow. “You...aren’t mad?”

She shook her head. “Dear child, from everything you just told me all I see is a strong woman who has faced more in her years than she ever should have. I’m happy my son found you. He needs someone he can relate to, who can understand him. As I’m sure you know he has his own past mistakes.”

Kira choked on the tears threatening to come out. “Thank you.” She smiled, a strange feeling forming in her chest, one she hadn’t felt since she was a young child. The feeling of a mother’s acceptance. “So much.”

Leia smiled and then reached over the table to take one of her hands. “If you don’t mind my asking, what happened to your parents?”

Kira swallowed and then glanced at their hands before sighing. “They were hit by a drunk driver when I was six. I was at school. My dad had gone to get my mom from work, and they were on their way to get me. Head-on collision. Everyone involved died.” She found herself gripping Leia’s hand tighter on instinct. “My father’s parents passed before I was born and my mother was estranged. They tried to contact my living grandparents but I’m told they never got a response. I have my suspicions that they did and they just didn’t want me. Both of my parents were only children so I was left alone.”

“You were in the system I presume.” Leia was treading as carefully as possible but trying to get as much info as she could. Kira couldn’t blame her though, and she was somewhat used to the question. “Yes. The first few homes I had were good. Then when I became a teenager I was put with multiple families who were only in it for the money. I became a frequent runaway, and labeled as a troubled child.” She went on to explain what she told Ben. How she met a group with others her age. How they accepted her. The drinking, the smoking, the steps that lead to her using. Then about Rey and Finn and how they saved her and dragged her back from the edge she’d been standing on.

When Kira finished Leia was quiet. Another voice, however, wasn’t. “Have you finished interrogating my girlfriend?”

Kira jumped at the voice, whirling her head to find Ben leaning in the doorway. “How long have you been there?”

“Long enough to see my mother still has her way of making people talk.” He didn’t sound bitter, but he certainly wasn’t happy. 

“Ben…” She pulled back her hand from Leia’s and fully turned to face him. “It’s fine.”

“It’s not. She shouldn’t have put you in that position when she just met you.” His tone was harsher than Kira appreciated, and she made it known.

“ Ben. ” Kira said more sternly. “I can handle myself, and given everything your mother has a right to know.” Kira stared him in the eyes. “You’re her son.”

Ben shut up, looking slightly ashamed now. “I’m sorry.” He said, voice far softer.

“Talk to her about that.” Kira motioned to the table. “How do I get to your room? I need to change.”

Ben glanced from the table to his mother to Kira and back again before relenting with a heavy sigh. “Up the first flight of stairs and to the left. The second door on the left.

Kira nodded and then bid his mother goodnight, thanking her for listening. After that, she left the mother and son to their tense reunion.

It wasn’t hard to find Ben’s room as it was pretty obvious he’d up and left as a teen. There were still band posters on the walls, and the red and black theme was more than enough to tip off his angsty side. She couldn’t help but giggle to herself.

His bathroom was attached, and Kira was beginning to realize just how nice his house was. What did his parents do again? She’d have to ask later. 

She changed into a pair of sweats and a tank top, removed the little makeup she had on, and brushed her teeth. She knew she should wait up for Ben, he would likely want her to, but his bed looked so inviting she couldn’t help but crawl into it. She was exhausted from the car ride in and the conversation she shared with Leia. Soon, her eyes drifted closed and sleep consumed her.

***

She awoke to Ben wrapping his arms around her and pulling her into his chest. Judging by the heated contact on her exposed shoulder blades, his very bare chest. “Hi.” She whispered into the dark.

He pressed his lips to the top of her head. “I’m sorry.”

That woke Kira just a bit, and she fidgeted in his hold until he let her rollover. “For what?”

“Thinking you couldn’t handle yourself.” He said looking down at her face. “Overreacting.” His hand came to caress her face and she leaned into the touch.

“There’s nothing to apologize for, Ben. You were trying to protect me. There’s no shame in that.” She brought her own hands to his face. “You really should be nicer to your mother though.”

“I know.” He said gently. “We talked about a lot. I think we’ll be okay.”

“I’m glad to hear it.” Kira smiled. “Now, since you woke me from my sleep I think you owe me a kiss at the very least. Especially after the interruption at Maz’s.”

Ben laughed softly, bringing his lips down to hers. “I love you.” He whispered as he pulled back. 

The words had Kira pulling him down to her again, her lips finding his with a bit more urgency. “I love you, too.” She said when she pulled back before pouncing on him once more.

Ben let out a soft groan, taking hold of her hips as he rolled them so she could lay on him. “Well, Ben Solo. Am I the first girl you’ve had in your room?”

Ben almost took the question seriously until he noticed how badly her lips were twitching. He pulled her down so she was sprawled over his chest, legs spread over him. “The first I’ve truly wanted to have here.”

“Well, I guess that must count for something.” She grinned at him, soft features illuminated by the moonlight from his window. Her hands caressed the features of his face. “I’m glad you brought me with, Ben. It means a lot.”

He responded by threading his fingers into her hair and pulling her to him again, lips soft and lingering. Kira gasped when he flipped them, knees straddling her as he pressed soft kisses into her neck and collar bone. “Ben…” She breathed, a fire unlike any she’d felt igniting in her. This was different. This was soft and new and  intense.  

He didn’t respond, hands slowly slipping under her tank top as he nipped along the fabric above her breasts. Kira let out a keen sound, back arching slightly. When he pulled the fabric over her head she didn’t fight him. “Your mom…” She tried to get out.

“Knew what she was allowing when she sent us both here.” He muttered into her skin. His attention moved to her nipples, now hardened by the chilled air. Kira sighed as he sucked on one, his hand tending to the other before they switched. He moved the other hand to slip beneath the waist of her pants, stroking her over her panties.

“Ben please…” She breathed, mindful of her volume.

He listened, kissing down her navel as he pulled the garment down her hips and off to the floor. He spent no time teasing her, tongue stroking her clit in firm motions. Kira’s thighs tightened around him as her hands grasped his hair. She pulled and he groaned against her, eyes darting up to catch her flushed face. “Don’t think I won’t remember that.” He paused just long enough to say before returning to her core, tongue pushing inside her and making Kira slap on of her hand over her mouth to muffle her scream. It was a different sensation, one that sent her straight to euphoria.

Ben kept on through her orgasm, only pulling back one she was reduced to trembling with little gasps. She whispered his name as she began to recover, and then he pressed his fingers inside her, searching for the spot that made her hips jerk. “Fuck…” She gasped, body still wired from her first orgasm. He fucked her with his fingers, watching every twitch, hearing every moan, until he pressed his thumb into her clit and watched her come undone all over again.

Kira was almost crying as she came down this time, her body still trembling uncontrollably. Ben was leaving gentle kisses across her torso and she stroked her hand through his hair when she was coherent enough. “God Ben, that was…” She shook her head, words not enough to describe what she was feeling.

“I know.” He whispered, moving back to kiss her lips.

Kira trailed her hand down his chest until she reached the now very noticeable bulge in his boxers, hand caressing him through the fabric. He pulled back from her, a low growl escaping his throat.

Kira moved then, nipping his throat as she pushed him back, making him lie down. “Kira…” He watched her kiss her way down his torso and abdomen, hands moving to the waistband of his boxers. “You don’t have to.”

Her eyes met his and he nearly shivered at their intensity. “I want to.”

Slowly she dragged the fabric down his hips until his member sprang free, standing up and weeping. Kira wrapped her hand around its base and stroked, relishing in the way Ben’s breath hitched. She then leaned forward and ran her tongue along the bottom of his shaft. “Fuck, Kira.” He groaned, fists gripping the bed sheets.

Kira had never done this, but she had watched and read enough to have an idea of what to do. She carefully wrapped her mouth around the tip, sucking lightly as she moved down. It was an odd experience, but not in the slightest bit unpleasant.

Ben made a strangled sound, one Kira decidedly wanted to hear again. She pulled back and forced herself down again, further this time.

Ben’s hand fisted in her hair as he groaned her name and his hips bucked. This made her gag slightly but to her surprise she  liked it. She pushed even further, swallowing as she fought her gag reflex. 

Ben’s breathing became erratic above her, hips thrusting up despite his clear efforts not to. Finally, he pulled her back, yanking on her hair so she would stop and meet his gaze. It wasn’t hard but the pain made her gasp, eyes meeting his intense stare with a mixture of confusion and arousal. “This was supposed to be softer, but fuck Kira.” He pulled her to him and pressed his face into her shoulder, teeth nipping the skin. “Let me fuck you.”

“Yes please.” She gasped, and that was all the prompting Ben needed. He maneuvered her onto his lap and thrust up into her in one swift motion, pushing a hand against her mouth as he did to catch her startled cry.

“Try not to scream.” He whispered in her ear before his hips snapped up again, and again, and again as a brutal pace that made Kira’s head spin. She had never felt anything like this, not in all the times she and Ben had sex had he been so unhinged. It was terrifying and undeniable arousing all at once.

It didn’t take long before Kira felt her core tightening around him once more, and just as she hit her peak Ben bit the top of her shoulder, very nearly making her scream. The only thing stopping her was his hand over her lips and the last second memory that they were in his mother’s house.

Ben’s thrusts became erratic then, hips jerking a few more times before he pulled Kira down and held her, twitching as he spent himself inside her. It made Kira shutter, the feeling of him making her complete as it always seemed to. “I fucking love you.” He breathed into her neck.

“Hmmm.” Kira smiled against his hair. “Are you sure it’s not you love fucking me?”

Ben chuckled. “That too.” He kissed her softly, a harsh contrast their prior activity. “We should sleep.”

“I was asleep.” Kira reminded him. “You woke me and then very successfully distracted me.”

“Don’t pretend you didn’t enjoy it.” He teased, finally removing himself from inside her. As always the simple action still made her gasp.

Ben rearranged them so she was laying in front of him, cradled as the little spoon. “Goodnight, Kira.” He whispered to her.

“Goodnight Ben.” She returned, hand finding the one he had pressed into her stomach and threading their fingers. “I love you.”

#ben solo x oc #kylo ren x oc #ben solo x reader #ben solo smut #kylo ren x reader #kylo ren smut #smut #star war #star wars fanfiction #fanfiction #ben solo #kylo ren/oc #kylo ren #leia #leia organa #quick kiss me #multi fandom trash heap

[talesofafangirlwithadvr]

MAY PICKS!

WELCOME BACK TO ANOTHER MONTH OF TV/MOVIE WATCHING! 

Does it feel like it was just April or that it can’t even be May and yet it is coming to an end? I get it. Quarantine is doing weird things to my head and I can’t believe how far in the year it’s been. Looking back on my picks for this month I noticed that I have seemed to escape the world through historical period shows or movies. But that isn’t the entire bulk of the month (just half of it). Without further ado, here we go!

As always..spoilers....

THE HALF OF IT

This Netflix original movie was an early watch for me during this month and it came at the right time. I was looking for a movie, rather than a TV show, and something that was contemporary and not overly serious (although, there are serious themes in this film). As it repeatedly says, “it’s not a romance” yet it has that YA/teen romance feel. (Yes, I used YA/teen in the same description.) I really loved the Elle Chu and Paul Munsky friendship. While watching the trailer, I could tell this film would be highlighting a healthy friendship as its focal point and how your other half doesn’t have to be a romantic soulmate. A lot of times, these kinds of stories can seem very repetitive, but with the new plot of Elle and Paul in love with the same girl we encounter a new kind of obstacle. I think the resolution was pretty solid for both plot lines and I liked the train scene at the end. Certain shots felt long at times. There were lots of pauses, which I didn’t 100% like. Also, the awkwardness could feel pretty cringey. Overall, it is definitely worth the watch. I liked it and would watch it again. Paul might be one of my heartthrobs of 2020. I’m always a sucker for a sweet jock with a heart of gold. 

THE OFFICE LADIES

Yes, I know I’m late to the show as this podcast started last year, but better late than never and what better time than quarantine. Plus, I don’t have to wait each week for a new episode (even though know I’m catching up, so eventually...) At first, I was worried when I would have time because of not spending as much time in the car for commuting, but I found it’s really soothing to listen to as I’m cleaning. It feels like I’m in the room with Angela and Jenna and we’re all BFFs. I love how they’re best friends in real life and how close they are. They give the trivia you really can only get from two people who were on the show. They also have several guest stars from actors on the show to writers, directors and producers. One of my most recent listens had Creed Bratton in the studio with them and they talked about the Halloween episode. It was great. Listening to their podcast is really making me want to rewatch the series for the 100th time. As an uber fan, I already get all of their references, but with the new Easter eggs I can’t wait to go back and see them.   

STAR WARS RISE OF SKYWALKER

Not just in honor of May the 4th, but to finish up the Star Wars watch through that I was taking with my sister. I hadn’t seen it yet and while not a die heart fan, I still wanted to see the conclusion. I liked the Force Awakens a lot, but felt eh about Last Jedi. In ways this one kind of felt like a stand alone. It had a different vibe compared to the previous two. After watching I heard there was a different director for all three movies, so that makes sense-I guess. (It’s weird they wouldn’t have kept at least one to do two of them.) It also had a kind of fan fiction feel. SPOILERS! SPOILERS! SPOILERS! Bringing Palpatine back reminded me of Lord Voldemort having a kid in Cursed Child. BACK FROM SPOILERS! I’m happy that Rey’s parentage/lineage was revealed because it was such a major point in this series. I loved the Rey/Finn/Poe relationship. It was great to see them in the same story line and reminded me of the original three: Luke/Han/Leia. Leia :( It was so sad, but I always knew it had to happen, due to Carrie Fischer. It didn’t make it any easier to watch. MORE SPOILERSSSSS! I knew Kylo would turn back. It was nice to see that his mom was able to spark that. I did like his fight scene. I just didn’t love the connection him and Rey have/had. LOVED the ending. I’m cool with her taking the Skywalker name and the suns shot with the force them at the end had me screaming. 

OPHELIA

From one Daisy Ridley film to another. This movie just recently got added to my list when I was channel surfing. I vaguely remembered it being advertised, but it felt like a while ago. I’m a sucker for a re-telling, so I was immediately intrigued to watch it. This film was adapted from a novel by the same name. It follows Ophelia from Shakespeare’s Hamlet and gives her more of a story and character development. If you are familiar with the original, you know that Ophelia is only briefly mentioned and her character’s motives are really driven by her love for Hamlet. Even her famous death scene is very ambiguous. When this film begins, a voice-over narration by Ridley immediately brings us to her death scene and tells the audience “that there is more to the story than we think we know.” I really loved the twist and re-invention of this story through her point of view. I think Daisy Ridley was fantastic in the role. I haven’t seen her in a lot of other things, so it was great to see her here in a completely different role from Star Wars. The re-telling is very creative and very feminist. You get to see how Hamlet and Ophelia meet and then see him off to school. With this addition you can really get behind this relationship and see the mutual attraction and feelings between them. When relating back to the original, I like how they cut out scenes that Ophelia was not physically apart of and instead rely the events that happened. (Specifically with Polonius’ death.) I also enjoyed the new perspective of scenes. You really can tell that Ophelia is not mad, but it is the mask she must put on to survive. The ‘get thee to a nunnery’ scene takes on a whole different meaning now. There’s also a lot echoes to other Shakespearean plays and tropes which were fun to explore. Whether you’re a Shakespeare/Hamlet fan or not, I would definitely check this one out if you’re a fan of the time period, re-tellings or a strong female lead.   

MEDICI THE MAGNIFICENT SEASON 3

I literally just finished this show this afternoon and I couldn’t wait to write about it. (Sorry if this post is pretty long, but that just shows you that you need to watch it.) I was very excited for the third and final season of Medici because I enjoyed season 2, so much. While this one might have taken me a little longer to watch, it was still a good time and I’m sad it’s over. 

Watching this season I was super impressed by Daniel Sharman’s acting. He has great range as he goes from a young Lorenzo in season 2 to an adult and father and then an elderly man. I think he was convincing throughout each stage and I’m happy they kept the same actor. His make-up to help him age looked a lot more natural, compared to Richard Madden’s, in my opinion. I feel on shows like this it’s often hard seeing a jump in time (it helps with seeing the kids grow up), so when Lorenzo starts to get sick/age I at first, was like whoa, but then it was further explained (by inheriting his father’s illness, etc.) 

Compared to season 2, I definitely liked the previous more. I not only enjoyed watching the more idealistic Lorenzo, but also plot-wise. In season 2 the Pazzi are the main antagonist/objective. Here in season 3 there were several obstacles/antagonists: The Pope, Riario, and Savonarola. Every time we thought there was a moment of peace...nope. Now, I get this is based on history and we need drama so you can only change so much, but I missed the Medici being at the top and being respected. I also know we covered A LOT of time. (I guess that shows you how connected I felt with them and the show.) 

All of the history Easter Eggs were cool. Obviously, the Renaissance was extremely relevant, but it was cool seeing the big names like Botticelli (especially with his painting at the end, which I recognized), Da Vinci, and Michelangelo. I can’t get over how many of these famous painters were recognized by the Medici family. It just shows you how important and influential they were. Also, when Nico revealed his last name as Machiavelli. JAW DROP! This show has continually brought me back to researching (and mainly using Wikipedia). The writing at the end was accurate to what I found. Wish we had another season with the legacy to see it continue. I’m surprised I got teary eyed at the end. 

WORLD ON FIRE

It may be listed last once again, this month, but it is definitely not least. The show may have finished its season a few weeks ago, but I still have two episodes left on my DVR. The last one I watched was when they were in Dunkirk and that was an intense time. I knew it was going to be, but it still didn’t prepare me. In this episode, we see many characters FINALLY meet up and join each other’s plot lines. I think that was one of my favorite parts of the episode/series. Some already knew each other, while others were meeting for the first time. While I am excited to see how it all turns out, I’m also not ready to say good-bye. Right now, I saw a potential for a season 2, but not sure if that was a fan made article or not. I’m hoping all of my favorite characters survive and get what can be considered a happier ending than what they are currently experiencing. I also hope we don’t end on too much of a cliffhanger. Either way, I’m happy I checked this show out. 

RE-WATCHING

iZOMBIE

Currently I’m in the beginning of the second season. Sometime last month I felt the pull to start re-watching this show. It’s one that I have tried once or twice to watch again from the beginning, but now that it’s been finished for almost a year, it felt like time. It was a great decision, although right now there’s some character plots that are frustrating me and that I forgot about. But there’s some great brains that Liv has experienced and it was great seeing Lowell again (for as short-lived as it was). I’m excited to continue re-watching. 

I DIDN’T DO IT

The re-watch for I Didn’t Do It basically began when it hit Disney Plus a few months ago. I just recently made it to season 2, which I remember enjoying more than season 1. One reason for this was because they get rid of the flashback format for each episode. I’m really early on, like episode 4, so I still have many more to go. Once I finish it I don’t know if I’ll explore a new Disney Plus show or watch another that I’ve seen before. 

I also have a few things on DVR that I’m still finishing up. I haven’t watched the finale of Batwoman yet and I know it’s going to be weird now that Ruby Rose has left the show. I just finished the Flash and felt blah about the whole season, so I’m unsure if I’ll watch next season. But I am enjoying Stargirl. You can find my thoughts on the first episode here. I’m excited to see the rest of the season. 

#may picks #tv reviews #watching in quarantine #the half of it #netflix #the office ladies #angela kinsey x jenna fischer #the office #the office ladies podcast #star wars #star wars rise of skywalker #kylo ren #rey #kylo x rey #daisy ridley #ophelia #naomi watts #george mckay #ophelia 2018 #shakespeare adapted #shakespeare #medici: the magnificent #Lorenzo de Medici #medici #Daniel Sharman #lorenzo x clarice #medici season 3 #world on fire #masterpiece #historical dramas

[pulpwriterx]

RESURRECTION: CHAPTER 4- A GAME OF THRONES

Links to previous chapters

Chapter Three

Chapter Two

Chapter One

CHAPTER 5: A GAME OF THRONES

(Author’s Note: Not a crossover. Title based on an observation Ben Solo makes about Skywalkers and the Galaxy)

When Leia sat up with a start, freeing herself from a heavy white sheet, she knew Ben must be alive.

She walked into a huge celebration of victory that she was distracted from only by her thoughts of him.

It also became a celebration that the reports of the General’s death had been greatly exaggerated.

In the midst of all of it, Leia kept looking for Chewie.

When he picked her up in a big Wookiee bear hug, howling for joy, she knew she was really alive.

And she felt better knowing he was there with her.

“Ben did this, Chewie. I’m alive because Ben is alive. We have to find him?”

Chewie cocked his head to the side, questioningly.

“Why? Because I need to know what he’s up to.”

***

More than anyone else could be, Leia was sure that her son was up to something.

Leia heard Rey’s heartbreaking story about Ben’s passing, and the poor girl cried and cried in her arms.

She tried to tell Rey that if she was alive that meant Ben was, too, but Rey was adamant.

She had seen him die.

Most people thought Rey's story about Ben’s alleged passing was romantic.

Not Leia.

What was it that Arkanian pain in the ass Armitage Hux often said about her son?

Leia ruefully remembered.

The man originally known as Ben Solo is an amoral, charismatic merchant of dreams. If you want your dreams he will sell them to you. Or if you prefer your nightmares you can have those, too.

She had been trying, for the past decade and change, to remember the Ben she knew.

Ben had been a sweet, kind, funny, little boy.

He had a goofy smile, and a ready laugh and she really didn’t see where Han got that whole dark, ancient eyes thing.

He was quirky, and weird, but in an endearing way, and she found lovable in his gangly awkwardness.

But even as a child he had a dark side, all you had to do was ask the boys who bullied him, and they would tell you through pulped noses and broken teeth why they had stopped.

He had moods, and Leia suspected that Ben also had mystical visions.

But it was only when he reached his terrible teens that things began to go downhill.

Ben Solo had left the Jedi Temple, twice, to pursue his father’s vocation, and he had excelled at being a ruthless pirate.

The second time, he was suspended for breaking his vow of chastity, multiple times, with the equally black-hearted daughter of an Arkanian warlord.

Hux, her Force null cousin, had been sent to keep her out of trouble.

He failed.

At the meeting with his Master, Ben had listened to everything Luke said, and then replied?

“Well, Uncle Luke, you’d better kick me out, then, because after being a virgin for twenty years, all I want out of life is Hela Darkstar's gorgeous ginger cunt. You can’t convince me that hokey religions and ancient weapons are better than fucking. Nothing is better than fucking. Except maybe crushing your enemies, having them driven before you, and hearing the lamentations of their kinsmen. Can I go back to space, now?”

Han was so proud.

Leia had been appalled.

After he had dismissed Ben, Han and Luke had laughed over what Ben had said for about fifteen minutes, but Leia didn’t see the humor in it, or the fact that Ben was going back to Anchorhead with his father as soon as Han could stop expressing his relief that Ben had finally got a girlfriend.

At the time, she had though that a pirate’s life was the worst thing that could happen to him, and she made Han send him back to Luke after Ben’s suspension was over.

The third time was the charm on that one.

In hindsight, it would have been better to let him go back to space with his father, and stay there.

But Ben had that option.

After Luke had tried to behead him, Ben could have left, found his father, went back to space and never had anything to do with the Jedi, or the Sith, again.

But, and unlike his Uncle, Ben wanted to play the game of thrones with his mother.

She was willing to make a place for him in the governing of the Galaxy, in time, and with maturity, but Ben Solo didn’t want to wait for his piece of pie.

So he became Kylo Ren, and threw in his lot with the Sith.

That was only his first move.

And killing Snoke was his third.

Leia believed that Ben really was in love with Rey, but it was awfully expedient for his purposes for that to have happened.

That was his second move.

But a funny thing happened as he shed Kylo Ren, the mask Ben Solo wore, on his way to become Ben Solo, Hero of the Resistance.

To kill the badguys, win the day, and get the girl.

He died.

But that was only a temporary setback for a Skywalker.

Skywalkers had many death and many births, and lived many lives, in-between.

Ben’s hunger for his victory, and the spoils of it, and for Rey were intense enough to bring him back from the other side, and her with him.

That meant his power was growing; that he was almost as strong in the Force as she was.

No, it wasn't romantic.

How had Ben managed to court Rey, and win her love when they were enemies, and all their encounters ended just short of murder?

It was something, the bond between Rey Palpatine and Ben Solo, but romantic wasn’t the word that came to Leia’s mind.

Terrifying was more like it.

She knew that Ben would come for Rey, and now that the man she loved was Ben Solo and not Kylo Ren, Rey would welcome him with open arms.

Leia was glad that Ben had returned to the light, and that he was alive, but she was still worried.

Hela Darkstar seemed to be out of the picture, but Leia had thought that in the past.

Ben was more sentimental about his women than his father had been; Hela was bound to take a part in Ben’s story again, sometime.

That and Leia knew that Kylo Ren was the mask that Ben Solo wore, and she suspected that Ren had been a means to the end of becoming the Galactic hero Ben Solo now was.

Galactic heroes often end up becoming galactic rulers.

Leia found would be happy going back to the Solo empire on the Outer Rim, to be a Pirate King.

It was, she knew, the best thing for him, and not the worst.

Still she remembered what he had said to her on the remains of the Death Star, as he thought he lay dying.

Don’t think I’m going anywhere, General. I know the game we play in this Galaxy. It’s all a game of thrones. And if you’re not a Skywalker? You don’t get to sit on the throne.

And as for Rey?

Leia could have told her about all the things she was going to discover, good and bad, if she went off with Ben.

But when she had been about Rey's age and Han had been about Ben’s age?

Leia knew she wouldn’t have listened, either.

That night, Leia’s rival had heralded his arrival with the presence in the infirmary of a 5 man squad  suffering from various scrapes, contusions, scratches, shiners, fat lips, bloody noses and even a nasty human bite.

They had snuck up on a really big guy while he was pissing on a rock in a deep cave on Exegol. A man the size and breadth of a short Wookiee, and he must have thought they were attacking him, because he fought back so fiercely they let him have an X-Wing.

These were compounded by reports of a barefoot naked man in a blast helmet wandering around camp, looking for something.

What did that mean?

That Ben was back in the game and he didn’t need a weapon, or even pants, t play it?

The last report came from Finn and Poe, who burst in to the command tent without knocking.

“General! There’s some man in Rey's tent and he’s assaulting her like a raging Wookiee! You can hear her screaming all over the place! And he won’t let me save her!” Finn told her

“She doesn’t need saving! He’s full of shit, General. Finn's just jealous because it’s not him in Rey’s tent. Did you know Ben was with Rey?”

“My son, Ben? How do you know it’s him?”

“I recognize his voice. We, uh, I worked with him and Han. Before the war.”

“That guy is still a fucking animal! You wouldn’t believe the stuff he's screaming at the top of his lungs! I think we should check on Rey, General. Make sure she’s OK.” Finn insisted.

“Yes, I would believe it. Alright, Finn. If you really think Rey is in trouble? We'll go find out.”

It was just conceivable that Finn might be right, and Poe might be wrong.

Call him Kylo or call him Ben, Leia suspected that to get what he wanted, her ruthless pirate son was capable of goddamn anything.

Rey was the brightest light in the Galaxy, the only Jedi of her generation.

Claiming her just might be Ben’s next move.

***

Ben just laughed, and turned his head, sparing his mother having to see the face he made when he shot his wad.

Deeply embarrassed, Leia slammed the door shut and locked it.

Ben was still laughing.

It made her think of a time when Ben was about seven or eight, and Han hadn’t locked their bedroom door, and Ben had walked in without knocking.

And caught them in the act.

“DAD! This is so gross! Cantcha take Mom someplace else to do that? I live here!”

“So do we, kid! Get out of this room and lock that door, Ben! You know you’re not allowed to just walk in here without knocking!”

“It’s still gross.” Ben said, and left.

Locking the door before he shut it.

Han had neither been ashamed or missed a stroke.

And he saw no reason for them to stop, either.

Ben had just put the radio on, and later, when Leia was too deeply embarrassed to breathe, Han had put his pants on and gone out and made Ben’s lunch.

“Dad, did you do something weird to Mom? How come she’s hiding in your bedroom?”

“Most people get embarrassed about shit like that, kiddo.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. Eat your lunch.”

It didn’t bother either of them.

Born without shame.

For the first time since she had realised he was alive, no, for the first time in a decade and change, Leia began to think of Ben as her son, only.

Not an opponent, or a rival.

Not as an enemy, or a symbol.

As her son, Ben.

He knew she would be embarrassed, so even though he thought it was funny, he turned his head and laughed.

What am I going to do with him? How can I just be his mother, now? All those scars, holy mother Force, what did they do to him? 

Is there anything left of the boy I knew, in that man I just saw?

“Is she OK?” Poe demanded.

“What about the raging Wookiee?” Finn demanded.

Leia smacked their heads together.

“Idiots! Do you think I wanted to see that? Do you think I raised a rapist? An animal? A monster? Rey is fine. She looked very happy. It’s just that she has a boyfriend, Finn, and it’s not you.” Leia snapped

“Rey has two boyfriends, and neither of them are me.” Finn said.

“Yeah, but I know Ben. He won’t care about me. You? He’d cut your head off.” Poe explained

“I talked to him. It was definitely Ben Solo. He didn’t threaten to cut my head off.” Finn said.

“Because he probably figures it’s me, not you. Rey’s into flyboys. What can I say? Was it really Ben, General?”

“Not that it’s any of your business, Poe, but yes. It was. He wasn’t embarrassed, because Ben has no shame. Solo family trait. But I am very embarrassed. So, from now on? You boys just  mind your own business.”

The General began to walk away.

“That makes sense. If Rey is Ben’s girl, that's why he killed Snoke and they killed all his guards.” Poe said

“But Rey killed Kylo Ren.” Finn added

“Rey killed Palpatine. Ben probably killed all the Knights of Ren to get to Kylo Ren, and killed him to avenge Han.” Poe explained

“He told me the Sith held him in detention for three years and tried to break him.” Finn expanded

“That was a mistake. You cross Ben Solo? You die.” Poe reminded Finn.

Rey’s door opened.

She shut it.

Leia turned around.

She was frozen to the spot

“Ben, put these on.”

“I don’t want to wear those, I hate underwear!”

“Just put them on. To go out. You’re naked!”

“Okay, okay.”

The door opened and Ben stepped out.

He looked like he’d just made the Kessel Run on foot.

He brushed his sweaty hair out of his face.

Poe started applauding him, and Ben grinned.

“She made me work for it.” He said.

“Always does.” Poe agreed.

“Oh, so it’s you. That’s OK, Poe. Because I know you. So tell me, Tiesdays and Thursdays only, right?”

“Right, Ben. You think I want to die?”

“I know you don’t. This way, we’re keeping it in the family. But any of these other guys? We kill him.”

“Immediately.

Poe and Ben both laughed.

Ben sat by Rey’s campfire, and started poking the embers with a stick.

“What, Mom? I’m beat. I have to get some sleep.”

What Mom.

That was all he had to say?

The last time she had seen her son in person he was a boy of 23, still a little soft around the edges

Now he was a grown man, 35 years old, hard, and scarred, the tough guy his father had always wanted him to be.

But he still had her little Ben’s sweet, goofy smile.

And after all these years?

What, Mom?

“Can you try to be a little quieter, in there?”

“Sorry. I got carried away in the moment.”

Ben poked the fire.

He looked at his feet.

Then he looked up at his mother, again.

“Well, here I am. I came home. Like you wanted. Now what?” he asked.

“There’s so many things I want to say to you, Ben. Is that all you have to say to me? Here you are? Now what?” Leia demanded.

“I did a pretty good job, didn’t I? I mean, it’s over now. Maybe too many people got killed. And I killed too many of them. But I ended it. If I didn’t do what I did, , it never would have ended. Somebody had to do it. That somebody could only have been me.” Ben said.

“Ben, I don’t want to talk about religion and politics. What are you going to do with your life, now? Are you OK? Really OK?”

“I think I’ll be OK. With time. And I’m just going to go back to work. I still have the ship. And the place in Anchorhead. I’ve got money stashed. I’ll be fine, Mom. Really.”

He seemed like he really needed to hear her praise him.

“The Galaxy owes you and Rey a great debt. You did a pretty good job, Ben. But this isn’t all is forgiven and everything is fine. It can’t be.”

“I am not going back to jail. You might as well just kill me.”

“I said this wasn’t about politics. In the morning? We need to talk. And none of your bullshit stories, or I will pull the truth out of your head. I’ll be back at 9. Have clothes on.”

“Okay. Can I go lie down before I fall down?”

“You had better. I'll see you in the morning, Benjamin.”

***

Morning broke.

Ben snored.

Rey woke up.

Ben rolled over.

And snored.

“Ben. Wake up. Your mother will be here, soon. She was very sick.”

“Bullshit. Skywalkers don’t die. He'll be back too. Many deaths, many lives. Skywalkers come back.”

“What?”

Ben sat up.

“She fooled you, huh? It’s alright. She fools everybody. I know better. My mother is the most powerful living Force sensitive being in the Galaxy. I have only begun to sense the contours of the universes that she commands. It’s a game, Rey. A game of thrones. And if you’re not a Skywalker? You don’t get to sit on the throne. But I’m not ready to be the King. Let her have the Galaxy. For now. That’s what she wants to know about. And if I were her? I’d be worried about me, too.”

“But Ben, the General is your mother.”

“Yeah. But did she hug me? Did she cry? I had to drag it out of her to say I did a good thing for the Galaxy. She doesn’t trust me. She can’t. She’s not my Mom, anymore. I’ll always be the enemy to her.”

Ben’s voice quavered.

He stood up, stretched, and sat on the stool she had made to put his socks on.

Rey noticed his left ankle was bruised and his foot was swollen up.

“Ah, shit. Sprained my ankle. That’s why it hurt to walk on it. Probably when those guys were chasing me. Now I can’t even escape before she gets here.”

Then he put one boot, and  the coveralls.

“I like the beard, Ben.” Rey told him.

It was a lame thing to say, but she couldn’t think of anything else.

“Disguise.” he replied.

“You have to give your mother time, Ben. It took me years to allow myself to love you. And to trust you. And I still almost killed you when you crushed the Sith wayfinder.”

“That didn’t go the way I pictured it. I thought you’d fall into my arms when I told you the only way you were going to Exegol was with me.”

“Well, maybe you’re wrong about your mother, too. Maybe she didn’t want to hug you because you were all sweaty and covered in come and squirt.”

Rey had insisted they wash up in the stream before getting back into her bed. 

That made Ben laugh.

At 9, his mother and Chewbacca both came to Rey’s tent.

Ben was sitting on one of the stools Rey had made.

When Chewbacca walked in Rey sensed an emotion in Ben she didn’t think he had.

Shame.

Ben bowed his head, and rounded his shoulders, making himself look smaller.

He made a mournful sound that Rey didn’t think could have come from a human throat.

Chewbacca chastised him, angrily.

Ben made the same mournful sound.

Chewie was so sad and so angry that Rey couldn’t even understand him.

Finally she understood Chewbacca ordering “Kallaurra” to lift up his head.

Ben was crying.

Real tears.

“I’m sorry.  I can live with everything else I did. But not what I did to the Old Man. It’s horrible. Worse than just killing him. I’m not even sure if he’s alive or dead. He might not be dead, Chewie. At least I don’t think he is.”

“Your father, Ben?” Leia asked.

Leia had been up all night.

Crying because she had her son back.

Crying because Han was gone.

“Ben, I've seen his ghost.” Leia told Ben.

“Me too. But I, uh, I pushed his spirit out of his body. So he wouldn’t have to stay frozen.”

“What? Benjamin Skywalker Organa Solo, what did you do to your father?” Leia insisted.

“We had a different fight, before the fight Chewie saw. The Old Man punched me in the face, and I hit him and long story short, I almost didn’t give him the blast vest. But I knew I had to give the Hutts something.  Then again, it’s not like I wanted him to suffer.  I used the Force to push his spirit out, so when he fell into the freezing chamber, he wouldn’t be trapped. It’s still connected. Once he’s out of hibernation, body and spirit will be reunited. I think. I’m pretty  sure.  I did it to myself, a couple times, when I was in too much pain to take it, and I’m still here.”

Leia interrupted Ben.

“I’m sorry, you did what? Is this something the Sith taught you?”

“No. I figured it out myself. While I was doing my Sith training, which is pretty much torture in solitary confinement. I got hurt pretty bad during training. All of us did. The pain drove some of us mad, and some of us just died. But I figured out how to use the Force to push my spirit out of my body. If the pain was too bad, or if I was too sick? I’d just leave for awhile. You can pretty much go anywhere you want. Me, I used to like to go to forests. Or deserts. I went to Hoth a few times. Quiet places where there were no people. So I did the same thing to the Old Man. Pushed his spirit out of his body. He should be fine. I always am.”

Leia looked at Rey.

There were tears in her eyes, too.

But she quickly got angry when Ben finished explaining himself.

“Anyway,  that chasm the Old Man fell into on Starkiller Base? It was a huge carbonite freezing chamber.  Before I delivered him to Jobi, I checked the slab.  He’s alive. Or he was, then. Right now, he’s hanging on Jobi the Hutt's wall. At Jabba’s old palace on Tattoine. At least he’s been completely safe for the whole war.”

“You ruthless little pirate bastard! What did you owe the Hutts?”

Leia slapped Ben.

Chewie sat down heavily, opposite him.

He muttered something.

“Rathtars? What rathtars? Chewie, you and Han were selling rathtars to the Hutt syndicate? Were you insane?”

“They were my rathtars. It’s your fault, Mom. When you sent Dad to Starkiller Base, he was supposed to be delivering my rathtars to Jobi. The Hutt wanted both of us on his wall after the Old Man didn’t deliver his product. And I couldn't give Jobi the money back, because I already invested it in some product he was selling me that I already had buyers for. That and I owed him for the rathtars. But he made me a real sweetheart deal to get Captain Solo back on the family wall. I really didn’t have a choice.

“You were still in business, Ben? The whole time?”

“Everybody was, Mom. What was I supposed to do, quit? You already gave Dad the boot and what were he and Chewie gonna do? Starve? Were we all supposed to miss the opportunity to get rich off another Galactic War? I gave the Old Man a Captain’s Medal, and he stayed on the Outer Rim. He was safe, we made money. People got to have booze, cigarillos, coffee and rubbers so they could have a little fun during this war, because I brought them in. So don’t say Ben Solo didn’t help the war effort. Everything worked out until you decided my Daddy needed to come and bring me home because I had been a bad boy.”

Leia slapped him, again.

This time, Ben fell off the stool.

“Shit, Mom, quit hitting me! My balance is off, I sprained my ankle.”

Leia forgot about everything else she was going to ask him.

“You’re hurt, Ben?”

“It’s fine. I fixed it, before. When I first put by boot on, last night. It’ll heal. No doctors. Mom. No needles. No bacta tank. I can’t do any of that. If I get sick enough, ever to need needles and medical droids and bacta tanks? They’ll have to keep me unconscious the whole time. You don’t want to know, and telling you about it would break my mind. No. No fucking doctors.”

Ben’s voice raised in pitch and in volume

He looked scared.

He was terrified.

Without thinking, she reached for his hand, and her mind was assaulted by a barrage of terrifying images from his memory.

She could hear his screams.

Ben tried to pull his hand away.

But Leia pulled him into her arms.

“It’s alright, Ben. You’ve carried this pain long enough. I’m your mother. I can bear some of it, for you. Now I understand. I understand.”

Ben hugged his mother back, and started to cry. 

“I’m sorry, Mom. I’m really sorry.” he sobbed.

“You’re still my son, Ben. And I love you. And I’m so glad you finally came home.”

Ben cried for a long time.

***

“Ben, let me see your ankle.” Leia demanded.

Ben stuck his foot out.

“It looks really bad. I can’t stand on it, today.” he admitted.

“It does. If this isn’t set right, Ben, you'll be limping all the time. How about one doctor. An old lady, like me. No droids, no bacta tanks, no needles. No exam room. I’ll bring her here, to Rey's tent. You don’t want to limp for the rest of your life, do you?”

“No. I’ll try.” Ben agreed.

Leia went to get the doctor.

“Fucking ankle! What about the Old Man? I fixed up a place for all of us to lay low, but I can’t go now, Chewie. I can’t walk.”

Chewie told Ben that they needed to make a plan, anyway, and they'd wait to rescue Han until he was healed.

Rey laughed.

“What’s so funny?” Ben asked.

“If Han survived, he'll be so proud of you. You’re a real pirate, Ben. You sold your own father to settle a debt and get a load of swag from the Hutt Syndicate.”

They all laughed at that.

***

The doctor wanted to see Ben, alone.

Chewie knew how afraid he was, and refused to leave him.

The doctor came out, after she was done, to talk to Rey and Leia.

They waited for the doctor.

“Your son is a powerful man. Without the use of the Force. With brute force, he could have crushed me with one hand. He’s almost the size of Chewbacca! A rescue party made the mistakes of approaching him in a way that looked like an attack, and I treated five people for minor injuries they sustained. With no weapons. And he was terrified of me. Terrified.”

The Twi’Lek doctor sighed.

“When they held him captive, Leia, the First Order tortured your son. I don’t…well, the ankle, first. The ankle isn’t broken. It's badly sprained. He tied two sticks to it with a rag, shoved his foot in the boot, laced it up tight and walked on it. I’m not surprised. He’s tough. He had to be. There are scars on his ribs, on both sides, he’s broken every one. And the scar on his collarbone tells me that someone stapled it together. The scars around the stitches are ragged. They held him down, stapled his collarbone together and sewed his muscle and skin shut with no anasthesia. Then they probably let him lie, and after it festered, shut him up in a bacta tank. He’s also broken his elbow. And there’s a scar. It starts on his right hip, crosses over, wraps around his leg, and ends just above his knee. It’s from a torture droid. Your son is a strong man, mentally, that he could survive.”

“What about his ankle, doctor?” Rey asked.

She didn’t want to hear any more of the other things.

“Ben needs to wear a brace for a month, and limit his walking for about two weeks. Keep his foot elevated. Use a crutch or a cane. I told him. He didn’t like it, but I told him listen to me, or limp forever. Does Ben have somewhere to go? Someone to take care of him?”

“He does. And I don’t mind. If he can fly? We can leave, as soon as he gets something to eat.” Rey volunteered.

Ben came out of the tent, hopping on one leg.

“I’m not using that crutch. It’s undignified.”

“Ben, if you were worried about your dignity, you should have conducted your personal business a little more quietly last night. Or come to this camp with pants on.” Leia suggested.

“All that added to my legend. This crutch makes me look weak.”

Rey ran into the tent, rummaging around, and then came out.

“Here, Ben. I found it in a wreck in the woods. I restored it and used it when I twisted my ankle, even though it was too tall for me. The bottom part is real wood. Some kind of dark wood, it’s not painted. That top part is a geode.”

Rey handed Ben the cane.

“This is better. I’m going home, Mom. To the Outer Rim, to Tattoine. I have a place out in the hinterlands to hide. Tell me when it’s safe for me to go back to Anchorhead and be Ben Solo again.”

“Rey, you know Ben Solo makes his home in Anchorhead because he’s a smuggler and a pirate, don’t you?’’

“Honestly, Master Leia? I’ve always had a problem with flyboys. I don’t mind at all.”

“Be careful, Rey. My son, here? He’s a whole bunch of guys. One for every occasion.”

Rey waited for Ben to deny it.

But, he didn’t.

“Add one more, Mom. Ben Skywalker. I am a Skywalker, after all. Ben Skywalker, and his lovely wife. Just two nice kids without a lot of money, trying to get by.”

“Rey Skywalker? Master, Leia, can I can be Rey Skywalker?”

“Yes, Rey. Welcome to the Skywalker-Solo family. I’m very sorry for you.” Leia replied.

She hugged Rey, and then hugged Ben again.

“Don’t make waves, kid. I need to think about what I’m going to do about this Ben Solo and Kylo Ren problem. Do you have anything to prove you killed him?”

“I brought his broken mask and his gloves to Exegol with me. They’re still in that cave. Why do you think I fought so hard?”

“What about his lightsaber?” Leia asked.

“Threw it away. This is Uncle Luke’s. I’m going to make another one. I liked the crossbar, but I’ll make the beam a different color.”

“Good idea. Lay low, and don’t worry about your father. Chewie and I will figure something out.”

***

“Luke, I need you to do me a favor.”

The Jedi Master’s Force ghost sat down beside his sister.

“I don’t think I need the Force to predict what you’re about to say.” he replied.

#reylo #ben solo lives #ben solo #kylo redemption #kylo ren #star wars fanfiction #star wars the rise of skywalker #post tros #rey

[myevilmouse]

For the Star Wars Ask: 4,15, 16!

Apologies for the uber late reply to your asks, but I wrote the answers and then hit backspace and my tumblr browser KILLED my reply and well, I almost lost the will to go on. 😊 So here is Take Two.

4. which character is the most misunderstood?

The most misunderstood character…I am gonna say Luke Skywalker. 

Hear me out—we are all in our Luke stan bubbles here and we know he’s the most brilliant character to ever be dreamt up, plus he’s gorgeous, but I digress.

The sad truth is while in 1977 he was the undisputed hero and popular dude from the films, when Empire and Jedi came out (when he was really evolving and struggling, etc.), Luke took a backseat to Han and Boba Fett and Darth, etc. and the ensuing years have not been kind to him in pop culture.   But merchandising didn’t feature him as much, even Leia, I remember when Jedi came out, it was HARD to find Luke stuff.  But Leia, Han, Boba, Jabba, Darth, even Chewie, seemed ubiquitous. WHY?!  IT’S HIS STORY!

I think the average casual SW fan tends to think of Luke as whiny or boring or uninteresting and are more drawn to the rogue that is Han or the bad guys.  (Not even talking about ST fans who mostly think of Luke/Jake as a grandpa.)  They mock the whole kissing his sister thing, they quote the power converters line, they DON’T UNDERSTAND his amazing.

So there is a movie, As Good As It Gets, and there is a great scene, the gist of which is Jack Nicholson’s character tells Helen Hunt’s waitress character that all the people in her restaurant, they go about their day not realizing that the most amazing woman in the world waited on their table.  But he gets that, he knows that about her, he SEES it, and that makes him feel good about himself, makes him happy that he understands her awesomeness. And that is sort of how I feel about Luke.  Disney may have betrayed his character, but I never will.  And that makes me feel good about me!

16. what’s the saddest moment in star wars?

For the saddest moment in Star Wars, that is hard.  I discussed this with my mom, a big SW fan, last night.  She picks Vader’s daddy reveal, but while I think that is the most dramatic/traumatic moment, I think for saddest moment I would probably choose Vader’s death, when Luke is all “I’ve got to save you” and his hand, his prosthetic hand that Vader chopped off, is on his dad’s shoulder…

*reaches for tissue*

Luke never knew his daddy, then he found out his daddy is evil and mean, and then he gets back the daddy he always wanted and loses him again.  It’s just…so sad.  So so sad. And I really give props to those actors in that scene because it makes me sad every time I watch it.

And Mark Hamill probably never looked as good in his life as he did in this scene and the one immediately after (in the Lambda shuttle) and I DON’T KNOW WHY because he just had this horrible trauma and loss but he looks incredible. So that’s an added bonus to the saddest scene in Star Wars.  Honestly ridiculously hot.  Excuse me while I go swoon a moment.

There are a lot of sad moments in Star Wars, the OT.  But that is the scene where I think Luke MOST needs some hot chocolate, a hug, and maybe some sexual healing.  I can assist, Luke, I can assist.

OK and your substitute ask since I already answered #15 was #6…

6. which canon event do you most disagree with/dislike?

At the risk of beating a dead tauntaun, I will just say the Sequel Trilogy as a whole (yes I’m including the new one I haven’t seen yet because I fear I know where they are going and *cringe*) for how it robs the victory of the OT without explaining how our heroes turned into such failures, and in particular the betrayal of Luke’s character.  I blame the role of money in the making of the films, something that is blatantly obvious if you watch the Blu-Ray documentary The Director and the Jedi, but for the purposes of this ask, lemme just summarize from a previous rant or else we’d be here all day:

1)  The most optimistic guys in the galaxy who believed he could redeem the most evil guy in the galaxy or die trying would not give up on/try to kill a child riddled with Darkness (never mind that it’s his own nephew).  The End.  Would. Not.

One of the scenes that pisses me off so much is when Luke force-appears to Leia at the end of TLJ and says basically "your son is gone" and she's like "i know" and i'm like WHERE ARE LUKE AND LEIA AND WHO ARE YOU HORRIBLE PEOPLE. Anyway, I digress....2) Luke is all about helping people who need him, rushing to save them even when totally unprepared/warned against it, etc. This idea that having failed his Jedi students that Luke would decide to retreat, abandon his family, his friends, his Rebellion, and become a hermit is counter to everything we know about him. If he decides the Jedi are evil, just STOP BEING A FUCKIN JEDI.  It’s not like a disease you can’t get rid of, just stop using the Force etc.

3) Death. I know some people think this ties in to the whole "balance in the force" thing. This concept is a whole other issue, because it implies there is no good and evil, as far as the Light and Dark, they have to both exist in equal strength/parts and the good becoming powerful will give rise to the evil becoming equally powerful, which makes EVERYTHING sort of pointless. (Like, why even try to save the galaxy if it's impossible for good to triumph? you will win for a couple years and then the baddies come back--if that is the true nature of the Force, the idea of morality just goes out the window, but that's a whole other tangent).

So why does Luke die? He's not sick, he's not old, the idea that using the Force in the way he has took so much out of him that he's weakened to the point of death is counter to canon (size matters not etc), and the galaxy still needs him. He just proved that. Yet we are expected to believe in a sense that Luke thinks the galaxy would be better off with him as a mythic, martyred hero rather than a flesh and blood leader. This also makes no sense to me.

Luke Skywalker rises to the occasion in the OT, even when it's hard, he has a strong sense of responsibility and personal morality. Jake…Jake is different.

 I think a lot of work would be required to turn OT Luke into TLJ Luke...It's not impossible, nothing is, with smart writing and character development, but that's not what we were given. Too many off-notes for me to find it remotely believable, and there are so many little snarky additions to his character that also are so weird that I just can't...

The new trilogy just sort of robs the victory/finale of the OT without enough explanation for why it was a failure....in a perfect world they would have just turned The Thrawn Trilogy into films. I thought the EU gave us a rich explanation and continuation of that world in a way that was far truer to the characters. I wouldn't even have minded them recasting our heroes, cause time/age. looks for time machine

 Thank you for getting me all worked up.  *hugs*

#asks #luke skywalker #jake skywalker #i like asks #star wars #rotj luke is the best luke #jadedjo