#also I mean Rey Finn and POE

[i-will-physically-fight-you]

Going to therapy is great because you can rant to your therapist about the untapped potential of Star Wars Sequel Characters for ten minutes and they are a captive audience forced to hear your very reasonable valid points and you can do this instead of talking about your issues hope this helps <3

#kat talks #no one irl will ever listen to me that rey poe and finn were decent characters that had POTENTIAL #kylo ren is a bit of a lost cause im afraid #(by that i mean the sequel trio had more personality and plot motives in the first movie than he did so he'd need a lot more rework) #I still cry and scream internally that they were still cowards about hayden christensen and wouldnt let him show up to tell kylo ren off #i still think that was a major thing about kylo ren's character that WOULDVE BEEN INTERESTING #like imagine worshipping your grandfathers literal worst sins only for his force ghost to show up and tell you off #SUBLIME #anyways the way I watch sw is I stop at Force Awakens #and im like 'wow what a fun what-if story after rotj its so sad they never made more movies after it :)' #and THATS HOW IT SHOULD BE WATCHED #thank you for listening to my ted talk #(and also rogue one was great definitely included in the sw movie rewatch between rots and anh)

[applecherry108]

I’ve come to a realization. (And yes, I’m still talking about Turtles)

In the last ~6 or so years media has shifted to being…nicer.

What I mean is, the characters actually like each other and there’s way less arguing amongst people who are supposed to be friends.

I finished rottmnt and had a whole dissertation written about the characterization in it, but instead of posting it I’ve been watching other tmnt media, specifically the creepy 2014 movie I hadn’t seen before, and now I’m rewatching the 2012 series, which I remembered loving.

They are…so mean to each. :(

Rise was different because the turtles very clearly loved each other, and there wasn’t this…classic mean-spirited poking-of-the-bear mentality between them.

To be clear, I love this nicening of media, but it can make it hard to go back and watch older things where the heroes, who are supposed to like each other, who are supposed to be friends or family, just…constantly bicker and make jabs at each other.

#I distinctly remember the first example of this nicening I saw was the force awakens. which I like better than new hope despite it being #a telling. bc the animosity bw Han Leila and luka is so off putting but Rey Finn and Poe are all such delights to each other #in theaters Xmas day 2015 I watched Finn and Poe escape and thought ‘wow they’re so nice 🥺’ #and also. yknow. something something the normalization of meanness and the correlation of abuse and bullying or whatever #and also also something something the conscious dismantling of toxic masculinity #even tho there were many story aspects of rottmnt that I thought could be better I do truly love the characterization of the boys #and that might just make them my favorite versions of the turtles to date #apple talks

[kimmycup]

Help I'm getting into Star Wars years too late and despite resisting forever and it's all Oscar Issacs bloody face fault.

#quite literally i just started obsessing about the capture scene idm #idk* #anyway i was always casual star wars fan #i never really did the fandoming #BUT I WANNA WRITE FIC NOW #like i was informed poe knew ben when they were young and now I'm down that rabbit hole #and also consider poe ben and rey as rival metamours but it's poe and rey who are rivals #i mean come on let's be real these two bicker like no other #and also i love me some force sensitive finn #idk help it's all happening against my will

[vault22]

I have to try to keep my distance from star wars because the world building and lore is really enticing but the fandom and also everything disney is doing makes me rabid foaming at the mouth biting attacking

#i just rewatched force awakens and im overcome with rage that they threw away finns potential like that #bc oh my god could you imagine if HE was the last jedi instead of rey. no hate to her but im imagining the last scene with #finn finding luke and holding out the lightsaber... i think it would have been so more powerful considering his stormtrooper beginning #you know what i mean. #also poe was not in the movie enough :/ neither was leia #i havent seen the movies after that one btw because i know they will disappoint me even further

[alexa-crowe]

the hate that reylo gets... it’ll never fail to astound me.

#like the point of it is that he's terrible. that is the point #that was the draw #and for some reason the haters are the ones that keep bringing it up like if it bothers you then cut it out of your life! #like honestly. tlj was nice but also i agree that reylo shouldn't have been canon #not that rey and finn should've gotten together bc it should've been fin and poe #but i digress #i don't think that having kylo/ben and rey get together was a good idea #bc it would've been a much more interesting story for it to be like they have such a connection and they love each other #but he is a terrible person and just bc she loves him doesn't mean that their love outweighs all of his terrible shit #and it's not up to her to forgive him or redeem him #but no. it's just ''ew! reylo!'' #put on your thinking caps and leave us alone. #rambling

[david-talks-sw]

Luke Skywalker in 'The Last Jedi' (2/2)

OK, so in Part 1/2 of this post, we explored why Luke's TLJ characterization isn't really inconsistent with what had previously been established in Star Wars lore. It tracks. Dare I say: it works.

And yet... something still feels off, right?

Well, the reason for this is because Luke's character development is impacted by the film's structure, which in turn is impacted by - of all things - Poe's lack of development in Episode VII! Just hear me out!

The intention: Making the audience feel the same emotions as the protagonist, deuteragonists and antagonist.

This is what most movies strive for. Unless the film is trying to go for some dramatic irony, you want your audience to be on the same page with your protagonist, emotionally-speaking.

And y'know what? Rian Johnson does this very well.

Overall, he displays a very good grasp of making us, the audience, feel the same emotions as a film’s protagonist (generally, the main character, whose POV we follow) or deuteragonist (the ‘secondary main character’).

Rey was expecting to meet the Luke from the Original Trilogy, the Luke from Legends... and instead was disappointed to meet an old jaded hermit. Just like many of the fans were.

Finn is fooled by DJ, mistaking him for an archetypal "misfit with a heart of gold". Just like the fans were.

Poe is increasingly frustrated with Holdo, just like we were.

Call it "meta", call it "subversive", the bottom line is that some of the narrative choices that a lot of fans criticize the film for are intentionally placed there to put you in the same mental state as the characters you're following, even during the film's twists.

But as a result, if a character isn’t the protagonist (Rey), or the deuteragonists (Poe or Finn), or even the antagonist (Kylo)... they'll barely get any development.

They might get one or two scenes for themselves tops, but overall secondary characters like Luke, or Holdo, or DJ will mostly be shown through the filter of Rey or Poe’s or Finn's POV.

The Problem: Luke isn't a protagonist or deuteragonist, so he isn't developed to the audience's satisfaction.

Don't get me wrong: Luke has the second-most screen time in the whole film, but that's because Rey is the one with the most screen time, and he's primarily a character in her storyline.

To be fair, he does have his own subplot, he's the spiritual center of the whole film. But concretely, he’s one step above support characters like Holdo, Leia, Rose and DJ. We're barely shown his own POV and mainly view him through Rey's lens.

Like, there's a reason why in this scene...

... we don't see what Luke witnessed in Ben’s mind, simply his reaction to it: Rey didn’t see it either.

All three "Rashomon" flashbacks are what Rey is picturing in her mind when she’s being told three different versions of the story. She doesn't see what Luke witnessed, so we don't see it either.

And you know what? On paper... this is also not really an issue. It's actually quite standard. I mean, Yoda doesn't get much backstory or an arc in Empire Strikes Back. He's just the mentor figure, and we see him through Luke's POV.

There's no arguing that Luke in TLJ receives much more development than Yoda does in ESB.

But y’know what?

Yoda was also never the protagonist of a whole other trilogy.

So if you're gonna tell an audience that "the protagonist of the previous trilogy strayed from the path and is now a completely different person" - even if they eventually make their way back with a character arc - I don’t think it’s out of order for audience members to expect more development than a regular mentor archetype.

Context is expected, and when it isn't delivered, that'll kill the suspension of disbelief, for many fans. They're not just disappointed in Luke like Rey is, they're not immersed in the movie anymore.

So how do you go for what Rian was going while also trying to keep about half the fans from jumping ship?

The Solution (?) Delving deeper into Luke.

So let’s suppose Luke was treated like a deuteragonist. Suppose we see his own POV more, rather than just seeing him through Rey’s eyes. Would that help? And what would that look like?

Firstly, we keep that deleted scene of him mourning Han’s loss.

Or we show it like in the comic adaptation of TLJ, with Luke getting angry at his decision to cut himself off from the Force, unintentionally levitating objects until Chewie consoles him.

WHAT IT DOES: Either version humanizes Luke, shows who he is beneath the jaded mask he's putting on, gives audience a chance to mourn Han with him.

We keep that deleted scene of him explaining to Rey why he thinks the Jedi were flawed, also known as the “3rd lesson scene”.

WHAT IT DOES: Spells out Luke's rationalization that the Jedi Order needs to end. Marks the beginning of Luke's wake up call.

We add one or two additional short flashbacks of Ben gradually becoming darker and unhinged. Maybe he harms one of his fellow students in a fit of rage.

WHAT IT DOES: Clarifies that Ben was going through a dark period and that's why Luke went to confront him in his hut. He didn't just saunter into Ben's hut, sabers blazing.

Maybe halfway through the film, we see Luke pack his bag as he prepares to rescue his friends with Rey, only to find her communicating with Kyloe.

After all, the novelization shows that, upon opening himself to the Force and sensing Leia, he immediately decides to get back in the game. So if that’s not just something Jason Fry added to embellish stuff, let’s see that.

WHAT IT DOES: Drives home the fact that Luke realizes his mistake. (Although, it might also take away from the subsequent scene with Yoda).

Finally, let’s actually see what Luke saw in Ben’s mind: him killing Lor San Tekka, killing Han, killing Leia, murdering Chewie and countless more innocents all with a smile on his face.

WHAT IT DOES: Provides context for Luke's extreme reaction.

Most of these things are already technically canon, the only difference is that it would be shown on screen. And if all these elements are added, then Luke’s reasons for staying away and his reaction in Ben’s hut are already more understandable.

So where’s the flaws in this solution?

Solution Flaw #1: Plot twist would be ruined.

Talking about this one:

Again, we're seeing Luke THROUGH Rey's POV, for the most part. Our reaction is - intentionally - the same reaction as Rey.

The whole point of the twist is that

we, with Rey, believe Kylo can be redeemed, because

we, like Rey, remember Luke redeemed Vader.

So when she realizes “oh shit, Luke was right, he’s too far gone”... we react that way too.

But if we had seen Ben’s turn as well, if we had seen how he was during his training, if we had seen what Luke’s saw in Ben’s mind, we would all collectively agree with Luke and think that Rey is making a mistake in trying to redeem Kylo.

So when Rey walks away from Luke, rather than hoping she succeeds, we’d just be waiting for her to inevitably fail. We'd be thinking:

"Rey, you moron, you're walking into a trap and Kylo isn't gonna turn!"

Emotionally-speaking, we would be detached from the protagonist.

Solution Flaw #2: Increase in the runtime at the cost of other scenes.

The Last Jedi is already the longest film in the franchise. Adding just three of the above-suggestions would increase that runtime, which wouldn’t work. So you’d need to take something out.

But Finn and Poe’s storylines are already stripped down to their bare bones as it is. Hell, so was the Rey/Luke storyline, for that matter.

Actually, wait... why do we have three storylines, in the first place?

After all, if we look at The Empire Strikes Back, they only have two storylines, right?

The protagonist, Luke, goes to Dagobah.

The deuteragonists, Han and Leia, evade the Empire.

Main plot & subplot. Great.

Wouldn't it be better to just have Poe and Finn do the Canto Bight storyline together? That would give us sme remaining time to focus on Luke’s past, right? Where’s the issue?

Well, Rian Johnson put it this way:

Bottom line, in The Force Awakens, Poe is a clear-cut character. Simple as that. He’s charismatic and fun, but there isn’t much room for him to grow.

A lot of people compare his character to Han, but there's an issue with that comparison (besides the obvious fact that Finn is Han and Poe is Leia)...

In ANH, Han has an arc. He's the philosophical antagonist of the film, he's only out for himself which conflicts with Luke's attempts to help others. Han goes from being a selfish irresponsible gun-slinger to taking responsibility and becoming a selfless rebel, a part of something bigger. Arc concluded.

(Hell, this very reason is why Harrison Ford didn’t wanna keep playing him and lobbied to kill him off.)

So in ESB, Leia is the one who has the arc. Han is just being himself. Leia is the one who must slowly come to terms with the fact that she does love him, despite him being a total nerf-herder. So she and Han bicker, there’s conflict there, but there’s also an underlying affection.

As such, when Poe doesn’t have an arc in TFA, and is already on great terms with Finn, then there’s no conflict if you put them together in a subplot.

And conflict is crucial, in storytelling. If it's absent, then the story becomes boring.

As a result, Rian Johnson had to create conflict and growth for Poe.

Which means that, now, a third storyline is thrown in the mix... and the pacing and development of the other two are affected by this. Some really good scenes need to be cut, some stuff needs to get shuffled around.

For example, remember this deleted scene, from further up?

In the commentary, Rian explained that the reason it wasn’t in the film is because it didn’t intercut well with the other two storylines. *Three and a half, if you wanna count Kylo's personal scenes.

As such, there’s no space to add more scenes to develop Luke's perspective.

And if Rian made more space, well, that wouldn't work either. Because while Luke is the spiritual core of the film... this isn't his movie. He's not the protagonist anymore. But he used to be, and if you show him too much (not as Rey's mentor figure, that is, but as a protagonist or deuteragonist), he'll take the spotlight off the new cast with the snap of a finger.

When Michael Arndt was working on the Sequels with George Lucas in 2012, he encountered this same issue:

“Early on I tried to write versions of the story where [Rey] is at home, her home is destroyed, and then she goes on the road and meets Luke. And then she goes and kicks the bad guy’s ass. It just never worked and I struggled with this. This was back in 2012. It just felt like every time Luke came in and entered the movie, he just took it over. Suddenly you didn’t care about your main character anymore because, ‘Oh f*ck, Luke Skywalker's here. I want to see what he’s going to do’.” - Michael Arndt, Entertainment Weekly, 2015

And I'm guessing this is a problem that JJ had to deal with too, hence why Luke was pushed to the end of Episode VII: so as to give the new characters a chance to be developed a bit more, first.

“In a very general sense, the original idea for Episode VII started midway through what we now know as Episode VIII...” - Pablo Hidalgo, Twitter, 2016

There's finally the fact that, while most of those ideas can make Luke's fall more understandable... his story isn't about "how he fell".

It's about how he got back up. The whole point of the film is that even when you've reached your lowest point you can still inspire and be inspired by hope.

So while adding any of the above scenes would only reinforce what was already shown in the movie, be it explicit or subtextual... they wouldn't ADD anything to the theme of learning from failure and getting back in the saddle.

Do I care about Luke’s characterization in TLJ...?

In spite of what the length and intricacy of these two posts might indicate... I don’t, really 😅

Like, sure, I wish more had been done with the character, but Luke was never really my childhood hero, Obi-Wan was.

So Luke in TLJ isn’t a gaping wound in my chest. I didn't whine about it in 2017, nor did I shed tears of joy and said “he’s finally back” when we saw him in The Mandalorian, for example.

Like, it was an awesome scene, but in my mind Luke never left.

Also I’m the type of Star Wars fan who’ll tolerate any addition to the canon by virtue of it being new Star Wars content.

So even if that addition is something I didn’t enjoy during the viewing, I still focus on the positive and roll with it, I come up with a headcanon that'll make it work.

Because you get to do that, with a transmedia franchise!

If you don’t like how it went down in the movie? There's always a comic around the corner that'll retcon it and/or retroactively make it better... that's how it was for the Prequels.

But for the Sequels, it's difficult. There's a scarcity of transmedia content, when it comes to stuff set around the Sequels era.

I mean, can you think of any

Luke-centric work

that serves as a meaningful addendum to what's seen of him in the Sequels?

A novel, a comic issue and a distantly-relevant manga.

That's it.

(The Mandalorian and Book of Boba Fett are too soon after ROTJ to have any meaningful impact on Luke's journey in the Sequels. Some people see Luke's behavior in those shows as "the beginning of his failure", but I covered why I don't think this is really the case, here.)

Instead of just three items, how about a comic mini-series focusing on the year Luke spent training Leia, or on his adventures across the galaxy as he tries to rebuild the Jedi Order? Maybe he meets Cal Kestis, or Quinlan Vos? Maybe he needs to face against an Oppo Rancisis who was consumed by the darkness, post-Order 66?

Or better yet, how about a video game centered on Luke, in the style of Fallen Order or Jedi Academy?

Get Mark Hamill to motion cap it, he's done it before.

This would also allow the fans who grew up with the powerhouse that is Legends Grandmaster Luke Skywaker to have some fun!

Many fans wanted to see Luke in action, in TLJ, and instead got a pretend-samurai fight. Which is nice, powerful and symbolic, he goes out like a true Jedi, it makes the Force more than a superpower... but it's not a lightsaber duel. In a game, though? Players can go to town.

I dunno... any additional content would've smoothed the blow for many people who didn't like what was done with Luke in TLJ. Sure, you'd always have people who just hated the whole thing, but if transmedia content helped reduce the hate for the Prequels, it could've done the same with Luke.

I'm not sure why that route wasn't taken.

#Luke Skywalker #The Last Jedi #Rian Johnson #Star Wars episode VIII #star wars #jedi order #meta #long post #Ahch-To #in defense of the jedi #episode 8 #Ben Solo #Kylo Ren #Mark Hamill #star wars sequel trilogy

[chloe-skywalker]

Injuries - Poe Dameron

Poe x reader

Warnings: none (angsty?)

Word count: 1,755

Summary: Can Poe forgive Y/n for something that happened on her last mission? Or will they break up for good?

A/N's : May The Force/4th Be With You

Masterlist

Star Wars Masterlist

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

“I’m sorry! Please Poe!” Y/n yelled out tripping after him. She didn’t mean to upset him Y/n just thought why worry him? “Forgive me.”

Poe turned towards her with an angry look in his eyes. “Why should I?”

Y/n let out a sigh before trying to plead with her beloved pilot. “Poe, you have to understand-”

“No! I don’t and I don’t want to hear any excuses you have to say.” Poe stated, shaking his head. He didn’t want to hear any excuses or reasons why she did what she did. He let out a sigh. “This.” he pointed between them. “Whatever we had. It’s done!”

Poe turned on his heels and left her standing in the middle of the mostly empty hanger. Y/n was on the verge of tears watching him leave. Had it really been that big of a deal? She just didn’t want to worry him but now she might have lost the best thing in her life.

“Y/n” Finn said having watched the whole thing with Rey.

Y/n/n” Rey called out at the same time as her and Finn headed over to the Y/h/c-ed girl. Both cautious and worried about her as they approached.

“Wha- no. I-I’m fine. I just need some air.” Y/n spoke wiping tears from her cheeks before she turned and walked between the two, heading outside. Needing to be alone for a bit.

Finn and Rey watched her go wishing they could take away her pain. Finn turned to Rey hoping she could tell him why their friends that were massively in love just had, well that happen. “What just happened?”

Rey turned her focus on Finn to answer her friend. “Remember that mission she was sent on?”

“Yeah.” he nodded

“Well, she got hurt really bad and didn’t report it. She kept with the mission. Apparently it was a life threatening injury.” Rey explained.

“Oh” Finn raised his brows in shock.

“Yeah, that's not the half of it.” Rey nodded also having been in shock at the news. “She didn’t say anything when she got back to base either. Eventually Y/n just passed out from all the blood loss. Scared the life out of Poe.”

“Ok. I get why he’s mad, but. Y/n was just trying to finish the mission. It was so important that no one knew what the mission was about or for but Y/n and Leia.” Finn said trying to understand why Poe would break up with the girl he loved more than flying. “But why’s he taking it out on her?”

Rey shook her head ‘no’ and shoulders. She didn’t have a clue either. “I don’t know but ever since he’s been distant and Y/n has been tearing herself apart. She feel so bad.”

Finn sighed looking off in both directions to where their friends ha disappeared. “You can tell on her face how bad she feels for not saying anything to him.”

^ ^ ^

“Poe, man. Your off lately. Have been for weeks now.” Finn pointed out sitting across from the shaggy haired man.

“I know.” Poe mumbled under his breath rubbing his eyes. He knew he hadn’t been at his best for awhile. Not since he broke up with Y/n. He always slept better beside her and she made his life brighter.

“What's wrong man?” Finn asked with a concerned tone and face. He felt for his friend, even though he had a good idea what was wrong but had Poe figured it out yet?

“I miss her, Finn.” Poe let out a heavy breath before lifting his gaze to Finn’s. “Look… I know I’m the one who ended it, what me and her had. But she scared the bantha crap out of me with that stunt she pulled.”

Finn sighed knowing his next words weren’t helpful. “You broke her heart.”

“What?” Poe’s eyes widened at that statement. He broke her?

“You broke her heart. Poe, I really don’t think she meant to cause herself to be injured or to worry you like she did.” Finn explained looking at Poe with sad eyes. “I think you need to talk to her.”

Poe nodded taking a gulp of his drink. “I will.”

^ ^ ^

“y/n/n, you got to leave your room at some point.” Rey said knocking on her bedroom door. The door opened and Y/n let Rey in before she turned back to as far as Rey could tell, packing.

“I will. Just let me have one more day to wallow in self pity and sadness.” Y/n casted Rey a tight smile before returning to her task at hand. Y/n hadn’t left her room much since the whole hanger incident with Poe. She didn’t want to see or talk to anyone. Well, she at least talked to R2. But that was it. It hurt to much to do much of anything. Her heart shattered that day and she has been trying to pick up at least the tiniest of pieces.

“One more day?” Rey asked a she stepped further into the room, completely puzzled by Y/n’s words.

“Yeah. I leave tomorrow for a mission.” Y/n stated not even turning to look at her friend.

“What?” Rey couldn’t believe what she was hearing. After all the emotional hurt the Y/h/c-ed girl just went through she’s now gonna go on a mission?

“I’m leaving for another mission tomorrow morning. Well, afternoon, but I want to try and leave early.” Y/n shrugged as she continued to pack her bag.

“What about-” Rey was hoping her and Finn had enough time to fix things between Y/n and Poe before either or any of the, had to leave again.

“Don’t say ‘what about Poe’.” Y/n said cutting off Rey before she could even finish the sentence. She let out a sigh before taking a deep breath and continued. “He broke my heart. I don’t need to worry how he feels if I leave.”

“But Y/n, Leia sends you on dangerous missions. What if you don’t get to come back? You don’t want to leave anything unsaid.” Rey tried pointing out. Everyone knew what had happened between the couple but the one’s closest to them knew they needed to talk. Make up, even.

Y/n bit her lip biting back tears. “I have a lot I would like to say to him. But he’s made it clear that I’m out of his life, mind, his everything. So I’m not gonna try. Cause that would be putting myself through unnecessary heartbreak.”

Y/n carried on packing and Rey turned and left her to it. She needed to find Finn so they could plan their next move. They had to get Poe to talk to her, and fast.

^ ^ ^

“Poe!” Finn yelled out running through the hallway with Rey.

“Poe!” Rey also yelled as they got his attention, Poe turning to face the two.

“What?” Poe asked now facing the two who seemed very out of breath.

“y/n’s leaving.” Finn stated catching his breath but there was still urgency in his voice.

“What?!” That got Poe’s attention instantly. What did they mean exactly by ‘leaving’?

“She’s heading out to go on a mission.” Rey explained further to the new panicked pilot. At least if this was his reaction maybe he could fix things.

“When?” Poe asked the two as he started to move around them ready to go find his girl.

Finn and Rey shared a glance. “Well, she’s not suppose to leave till noon but-”

“She’s already almost done with loading up her ship. She wants to leave early.” Rey cut in.

“Is she in the hanger?” Poe rushed out as he and BB started to fast walk backwards down the hall, ready to take off once a location was confirmed.

Rey nodded. “She should be. Go!”

“Go!” Finn shouted as well.

Poe sprinted down the hallways with BB-8 on his heels. Once they reached the hanger Poe headed for the spot where Y/n normally landed her ship. Upon getting closer Poe decided to call out for her. “Y/n!”

“Poe?” Y/n turned around confused as she was halfway up the ramp of her ship. Some people turned at the grown mans yelling but seeing as it was Poe and spectacles were his specialty, they all got back to what they were originally doing. “What are you doing here?”

Poe finally reached her, standing in front of where she had come down the ramp. He was out of breath but the look in his eyes, Y/n knew nothing would stop him. “I heard you were leaving for a mission.”

“Poe-” she shook her head but he cut her off. Poe needed to tell her.

“No, no please just let me explain.” Poe grabbed her hand hoping if he was it would prevent her from leaving before he could get the words out.

“I’m sorry I was so harsh on you.” Poe gave her a guilty sad smile and sent a squeeze to her hand. “I let my emotions get in the way, and that’s my fault. Please, forgive me.”

He really hoped he could get her to forgive him. They had been through so much together and he might’ve ruined it all. He was just scared of losing her. Poe knew her Jedi mind along with her being a Organa-Solo-Skywalker blood meant that she was more stubborn than anyone else in the galaxy. An truth is he would’ve done the same thing to finish the mission. He wasn’t being fair.

Y/n sent him a small smile and reached for his other hand. “Poe I understand you being worried, scared, maybe a little upset. But I can’t go through that again. Your reaction was, well to put it nicely? A lot. I can’t do it again- not if I give us another chance.”

Poe nodded in understanding. “I promise, I’ll be better. That I’ll do better to not react so harshly.”

“An I promise if I get hurt I’ll tell you right away.” Y/n smiled nodding along with him. She was glad to have her Poe back. Then she smiled mischievously at him and Poe furrowed his eyebrows confused. “You wanna come with me?”

“Huh?”

Y/n laughed at the look on his face before swaying their hands at their sides. “Leia did say I could pick and bring a partner if I wanted.” she smirked, both knowing they weren’t gonna pass this up.

Tag: @gruffle1 @padawancat97

#y/n #imagine #imagines #x reader #x y/n #star #wars #star wars #star wars imagine #star wars imagines #leia organa #rey star wars #finn star wars #poe #dameron #poe dameron x reader #poe dameron imagine #poe dameron imagines #poe dameron x skywalker reader #poe dameron x skywalker!reader #poe dameron x solo reader #poe dameron x solo!reader #poe dameron x female reader #poe dameron x y/n #poe dameron x you

[jessicas-pi]

📙 📕 please?

OOOO ok since you sent two I'm gonna give you two AUs--a short one and a long one!

the short AU idea is one I call Hi, You've Reached The New Republic. How Can I Help You?

It's based on the premise that, at the end of TRoS, Ben doesn't die. He lives and joins the good guys! But he did a lot of bad stuff, so he's going to be punished. Originally he gets sentenced to death, but Rey is sad about that, and so Poe and Finn step in because Rey Cannot Be Sad. But, also, they understandably resent the bad stuff he did, and they're allowed to be a little petty, as a treat. So they suggest Ben be sentenced to a fate worse than death.

And by "fate worse than death," I mean customer service.

So now Ben works for the New New Republic, answering phones, and he has to deal with all the garbage that customer service workers get, and at this point, Rey's Not Mad Just Disappointed face is the only thing keeping him from turning evil again. Force Ghost Anakin Shenanakins optional.

the other AU I have in mind is a crossover based on Crooked House, which is an Agatha Christie novel! It's long so i'm putting it beneath a cut.

SO, when I read Crooked House, I got like half a chapter in and was absolutely OVERWHELMED by the sabezra vibes from the main couple. It's like, guy meets girl, guy is in love with girl, girl reciprocates, guy goes off to war for a few years, guy and girl are reunited. also, girl has an absolutely insane family where literally anyone could be a suspect in a murder.

ANYWAY i immediately came up with an AU, as one does. I call it Crooked Clan.

I haven't decided if I want this AU to be set in our world in the past, in the canon star wars universe, or in a star-warsy-yet-vintagey universe that is different from canon. I'm thinking the third option probably.

So, the idea is that Sabine's clan isn't ruled by her mother, but by her grandmother, who also owns the Darksaber. Sabine and Ezra are friends in this AU--which happens in a universe where Order 66 was never a thing--despite Ezra being a Jedi and Sabine being Mandalorian. They've known each other since their teenage years, like in canon, and they're very close.

When Sabine is about 22, her grandmother dies under mysterious circumstances, and Sabine asks Ezra to come help her. Ostensibly as moral support, but she actually suspects there was foul play. Ezra agrees immediately because he would do anything for her.

it becomes clear soon that there WAS foul play. The obvious suspect is Gar Saxon, Ursa's distant cousin, who invited himself into their home and is known to be ruthless with a dislike for the Wrens. And due to a technicality, he would become ruler of Clan Wren unless the previous Countess specifically left it to someone else. And the will Sabine's grandmother supposedly made is missing.

But, one-by-one, it becomes clear that everyone in Sabine's family is suspect.

As follows:

Ursa, Sabine's mother, who was supposed to inherit rulership of the clan

Alrich, Sabine's father, who would willingly do anything for his wife

Tristan, Sabine's brother, who was ruthlessly bullied by his grandmother and openly hated her

Eris (an OC), Sabine's aunt and Ursa's older sister, who was disinherited less than a month ago for her supposed "madness"

Bo-Katan, a family friend who turns out to have previously been associated with a terrorist organization known as Death Watch

and finally, Sabine herself becomes suspect, when her grandmother's will finally resurfaces, and she learns that the rulership of the clan--along with the Darksaber--was left to her.

I haven't worked out ALL the details yet, but I have a LOT of vibes in my head, and... yeah, that's the ramble! There may be more someday! But I make no guarantees!

Thank you for the ask!! :D

#ask game #AU ask game #star wars sequel trilogy #star wars rebels #sabezra #jessica's writing nonsense #(kind of)

[vampire-exgirlfriend]

what if tros was written by rian johnson

I ask myself this question at least twice a day, nonnie.

We could have had it all. Rey would still be Rey from nowhere, proving you don't have to have some super fancy family lineage to be special, to be worthy. Finn would have revealed the fact that he was force sensitive as well, and we would have gotten to really explore that and how that's juxtaposed against his forced conscription as he starts training with Rey and Leia. Poe would not have been a drug smuggler (fuck you jj, that shit is racist as hell and you know it), but the son of famed resistance fighters who were genuinely trying to make the world a better place. Rose would have actually had a fucking role and done her best to avenge the loss of her sister while still fighting for those she loves and upholding her belief in a galaxy that is better than her homeworld. Ben would have lived and, in turn, actually had to atone for his wrongs against the resistance and the galaxy at large while also exploring what it actually means to be half of a dyad - literally the other half of someone's soul. We could have had an exploration of what the Jedi order (potentially a gray Jedi order) would have looked like in the hands of Rey, Ben, and Finn. I think that Hux would have been the Big Villain™️ and it would have been an insane fight against the closest thing to space nazi's we've got. Because let me tell you, that speech Domhnall gave in TFA? Bone chilling. That is the villain we deserved in TROS.

But all in all, it would have been a story about hope, love, and redemption. All the things that star wars stands for that jj abrams hates apparently.

So yeah, I have a lot of thoughts about this lol

#the rise of skywalker #the force awakens

[knightotoc]

Who fumbled the trope better: The Rise of Skywalker or Picard Season 3? (long post by a hater)

1. Everyone's Related

- TRoS: retcons the story to make the protag someone's kid; it's a big reveal with little time to process; odd things are apparently genetic (like shooting lightning and being evil and goth); she rejects her heritage and chooses a different family, who are all dead; the emotional peak is a father ('s ghost) redeeming his wayward son; nepo kids get together, sorta; a claustrophobic sense of being trapped in the past and made intentionally inferior to the famous

- PIC S3: protag has had a secret kid this whole time; it's a big reveal with little time to process; odd things are apparently genetic (like bravery and accent); inconsistent with other legacy character's parental experiences (Geordi's daughters are second-tier characters who parallel Jack's rejection-acceptance-nepotism arc; Riker and Troi's kids are briefly but emotionally discussed; one emotional line about Wesley; one unemotional line about Lal; utter absence of Alexander); the emotional peak is a father redeeming his wayward son; as Picard's unqualified son and Geordi's qualified daughter get jobs on the bridge of Starfleet's flagship, Picard says, "Names mean almost nothing," and his son responds, "Names mean almost everything;" nepo kids get together, sorta; a mind-numbing sense of conservative family values and reassuring some very insecure people

2. Lesbian Queerbaiting

- TRoS: in the final celebration homage to RotJ, two minor characters kiss in the background; this spawned the "live slug reaction" meme that has now manifested as a homophobic inside joke in Jedi: Survivor

- PIC S3: Seven and Raffi got together in S2 and became Trek's first lesbian couple between two major characters (DISCO already gave us Trek's first major gay couple), but they broke up before the events of S3; they are coworkers in the end of S3, but are not back together because of...

3. Fear of Shippers

- TRoS: Finn is clearly into Rey, but it's unclear if she likes him back; Rey and Kylo kiss sans romantic music, but then he dies and she does not see his ghost; two more women are introduced to pair with Finn and Poe, but none of them get together either; it's unconfirmed, but the vibe is that they didn't want to commit to anything to try to please everyone

- PIC S3: the vibe is the same and it is confirmed:

(by "that scene," he means Picard returning to Laris)

Both franchises also had a focus on an interracial relationship (Finnrey and Saffi), then have the Black person hang out mostly with another Black character (Jannah and Worf) while the white person hangs out with mostly white characters.

4. Bad Boy Braincontrol

- TRoS: somehow Palpatine returned, and he's been in Kylo's mind this whole time; that's why he's evil, not anything of his own free will, just the old story impressing itself upon him (he still has to die though); you know this villain, just defeat him with the power of love like you did last time

- PIC S3: somehow the Borg Queen returned, and she's been in Jack's mind this whole time; that's why he has intrusive thoughts, not because that's a thing that happens to people, just the old story impressing itself upon him; you know this villain, just defeat her with the power of love like you did last time

The visual similarities of Zombie Palpatine and Zombie Borg Queen are remarkable -- physically trapped in dusty corners by creepy machines -- and would be even more interesting if I could actually see them in these dark rooms. This design, which suggests an elderly person immobile in a hospital, actually makes me feel a lot of pity and affection for them. It certainly would have felt far more heroic to help these poor creatures than to rather easily defeat them.

5. We Love Objects

- TRoS: Kylo's private room is literally a museum with curated displays of old props; fetch quest video game-y plot; lots of attention paid to whose lightsaber does what and goes where

- PIC S3: let's break into the museum of old props; kitschy oil paintings of the Enterprise and Picard on the walls; the most unearned and half-hearted "long shots of beloved ship leaving space dock" sequence in a franchise full of such sequences

#star wars #star trek #the rise of skywalker #picard season 3

[the-force-awakens]

Thoughts on Poe and his relationship with the force? For me, especially in the comics, it's always been one of the most interesting explorations of a non-force user connecting deeply with the force. I keep coming back to Poe's speech at L'ulo's funeral and just sit in awe of the writing for a good for minutes.

Oh, I have so many thoughts on Poe and his relationship with the Force, and a lot of them always go back to that scene in the comics, and something Oscar said in an interview ahead of the Force Awakens:

He knows about Luke and Han. But his family - he comes from a long line of rebel fighters, as well. So he’s committed totally to the Resistance. He believes in the Force. (source)

So, one thing that they seemed to have landed on from the get-go, is that Poe believes in the Force - enough that, y'know, he mentions it as part of his speech at L'ulo's funeral, and one thing stands out to me:

These days, we don't talk about the Force that much. I don't know if it's gone out of fashion, or if it's just harder to see around us. It was different for me growing up. We used to tell stories about the Force all the time.

Which sounds to me like 'believing' in the Force here, doesn't just mean Poe knows it exists, but that he possibly believes in it the way Lor San Tekka and the Church of the Force might - like it's part of Poe's religion. I mean, consider how excited he is to meet Lor San Tekka, and how much Tekka knows - the Force means a lot to Poe, and shapes his worldview.

The rest of my thoughts are technically not disproven by canon, but are the kind of extrapolation that's definitely more "headcanon" than anything:

I think Poe's relationship with the Force is interesting because of how much the Force is seeped into his story, and not just in the sense that Poe believes in the Force in a seemingly religious way: there's the fact that Poe first hears Leia in Free Fall, just outside/around a set of old religious ruins (because Kijimi used to be a religious site, back when). There's the fact that we meet Poe in a village filled with people who do worship the Force, and that it's canon (or semi-canonical) that Poe taps into it on Takodana while flying.

(I think Poe taps into it a lot, actually, if we look at how uncannily intuitive he can be...or the way he can easily dodge blaster fire while running into battle....or how in tune he can be with his wingmen - there's a shot in TLJ of him moving in perfect synchronicity with C'ai, during the briefing with Holdo, that I never noticed. Poe does it with more people than just Finn, apparently, and that fascinates me.)

But I also find it...particularly interesting that Poe is present (or nearby) a lot of the times when Force Sensitives first tap into the Force. He's in the village when Finn connects to it for the first time properly (I'm assuming that's the moment, anyway, since Ren has such a profound reaction to Finn), and - well Rey's a little more shaky, since he's vaguely sort of around, flying on Starkiller, when she fully embraces the Force. But then in Terrifying Tales, he's there when Dean connects to it for the first time as well....

I don't think Poe is properly Force Sensitive, I don't see him being able to lift anything, or stuff like that. But I think the Force loves him, and I think it might get a little stronger around him (hence the above with the Force Sensitives). The Force does just...move strangely around him, I think - he grew up with a Force-sensitive tree in his back yard, he's the right hand of one of the last Jedi in the galaxy (even if she quit training), he's tapped into the Force before while flying (probably more than once, if we're being honest, considering no one in the gffa flies anything remotely like Poe), and there's the very interesting scene in TLJ that - sure, proves that Poe is as good a tactician and leader as Leia - has Poe and Leia come up with the same plan, at the same exact time, from opposite ends of the ship...which is then immediately followed up with Leia having a Force Bond moment with Ren.

And then there's the torture scene. Ren doesn't go easy on him. In the novelization, it's described as "silent agony". In Battlefront II, we see precisely what it's like for the person on the receiving end, and Del does give up the information that Ren needs. In Kenobi, we see Reva get what she needs within seconds.

Ren doesn't...get anything from Poe. According to a Topps Card:

Kylo Ren tortures Poe Dameron in an attempt to extract any information about the Resistance's plans and the map to locate Skywalker. Poe manages to keep the location of the Resistance base a secret, but is in so much pain, he cannot mask his thoughts about BB-8 having the information [source].

By all rights, according to what we've seen in Star Wars and of non-Force Sensitives being interrogated for information...Poe shouldn't have been able to keep anything from Ren. But he did, even while under excruciating agony. Consider how many Resistance secrets are in Poe's head - he knows not just the location of the base, but likely the location of most of their spies considering that Resistance shows that Poe is the one to keep contact with them.

And there's the fact that Poe's torture is something that canonically reverberates throughout the Force, since Ezra hears his voice in the World Between Worlds episode of Star Wars Rebels ("The Resistance will not be intimidated by you").

So, I don't know. I think Poe worships the Force, and I definitely don't think he's a passive agent to it, I do think that he influences it to some degree, and that it influences him to some degree. I think the Force loves Poe right back, and that push and pull dynamic is so interesting to me when so many of the people in his life are Force Sensitive....

and it's utterly heartbreaking to consider that Poe's first experience with it, was on Jakku and the Finalizer, assuming Leia had never used it around him before (which I do find a little doubtful, and I like to think he's seen her do some Force stuff before, but if we wanna go the angsty route lmao...), and that something that he loves and worships, and possibly loves him right back, was then weaponized against him.

#ask box #galacticwildfire #my meta #poe dameron #i just!!! think!!! poe and the force!!! is interesting as hell!!!!! is all!!! #he's so in awe when he sees rey in tlj #and then i also find it so interesting that he looks /concerned/ when she holds back the transport in tros #almost like he knows something *isn't* right about it this time #i am forever rotating this man and his relationship with the force around in my brain ough

[virtie333]

Let's talk Damerey.

I ended up being a VERY general fan during the SW sequels. Like...none of the ships bother me. FinnPoe? Fine. Damerey? Fine. Kylo and whomever, sure. I guess. I just want them to live and be happy.

Anyway, when did your Damerey journey start? I think I read at one point they had thought about making Poe and Rey a thing? But I guess the visions of the differing directors didn't allow for it? Did I make that up in my head?

I understand the appeal of that ship as well as FinnPoe or whatever it's called. I mean, it's Poe, so who wouldn't be obsessed lol

Anyway, thoughts?

Also, do you like to stick to Damerey fics for Poe or do you also like xreader with Poe?

Oh, boy. This might take a while.

I can honestly say I've been Damerey a lot longer than I've been a fan of Oscar Isaac. I became Damerey right after The Force Awakens. But here's the thing, I was Reylo, too. What? Okay, let me explain. I love the 'good girl falls for bad boy' trope, but I've always been realistic about it; the bad boy can't be horrible bad and has to become good eventually. I loved the idea of Rey bringing Ben back from the Dark Side, but... what he did to his father (my first love and still the one I compare to all other crushes) is unforgivable. I knew Ben Solo would NOT have a happy ending. Therefore, Rey needed to have her happily ever after with someone else. Finn or Poe? I loved them both, but I do have a thing for pilots, so I chose Poe.

The Last Jedi only increased my interest in both ships. The connection between Rey and Ben was fascinating. But... that last scene between Rey and Poe? I remember commenting to my brother after our first viewing, "They have to be planning something between them after that! Right?"

I went into the last movie wondering which way (if either) they were going to take it. I told myself I would be happy with either, and even if Rey chose no one; after all, she doesn't need a man to make her happy. But I am a hopeless romantic. After the first argument between Poe and Rey, where I nudged my brother (who I saw all 3 movies with) and said "They're just like Han and Leia!", I had hopes.

But... they failed to continue with that bright start. And with the kiss between Ben and Rey at the end, I was pretty much resolved to settle for Reylo. And that was my focus for the first couple of month after the movie. But then something strange happened. A fellow Reylo fan, who had defended the first two movies despite all the hate going on, started bemoaning how 'Rey would never be happy now,' and she 'would never get to have babies,' etc. etc. And that pissed me off. Big Time. She had options, dammit! She could stay single and raise Force sensitive orphans. She had Finn. And of course, she had Poe. So, I wrote Rising, my first fanfic in almost 20 years.

When the pandemic hit, and I ended up working part-time, I decided I needed to continue with this post-movie world I had created. I still had a soft spot for Ben, and it shows up in my early works, but I wanted to make Rey and Poe find their happily ever after. Then something else strange happened. In one of my stories, Kennera, I wrote a scene from Poe's POV. Suddenly, I wanted to know more about the actor who portrayed him. And I found this...

That was that. I was hooked on this man. I started watching everything I could with him in it. And I continued to write Damerey, falling more and more deeply into that ship. Reylo became less and less interesting to me, and now I could care less about it. Damerey is everything to me. And it's been that way for almost three years now. I just freaking love them with everything in me.

To answer your question about the ship almost becoming canon, yes it almost did. Colin Trevorrow's script The Duel of the Fates almost became the third movie, and it included a lot more Rey/Poe interaction, even a kiss or two. Some say it's why that scene at the end of The Last Jedi was added, to introduce that attraction. But alas, it didn't happen.

If you had asked me two years ago if I had read any Poe x Reader stories, I would have scoffed at you. I am a reader of novels and I write in the same style and always will, so why would I read that? But... I've read several amazing writers that write in that style since then, and I have become addicted. I know I will never write that way, but I will enjoy others.

I think the fact that I don't write that way is the reason why no one on Tumblr (other than a few trusted friends) ever reads and shares my stuff. It's a bit lonely sometimes, but it is what it is.

Damerey forever!

Art by @greysmartwolf

#ask box #ivystoryweaver #damerey #jedipilot #poe x rey #my story #oscar isaac #writing #i bet you're sorry you asked! #lol

[throuple-tournament]

Throuple Tournament Info

Rules

Submissions are closed.

Polls will run for a week and I will give you at least a days notice.

I will not answer asks while a poll is up unless it's propaganda or a question about the polls.

I will not answer asks about discourse. I might think about what you said but I don't want discourse on this blog.

I will also not respond to rude or mean asks.

Please send asks that are propaganda. Also, please send asks with your fan art or your favourite screenshots that you wouldn't mind me using for polls.

Please send in a description of your favourite throuples if you want to; these will be used in the polls.

Please do not be rude about other people's interests or the other throuples in the tournament. You can talk about your preferred throuple without talking badly about the other/s.

Please don't jokingly threaten others or joke about suicide. I've noticed that some polls I follow have had this issue and I don't want this to happen on my blog.

I don't know when I'm going to have the first polls ready as I'm going to be getting busier from this week onwards but I'll let you guys know.

Match Ups Under Keep Reading

Group 1

Marco/Star/Tom vs Marco/Janna/Jackie from Star vs the Forces of Evil

Adaine/Fig/Ayda vs Em/Sofia/Dale from Dimension 20

Kala/Wolfgang/Rajan vs Lito/Hernando/Daniela from Sense 8

Willow/Luz/Amity vs Willow/Hunter/Gus from The Owl House

Raz/Lilli/Dogen vs Ford/Lucretia/Otto from Psychonauts

Finn/Rey/Poe vs Rex/Anakin/Padme from Star Wars

Makoto/Sayaka/Kyoko vs Hajime/Nagito/Chiaki from Danganronpa

Ryunosuke/Barok/Kazuma vs Clay/Apollo/Klavier from The Great Ace Attorney

Jason/Roy/Koriand'r vs Dick/Barbara/Koriand'r from DC Comics

Marius/Ivy/Raphaella vs Orpheus/Narcissus/Eurydice from The Mechanisms

Group 2

Selina/Harley/Ivy vs Tim/Bernard/Kon from DC

Sam/Tucker/Danny vs Vlad/Jack/Maddie from Danny Phantom

Rose/Lissa/Natalie from Vampire Academy vs Bonnie/Caroline/Elena from Vampire Diaries

Jay/Nya/Cole from Ninjago vs Red Son/Mei/MK from Lego Monkie Kid

Rilla/Arum/Damien from Penumbra Podcast vs Howard/James/Cel from Rusty Quill Gaming Podcast

Haru/Legosi/Louis from Beastars vs Ranpo/Poe/Mushitarou from Bungou Stray Dogs

Adrien/Marinette/Kagami from Miraculous Ladybug vs Anne/Marcy/Sasha from Amphibia

Ichika/Nene/Kanade vs Rui/Mafuyu/Tsukasa from Project SEKAI

Parker/Hardison/Elliot from Leverage vs Neal/Peter/Elizabeth from White Collar

Yamato/Ace/Deuce from One Piece vs Arthur/Lancelot/Guinevere from Arthurian Legend

Group 3

Ichigo/Minto/Retasu from Tokyo Mew Mew vs Hikaru/Lala/Yuni from Star Twinkle Precure

Kyle/Rogelio/Lonnie from She-Ra and the Princesses of Power vs Pearl/Rose/Greg from Steven Universe

Rapunzel/Eugene/Cassandra from Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure vs Zuko/Sokka/Suki from Avatar: The Last Airbender

The Doctor/Rose/Jack from Doctor Who vs James/Bones/Spock from Star Trek TOS

Nancy/Steve/Jonathan from Stranger Things vs Merlin/Gwen/Arthur from Merlin (2008)

Rachel/Chloe/Max from Life is Strange vs Thanatos/Zagreus/Megaera from Hades

Vincent/Victor/Albert from Vincent: The Secret of Myers vs Rinne/Himeru/Niki from Ensmeble Stars!

Jack/Kirtash/Victoria from Idhun's Memories Series vs Qibli/Winter/Moonwatcher from Wings of Fire Series

Ludivine/Rielle/Audric from The Empirium Trilogy vs Vlad/Nathan/Ursula from Hunger Pangs:True Love Bites

King Kelp/Lord Cabbage/Bagel from Cucumber Quest vs Camilla/Nyra/Dendro from Muted

Group 4

Neptune/Uranus/Pluto from Sailor Moon vs Aira/Rizumu/Mion from Pretty Rhythm

Mickey/Goofy/Donald from Disney vs Pepe/Sylvester/Penelope from Looney Tunes

Draculaura/Clawdeen/Frankie from Monster High vs Ruby/Weiss/Penny from RWBY

Nathan/Annalise/Gabriel from The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself vs Quentin/Eliot/Arielle from The Magicians

Leon/Claire/Ada from Resident Evil vs Jaskier/Yennefer/Geralt from The Witcher

Abigail/Sam/Sebastian from Stardew Valley vs Candy/Sapphire/Zack from My Sims

Sweet/Capn/K_K from Deltarune vs Shiver/Frye/Big Man from Splatoon

Chris/Millie/Conrad from Chronicles of Chrestomanci vs Sadie/Walt/Anubis from The Kane Chronicles

Rah'oxah/Legzi/Ryjnah from Drawga: Dungeons and Drawings vs Grendan/York/Rose from Drawtectives

Jean/Scott/Logan from Marvel Comics vs Wu/Li/Gao from Iron Widow

Group 5

Yuji/Megumi/Nobara from Jujutsu Kaisen vs Misa/Light/L from Deathnote

Lucy/George/Anthony from Lockwood & Co vs Louis/Lestat/Armand from Interview With A Vampire

Chel/Tulio/Miguel from The Road to El Dorado vs Manolo/Maria/Joaquin from The Book of Life

Henry/Charles/Ellie from Henry Stickmin Collection vs Steve/Alex/Herobrine from Minecraft

Soldier/Demoman/Zhanna from TF2 vs Susie/Magolor/Taranza from Kirby

Morgana/Launchpad/Drake from Darkwing Duck vs Yoo/Han/Kim from Omniscient Readers Viewpoint

Isabela/Merril/Hawke from Dragon Age 2 vs Dorian/Orym/Fearne from Critical Role Campaign 3

Vivi/Arthur/Lewis from Mystery Skulls Animated vs Aizo/Yujiro/Hiyori from Honeyworks

June/Dave/Karkat from Homestuck vs Trevor/Sypha/Alucard from Castlevania

Elizabeth/Jack/Will from Pirates of the Carribean vs Cyrano/Christian/Roxanne from Cyrano (2021)

#throuple #tournament #polls

[piglet26]

Finnrey! I ship the Bffs while I Reylo. TROS

When starting this post I was very curious as to what happened between FinnRey between The Last Jedi and TROS. I had to do some research into the books that were released during that gap.

I didn't like TROS, but one aspect I did like was seeing FinnRey again and the scenes they did receive warmed my heart. Now.....

Dear John Boyega - I'm not sure what you were promised, I wasn't there for pre-production conversations and I know you were a huge fan of Star Wars - however, this was never your story. This was the Skywalker + Rey story. Reylo was planned from the outset so it wasn't that. Yes, you were the first main black cast member of a SW film, it doesn't mean you were the most important character though.

Yes, Adam Driver is tall, dark, handsome and white... his character is also the son of Han and Leia, a Prince, he's the grandson of Anakin and Padme, the villain AND Luke's nephew and former padawan. Adam Driver is also a helluva actor. From a purely story wise perspective..... he's pretty damn important. No, you didn't sidelined due to him.

I also agree with Jason Fry, he got a fully developed story in The Last Jedi. TROS let everybody down. Ben solo was screwed, Rey was partially developed then screwed, Rose (thankfully) was in two minutes, Leia (unfortunately) was limited, Poe was meh, Hux was replaced then pointlessly murdered, R2D2 was limited..... so calm down.

In the year between TLJ and TROS, The novel Resistance Reborn gives us the biggest clues into their relationship during this time, despite Rey being a side character. It's very clear from Poe and Rose that they find Rey difficult to get to know. Rose comments that she find Rey someone who seems like she's both in the present and just beyond it. Poe attempts to bond with Rey through banter about flying skills, ships or being a Jedi which Rey find mostly annoying. Rey is friendly and she's a dedicated student of the Force, but it's clear she only really has a bond with Chewie, BB8, her master Leia and of course Finn. There's a conversation between Poe and Finn aboard the Falcon regarding his relationship with Rey.

Poe: "So the two of you aren't..."

Finn: "No, nothing like that. Just friends."

Rey and Kylo are both strong in the Force, they are the light and dark sides of the same coin, but FinnRey is made of the same noble cloth. While I Reylo, I'm glad Rey was able to receive such pure friendship and love from Finn. Finn is someone she can connect to especially as she grows more distant from everyone else as a mere byproduct of fate. Finn is so excited that Rey exists, the moment he meets her he has someone he loves to fight for. Over a short time that love grows bigger than his fear of what he fled.

TROS Scenes

(This booty sticking out church hug is not my FinnRey hug)

In the movie, it's made clear that mainly Rey is training while Finn goes out on missions with Poe or Rose. While this frustrates Poe, Finn calmy agrees that they would use her. I disagree with this. While practically speaking, Finn and Rey's strengths and weaknesses complement each other, the best thing she could be doing is training.

When it's revealed that Palpatine has return (eyeroll) Rey decides to head to the desert of Pasaana to find the Sith Way finder to Exegol. While preparing to depart Rey finds that Finn, Poe, Chewie and BB8 are heading out with her. Good. FinnRey are a shockingly good team, a fact they discover within just a few minutes of meeting each other. Plus, John Boyega and Daisy Ridley are brimming with BFF energy that audience enjoys watching.

It's also great to see Finn evolve into a character more centered into himself so much so that he's the more moderating character that bind the trio of Poe, Rey, and himself together. Finn is the only character that has strong connections to everyone on screen.

There definitely seems to be an attempt to not separate Finn from Rey or vice verse but make sure his arc is balanced while still being her confidante. They don't necessarily have many moment in Pasaana where you get a sense of their mutuality. Daisy Ridley commented on the new dynamic.

"The thing for me that was always really exciting is I never felt like there was a specified sort of love that we were portraying. So the relationship between Finn, Rey and Poe in this one, I felt amazing. It's friendship, it's family, and it's just a lovely sort of thing," she shared. "I also think that's nice in a film way to not necessarily have an overt 'This is friendship. This is love.' It's just all a beautiful collection of people."

Now comes the moment when they thought they were going to perish in the sinking sands of Pasaana. Finn starts to confess something to Rey, but he only gets as far as “Rey, I never told you—” before being swallowed up by quicksand. Everyone debated what was he going to tell her. One might reasonably assume—as a significant portion of The Rise of Skywalker’s audience did—that Finn was going to tell Rey he loves her. Abrams declared that what Finn wanted to tell Rey is that he was Force-sensitive. Even after they obviously survive he still won't confide in her just yet cause Poe is this there I guess. Are you for real? Why is this played like some kind of mysterious I've waiting to tell you kind of thing? It's been obvious for two movies - now three movie - can we get this show on the road? Besides, Rey already knows he's force-sensitve.

I think more importantly - this was a missed opportunity to show Rey be there for Finn. Finn could've been developed to show how he feels about anything and Rey could've been there to emotionally support him. When they are safe underground she does ask what he was going to tell her, he's uncomfortable telling her with Poe there - still, this moment needed to have happened.

Now there are some great moments of Finn just checking on Rey or being aware of her safety. When she walks out into desert it's because both she knows Kylo Ren is coming, when Finn realizes this he goes to join her.

There real moment of glory is after she thinks she kills Chewie in a moment of tug-o-war with Kylo Ren. Lightning came out her fingers, shocking her and everyone else. Finn is wonderful in this scene. Showing compassion for where she was at emotionally. Not only did he seek her out alone to reassure her that what had happened wasn't her fault, but he also rallied more support with Poe. It also provided a moment for her to express feelings and emotions she had been hiding inside herself. Over the past year she had been having dark visions and voices inside her head. Finn isn't afraid of her, but he is afraid for her.

Rey : I lost control.

Finn : It wasn't your fault.

Rey : It was.

Finn : No. It was Ren. He made you do it.

Rey : Chewie's gone. That power came from me. Finn, there are things you don't know.

Finn : Then tell me.[pause] 

Rey : I, uh, had a vision. Of the Sith throne. And who was on it.

Finn : Ren?

Rey : [shaking voice]  And me.

The fact that he is also a Force User and could sense what was happening with her just cemented the bond that they already have. He’s going to be able to understand things about her that others cannot. Finn was the person Rey could talk to and trust he would listen and care. He didn’t hold things against her, he had her back 100%. He cried for her. He verbally affirmed her. They spoke in a raw and honest way with each other that was beautiful. Finn absolutely has faith in Rey.

On Kijimi, there are just nice moments of togetherness. You can tell Finn is staying close to Rey as a source of support and just keeping an eye out for her. When Ren's destroyer arrives and Rey begins to go outside, Finn's right there watching her back.

After Rey's interaction with Kylo when Kylo reveals to her not only that they form a dyad in the force, but that she's a Palpatine this is revealed in the novel. In this moment she's tempted once more to join Kylo Ren in the gray or in the dark. Then Finn appears. In the novel, "Suddenly she felt a weight at her back and along with it.....Finn, a bright light piercing the dark......"Come on!" yelled Finn. She sprinted for the edge then launched herself toward the Falcon. Finn grabbed her arm before she could sail by and swung her onto the ramp. They sprinted into the Falcon's belly. The ramp rose closing them in."

Rey tells Finn “People keep telling me they know me. I’m afraid no one does.” Her internal battle became overshadowed by this massive legacy thrust upon her. She's exhausted and isn't pure Jedi. Part of Rey's arc is she's got darkness in her and she knows it. Once again Finn is just present for her in whatever that means while she tinkers with repairs.

Something that isn't given any time or attention is that Finn is pure white light to Rey. Finn is Rey's greatest pull to the light. He also tells Poe that he and Leia can understand Rey’s struggle in a way Poe cannot. This isn't just Finn running after Rey. He's aware of his friends struggles and trying to stop her from leaning towards the dark side.

Poe Dameron : [after Rey heads to the Death Star wreckage alone]  What the hell was she thinking?

Finn : Poe, we gotta go after her.

Poe Dameron : We'll get the Falcon fixed, and get out there as fast as we can

Finn : No, we're gonna lose her.

Poe Dameron : Look, she left us! What do you wanna do? Swim?Finn : She's not herself. You have no idea what she's fighting.

Poe Dameron : And you do?

Finn : Yeah, I do. And so does Leia.

Poe Dameron : Well, I'm not Leia

.Finn : That's for damn sure.

When she's fighting Kylo Ren Rey is out of control. She's dominated by rage and frustration. In the novel, "A presence cut through her awareness - shining and bright and a voice screaming, "Rey!" Finn was running toward her, leaving Jannah behind to watch their skimmer. Rey's instinct to protect Finn was overwhelming. With no thought at all she called on the Force and thrust out with her hand. He flew backward toward Jannah toward the edge of bridge wreck. A wave crashed down on the streach of bridge between them.

Finn : The Force. The Force brought me here. It brought me to Rey. And Poe.

I really love that Finn became a General alongside Poe and I think one of their best scenes together is when they gave a speech to the members of the Resistance.

Now it is implied that this is both Rey's workstation AND Rey/Finn's bedroom. I cannot confirm and this might just be me, but there we go.

Finn: Hey, don't touch that. That's my friend's.

Droid. Sorry, she is gone?

Finn: Yeah, she's gone. I don't know where.

Droid: I miss her.

Finn: I miss her, too.

I loved the moment when he sensed her death. The confirmation of his Force-sensitive instincts was so satisfying. And then his joy when he saw her alive was completely consistent with everything Finn has done with Rey since the moment they first met.

John Boyega, Finn's actor, was once asked whom he would like to see Finn end up with between Rey and Rose and he replied, "[Finn] had this kind of banterous relationship with Han, then he has this loving relationship with Rey. Now with Rose, it feels like he has this great relationship. Personally? Rey. Yeah, Rey."

#reylo #ben solo #star wars #rey star wars #rey skywalker #finnrey #ben solo x rey #finn x rey #finnpoe #jedistormpilot #star wars sequel trilogy #sequel trilogy #rey palpatine #Youtube

[charliedawn]

DEFECTIVE GOOD PART 21

JR received a call from the Resistance camp and Chewbacca decided to let her use the communication links of the Millennium Falcon to receive the call. As soon as she opened it, both Poe and Finn asked at the same time:

"JR ! Are you alright ?!"

"Yes," She said with a reassuring smile, her voice soft and distant. "I'm alright."

Poe and Finn exchanged a look of concern. They could sense that something was troubling her, something deeper than mere tiredness.

"JR. We heard you. You called for us. You seemed in pain." Poe said in a worried tone and Finn then added.

"How did you do that by the way ?! How did we hear you ?"

JR-6025 hesitated for a moment, unsure how to explain what had happened... "I'm not entirely sure..." she admitted finally, "But somehow, I was able to reach out to you. Through the Force, I suppose."

Poe and Finn exchanged a look of surprise and wonderment. "That's amazing..." Poe whispered under his breath. "I've never heard of a Force-sensitive being able to communicate across such distances before..."

"Wait…So are you like…a Jedi too ?!" Finn asked excitedly.

Poe chuckled, amused at Finn's enthusiasm. "Careful now, don't get ahead of yourself, buddy...let's hear what she has to say first."

Finn nodded eagerly, barely containing his excitement. "You're right, you're right..." he admitted.

Rey, who was nearby, overheard their conversation and couldn't help but have a small smile on his face at Finn's childlike enthusiasm. Jedi or not, the Force was a part of all living things, and sometimes even non-Jedi were capable of using it without even realising it.

JR seemed hesitant as she replied.

"I don’t know. I just…I guess I was just so scared that I managed to call you two through the Force cause I thought that…I trusted you two to come save me or something."

She laughed awkwardly—not realising what she just said.

Poe and Finn looked at each other, a mix of surprise and admiration on their faces. "Well...I guess that answers that," Poe concluded with a chuckle. "You may not be a Jedi yet, but you're definitely beginning to show some Force sensitivity. And who knows ? Maybe with some training, you'll be able to do even more."

"Wait ! Hold up…" Finn seemed momentarily shocked before he grinned. "…So…You were scared. And the first people you thought about calling to get help was me and Poe ?"

Poe and Finn looked at each other again before grinning broadly. "Well, well, well...looks like you've got yourself a rescue team, my friend," Poe teased JR. "We're always ready to lend a hand, especially when it comes to saving our friend in need."

Finn nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly. We're here for you no matter what. You can count on us, always."

JR smiled.

"I mean…Obviously I would choose the best pilot in the universe and a fellow ‘deserter' to come save me. Wouldn’t let anyone else rescue me."

Poe and Finn burst out laughing at her response. "Well, thank you kindly, ma'am ! Always a pleasure to be of service," Poe exclaimed with a wink. "We'll be sure to hang an oversized 'mission accomplished' banner above your head after all this."

Finn snorted in agreement. "And don't forget to add some fireworks to that banner !" he added. "Because that's how we roll, right ?"

Rey arrived just at that moment and smiled at the camera before saying.

"You two wouldn’t get to her in time. Besides, she called me too. I think I may be best qualified on the rescue team since I am also a Force user."

Poe raised an eyebrow playfully. "Oh, is that a challenge, Rey ? We'll have to test that theory sometime soon."

Finn grinned, a competitive glint in his eyes. "Oh, yeah, let's see about that. We'll have to see which is better—pilot's skill or a Force user's power. Let the best rescuer win !" he declared.

"Right." Rey playfully rolled her eyes. "Not much of a competition."

Poe and Finn playfully groaned, knowing that Rey was right. "Alright, alright...you win," Poe conceded. "But just know that we'll be ready for a rematch should the need ever arise !"

Finn chimed in: "Exactly ! We may have lost this round to the resident Jedi, but we'll be sure to step up our game next time."

Rey chuckled before waving them goodbye.

"Well, this Jedi is gonna go train with her lightsaber. Bye."

She walked out of JR’s hurt and JR smiled before looking back at the screen.

"I…kinda miss you."

Poe and Finn laughed at Rey's playful arrogance before she waved them goodbye. When she was gone, they turned back to the screen and both their expressions softened as they heard JR's confession.

"We miss you too, friend," Poe said, his voice filled with sincerity. "But don't worry, we'll see each other soon enough. And until then, just know that we're always thinking of you."

Finn nodded in agreement. "Exactly. You're never far from our thoughts, JR. We're a team, remember ?"

She smiled.

"Yeah. Am glad I got you all on my team."

Poe and Finn exchanged a look before breaking into more laughter.

"You've got that right !" Poe managed to say, still chuckling. "We're a pretty unbeatable team, if I do say so myself."

Finn nodded in agreement, a wide grin spreading across his face. "Absolutely. We've got the flying expertise, the lightsaber skills, and the desertion expertise all rolled into one great package !"

He raised his fist in mock victory. "Go team !"

She laughed and shook her head.

"Right right. Go team. Try not to annoy General Leia while me and Rey are gone, okay ?"

Poe and Finn chuckled in agreement.

"No promises there !" Finn teased, to which Poe added, "We'll do our best, but you know how it is with Leia—she doesn't always see our charm, as it were."

Poe and Finn pretended to be very distraught at the prospect as they shared an exaggerated frown.

"Right. Tell her hi on my behalf. And…we’ll see each other soon." She smiled.

Poe and Finn nodded, their expressions warm and understanding.

"We'll be sure to update the General on your progress, ma'am," Poe replied, a playful salute in his voice. "And we'll be waiting impatiently for that glorious 'mission accomplished' banner to be hung."

Finn chuckled. "And don't forget to add extra glitter when you hang it. We like our missions sparkly, you know ?"

"Pff…Okay. Alright. Enough. I am ending communication now." She playfully rolled her eyes. Her friends laughed.

"Fair enough," Poe said. "But we'll be here if you need anything, okay ? We're still here for you even if you're light years away."

"Exactly ! And we'll be waiting for you with open arms when you return," Finn added with a smile. "Take care, Jedi !"

The screen turned blank and JR stood there momentarily, feeling thankful for her friends. Even though she was far away, she had a team that she could always count on.

She wasn't alone anymore...

Her team...

Her friends...

Her people...

JR smiled as the thought crossed her mind. She wasn't just a mere anonymous stormtrooper anymore. She was part of something greater.

Part of a family...And her role was far greater than what she could have imagined. JR smiled at herself before standing up—not expecting to see Kylo Ren standing there. She frowned at his spiritual apparition.

"…What are you doing here, Lord Ren ?"

He tilted his head.

"…What ? Am I not allowed on your 'rescue team' ?" His lips curved upwards. "You called me too after all…"

JR raised an eyebrow, her face twisted in a mixture of surprise and annoyance. "Well, isn't that a surprise," she muttered tersely. "You were eavesdropping, weren't you ?"

Kylo Ren's smirk only widened in response, as if to confirm her accusation. "Of course," he admitted unapologetically. "It's not every day that someone seeks my help."

"…It was a mistake." She looked away. "Now, get out of my head, will you ?"

Kylo Ren laughed, a low and menacing sound.

"You know it's not that easy," he sneered. "The Force is strong, and it holds us together. Our bond is one that cannot be broken so easily."

He stepped closer to her, his presence imposing and imposing. "Besides...I don't think you truly want me to leave, do you ?"

She frowned.

"If it is Rey you are searching for, you knocked at the wrong door." She informed him before she tilted her head to the right. "Two doors to the right. You can’t miss her."

Kylo chuckled, a dry and raspy sound that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Consider me uninterested for now," he replied, his voice cold and menacing. "I'm after a far bigger catch...one that may take a bit more effort, unfortunately."

He took a step closer, his gaze locking onto hers with an intensity that made her shiver.

He was...intimidating. Even through a spiritual apparition. If anything else, he was a true Sith. JR's brows furrowed as she tried to keep her gaze from slipping. It was true that he was trying to establish a connection with her. Through the force...To feel her fear and ultimately, try to manipulate her.

She tried to think rationally.

But she couldn't deny the feeling of fear and weakness that came with his presence...

"You see, I've been watching you...watching your progress...and I must say, I'm impressed."

She grimaced.

"I am not sure if I should be flattered or creeped out by that…"

Kylo's smirk widened. "Take it however you'd like," he replied, his voice low and dangerous. "I merely find you...intriguing."

He took a step forward, his gaze intense, even through the holographic connection. "And I tend to be intrigued by what is mine."

"Yours ?" She bit back a laugh. "Now, you must REALLY confuse me with Rey. She is the one you care about."

Ren narrowed his eyes, his face growing cold at her words. "I don't know what you're trying to imply here," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "But I suggest you watch your tongue."

The Force around them grew tense and heavy as he took a step closer.

"…Lord Ren. I am here because you asked me to keep her safe. To protect her. I didn’t mean to offend you. I was just…"

Kylo Ren's expression softened slightly as he heard her words. "I'm not offended," he said, his voice quieter now. "And I know you were just doing your job...but sometimes I can't help but wonder what would have happened if I had chosen a different path...a different fate."

He trailed off, his gaze growing distant.

"…What do you mean ?"

Kylo Ren clenched his jaw before responding to her question. His voice was tight and controlled, but still, with an edge of emotion lurking beneath its surface.

"I mean," he began, "that no one else is better suited to protect her...to stand by her side, as you do."

He took a deep breath, and when he spoke again, there was a note of vulnerability in his tone. "She trusts you. You are her friend, and she values you. And...so do I."

She remained silent.

"…You shouldn’t. I am always uncertain. Unable to make a choice…I care about both sides. I keep thinking about you and General Hux and the people of the First Order. And I keep thinking that I would never be able to harm you. Even when I was so afraid during Skywalker’s test, I called out to both sides to protect me. I just wanted to have you by my side. To know that you were all safe."

She felt her heartbeat increase slightly as Kylo said those words. She felt his presence...his emotions. She felt...compelled. She was aware enough to know that it was the Force at work, and the manipulation at play, but...

Why did it feel so right ?

As Kylo spoke, her gaze remained fixed on his face. His expression was hard, but there was something...

Human about the way he spoke.

There was then a silence that lasted for several moments before Ren's voice finally came through.

"That is...quite a dilemma," he said slowly, seemingly considering his words carefully. "And to be honest, it is one that I find quite perplexing. You wish to have both sides, but ultimately, you know that such a thing is not possible."

He paused for a moment before continuing. "It is a predicament in which you must make a choice. Ultimately, you must decide whether to side with the Resistance or the First Order."

"Both sides are calling to me. I understand both sides, and it is driving me insane…" She let out a sigh of frustration.

"I know...but you must make a choice," Kylo replied, a hint of urgency in his tone. "You can't have both. It's either one or the other...or neither."

"…I cannot. I cannot choose to hurt. It is not my goal. It was never my goal." She buried her face in her arms and even though she had the urge to look out the window and ask the stars for guidance—she stopped herself. She had only ever wished to help…but now, the universe seemed to tell her that the only way to do so was for someone she cared about to die ?

The stars, as they often did, gave her no answers—and the Force, as it often did, did not respond. She was left alone to ponder her fate in silence.

She looked up to look at Kylo Ren.

"…Won’t someone show me the way ? The way for just this war to end without pain ?"

Kylo Ren's face twisted in a mixture of conflict and rage, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. "There is no such thing," he said, his voice sharp and biting. "In war, there is always pain. Always sacrifice. The sooner you accept that, the sooner you'll find your place in this struggle."

"…I told you. I refuse to see it the way you do."

Kylo's face twisted into a fierce frown. "You may refuse to see it, but it doesn't change the facts," he retorted. "War is not a place for cowards or fools who can't make tough decisions."

He took a step closer, his expression growing dark and menacing. "You can't avoid the pain forever...it's time to face the truth."

She frowned and faced him.

"…You know that I won’t choose your side if the choice was to be inevitable."

Kylo's face hardened at her words. "I know," he replied, his voice like ice. "But you'll be making a mistake if you don't. If you can't see that, then you're a fool."

He took a step forward, his gaze intense. "Do you think the Resistance will welcome you with open arms ? Do you think they'll accept you for who you are ? You're nothing to them but a tool...a pawn to be sacrificed at their convenience."

"Maybe so. But, I am not fighting for them. I am fighting for the people I care about. I am fighting for those who believe in freedom and justice." Her gaze softened. "This is why it is so hard…because I know that the people behind the First Order are not evil. You, me and General Hux were born into this conflict. And everything would have been so different if the Force wasn’t so complicated and the world so cruel…"

Ren's fists clenched and unclenched at his sides. "You're right," he said between clenched teeth. "It's not fair. And I would be lying if I said I hadn't thought about what could have been...but that doesn't change the facts."

He took a step closer, his gaze intense as he stared into hers. "The war has been raging for years now. The First Order isn't going to go away. You can either join us or fight against us...but you can't have both."

Fight the First Order. Or join them ?

The choice seemed so simple, yet...it wasn't.

No matter how much she believed in the Rebellion, she simply couldn't deny the truth in Kylo's words. The First Order wasn't going anywhere anytime soon.

She couldn't have it both ways...

Yet...

She didn't want to hurt the Rebellion.

Not at all...Not even a little.

"…Then convince me." She uttered in a whisper.

Kylo's face twisted in a mixture of frustration and longing. "You know I can't convince you," he replied, his voice trembling. He stepped even closer, until their faces were just inches apart, and reached out to cup her face in his hands. "You're stubborn and idealistic...but that's what I love about you."

He leaned in closer, his lips mere centimeters away from hers, as the tension between them grew thicker and more intense. Her breath hitched at his closeness and she screamed.

"LIAR !" She then pushed him away. Her sudden outburst caught Kylo Ren off guard. At first he stared at her with stunned silence.

But then a dark glare filled his eyes.

In that moment, all traces of the vulnerability that had filled his voice and mannerisms vanished in an instant, and a cold...even dangerous side of him emerged.

He glared at her...ready to strike back.

"YOU DARE CALL ME A LIAR ?"

He took a step back, his stance tensing as he prepared for whatever was about to come. The Force shifted around them, a tense and oppressive energy filling the air between them.

She glared at him.

"You love Rey. You’ve always loved Rey. From the moment you first laid your eyes on her. But since you cannot have her, you are trying to lie to me ! To make me believe in a love that isn’t !"

The silence that followed was deafening.

Kylo's eyes narrowed even more as he kept his gaze fixed on her.

The Force between them felt...

Tense...heavy...

Impending...

"You are a brave one," he finally said through tight teeth. His voice was calm...but there was a certain danger that hung over his tone. "...So you think you know me ?"

"More than you know." She looked at him and her eyes softened. "…I won’t accept your lies, Lord Ren. Please. I cannot."

His rage grew even more as he heard those words.

Her eyes softened.

She thought she knew him better than he knew himself.

The Force between them grew even more tense...There was a certain fragility about it.

"Oh really..." He seethed between clenched teeth. "...And what makes you so certain about that ?"

She didn’t hesitate before cupping his face and pressing her forehead against his.

"I have come to know more about you through your words. Every spoken word. You could be Kylo Ren or Ben Solo that it wouldn’t matter to me. I shall always care for the man who wears both names."

She had a point. She didn’t let his title scare her or intimidate her. She had no fear of him..

She was simply...there.

...With him.

Her words left him mute for a moment as he simply looked at her. Then, a certain tenderness came across his face. She instantly felt it and sighed before taking a step towards him.

"…Did he hurt you ? Supreme Leader Snoke ?" She asked worriedly.

His expression darkened for a moment at the mention of his master’s name.

"...Don't...don't bring him up. You...you don't need to know those things..."

His voice was dark.

He looked like he was trying very hard to appear unaffected...But his eyes gave him away.

She sighed before slowly and gently stroking the back of his head.

"Last time we spoke, I felt a dark force pushing you away from me. I was so worried. Was it him ?"

A brief flash of hurt crossed his face. He remained quiet for a few moments, before answering her question.

"He was..." He paused, struggling to maintain his composure. "...What do you want me to say ? That he hurt me ? That he was the reason I acted the way I did ? That he...Made me the person I am today ?"

The person I hate today. He thought.

She smiled before gently pulling his hand towards her and intertwining their fingers.

"And still…you came back."

He looked down at their joined hands and took a deep breath.

"Yes..." he muttered between clenched teeth, his voice hoarse with emotion. "Still, I came back."

She smiled again.

"I can feel it. You still feel the pull towards the Light, don’t you ?"

He sighed and looked away for a brief moment.

"Yes...I do." He looked straight into her eyes. "And I despise it."

She reached out for his chin and slowly forced him to look at her.

"Don’t. I felt scared too. At first. But…You do not need to despise the Light."

"I do." He tried to remove her hands from his chin, but his own hands were shaking. A tear escaped from his eyes.

He turned away.

"I despise it. I despise it all."

She smiled and pressed her forehead against his once more—her heart tightening at the pain and hatred she felt emanating from him in waves.

"Sssh. I know. I know. It hurts."

"It hurts." He leaned in close. "...It hurts."

The tension between them seemed to grow even thicker, the Force seemed to pulsate with even more intensity.

It was so close to snapping...

He reached up and brushed an errant strand of hair aside. And then he spoke in a whisper so soft...so small.

"I want it to stop hurting." He said as he tried to embrace the comfort she was offering him by her presence alone.

"It will…I will help you. I promise." She whispered.

He didn't speak. His breathing was shallow and fast and he was so close to her. His heart was beating fast. It was almost hard to imagine that he was an agent of darkness at all.

That he was even capable of hurting people...

He looked into her eyes, they felt like...warmth.

He reached his hands up and cupped her face.

Her breathing hitched.

Their faces were so close to one another...He looked like he was going to explode. He looked away and his jaw clenched.

"...I..." he whispered. "I am not..."

He looked up and their eyes met, their heads still inches from one another.

"I am..."

He paused and breathed in, his face growing paler and his hands shaking harder.

"I..."

She smiled and hugged him tightly.

"…It’s okay. Everything will be okay." She held his trembling hands in hers.

He felt the relief flood into his body as soon as she hugged him. His breathing slowed and his hands ceased shaking.

His body relaxed...

His heartbeat slowed...

"It hurts...I..."

He squeezed his eyes shut as his tears escaped and trickled down his cheeks.

"...I want it to stop..."

"I know."

He didn’t speak. His chest heaved as he tried to breathe and calm himself. And slowly, he felt the weight lifting off his shoulders and his breathing slowing...He held her tighter...as his tears continued to fall.

She stroked his back.

He shuddered slightly at her touch, but he also felt his muscles loosening.

His tears fell, but he stopped trying to wipe them away.

He gripped her even tighter and buried one hand into her hair.

"...I just want to...I just want to..." He was starting to lose control over his own tongue. There were so many things he wanted to say…but couldn’t.

"…I do not want to fight you. I do not want to be your enemy." She whispered and kissed his forehead. He stayed there for a few seconds...perhaps even more. The warmth of the moment washed over him. He lifted his head from her shoulder and looked back at her. He remained quiet for a few more seconds as he simply stared at her.

His hands were still interlaced in hers and he didn't want to let go.

"I..." he whispered and he added with a small smile. "I don't want to fight you, either."

A brief pause.

"I don't want to fight you, at all."

She nodded.

"In a different life..." he said in a small voice before pausing for a few seconds.

"Maybe we could...." He remained silent for a few more seconds, the emotions inside him too mixed to be named. "In a different life, maybe we could have..."

His voice grew even softer as he continued.

"Maybe we could have been more than enemies..."

"…Of course." She smiled. "We would have been friends. I am sure of it."

He remained silent for a few moments longer...

"Friends..." He remained silent until he finally spoke up again. "More than friends."

She didn’t say anything.

"...More than just friends," he added again, his voice growing even softer as he spoke. He was quiet for a moment, as if thinking about what he was going to say next.

"Maybe...in a different life," he continued, his voice taking on a slightly wistful tone. "...we could have been..."

A brief pause.

"...Lovers."

She sighed and looked away.

He remained close to her, trying to get a glimpse of her face. It felt like an eternity of silence as he waited for her to reply back, a million thoughts crossing his mind.

He wanted to know how she felt. And at the same time, he was so very afraid of the answer.

And so, he stayed silent as he waited for her to speak first.

She finally smiled sadly at him. "…I care about you. But…You cannot love me."

Everything in him froze.

His breath stilled, his heart slowed to a crawl...

He felt like he was about to drop to the floor.

It hurt.

"What ?" he finally whispered, his eyes betraying just how much it hurt him to hear those words from her.

"…You cannot love me because if you do, you’ll end up hurt." She explained rather unclearly.

"...I am already hurt. I’ve been hurt for a long time...and you know that. And..." He whispered and paused, finding it hard to get the next words out. "...You won’t hurt me—not you."

JR sighed and stroked his cheek. "I cannot love you. Not as long as you think love is weakness. It is the reason I will choose the Rebellion. Because I think the First Order just takes away any kind of love that could ever be…"

That broke something in him and his eyes flashed with an intense cold intensity. "Do not say another word," he warned, his voice tense.

She shivered at the shift in his demeanor. His anger was cold and hard, and she had never...

Ever

...Seen him this way.

He looked...dangerous.

She said nothing, keeping her mind quiet and her face expressionless as she tried to avoid triggering him. Then, with a swift movement, Kylo stepped up close to her and grabbed her by the arms, squeezing them so tightly that it became painful.

"W-What ?! Lord Ren ! Let go !"

Kylo Ren grabbed the back of her neck roughly, forcing her to look at him as he got closer, their faces so close that their noses were almost touching and his lips brushed against hers. Kylo took only a split-second to think before capturing her lips into a deep and passionate kiss, letting all the emotions of jealousy and hurt and longing pour out.

Her eyes widened as tears welled up in her eyes. She tried to push him away.

"L-Lord Ren. Stop."

"No," he replied, his voice hoarse and rough. He pulled her closer, pressing his body against hers as he leaned down to capture her mouth in a fierce and possessive kiss.

Kylo Ren's hands moved to her back and he pulled her closer, kissing her deeply and desperately. He could feel the tears on her face and he finally released the back of her neck, instead holding her face in his hands as they kissed passionately. They stayed like this for several moments until he finally broke the kiss to catch his breath, gazing into her eyes.

Her eyes were filled with so many emotions, and she felt so powerless, so overwhelmed...

And even so, she couldn't help but be overcome by the surge of pleasure as his lips moved against hers with such hunger...His kisses were so powerful...so intense...She felt herself melting in his embrace as she tried to push him away, but it felt hopeless...

She didn't want him to stop...but she knew she had to somehow. When he did stop and looked into her eyes...

She was breathless.

"Who do you think you are ? Telling me that I cannot love you. When you DARED let Hux kiss you ! Tell HIM that you love him ! Letting that…CRETIN make you his when he doesn’t even know how to handle himself." He roared and her eyes flashed as his words stung her. And she could feel his anger at Hux growing by the second, but the anger she saw in his eyes...

It wasn't directed towards her...

It was directed towards Hux.

"…General Hux. You are acting…exactly like him. You think I am just a thing to own. You are incapable of loving anyone." She said with tears in her eyes.

Kylo Ren's face darkened as he heard her words. "Do not compare me to that weakling," he seethed, his voice low and dangerous. "I am not doing this out of some sense of ownership. I'm doing it because I can't stand the thought of you being with anyone else."

He pushed her up against the nearest wall, pinning her with his body. "And if I have to prove that to you, then so be it."

Her eyes widened and she shook her head.

"You are no monster, Lord Ren. You would never hurt me…"

Kylo Ren's face twisted in anger and pain at her words. He released her, taking a step back as he tried to calm himself. "Do not underestimate me," he said through clenched teeth.

"I am not. I know your strength. But, I also believe that you wouldn’t hurt me, even if you could."

"You..." Kylo Ren's voice cracked slightly as he spoke. "You're right. I wouldn't." He reached out and gently cupped her face with his hands, wiping away her tears with his thumb. "I love you," he whispered. "And I would do anything for you."

She started crying and her voice cracked.

"I wish…I could believe you."

Kylo's hand trembled slightly as he cupped her cheek, wiping away a tear with his thumb. "I love you," he said quietly, his voice barely a whisper.

He dipped his head and captured her lips with his, kissing her deeply and with a sense of desperation that bordered on obsession. His body pressed against hers as he held her tight, completely lost in the moment.

Her eyes were closed as the kiss continued, her mind going blank as she felt a wave of ecstasy and desire wash over her.

His body pressed against hers, his hands on her waist...She felt his heart beat against hers.

Their tongues entangled with each other's...

...and she felt...something else.

Something that wasn't simply her heart, but her soul...It was a desire to be one with him, to be a part of him and to make her own the whole of him...

Kylo Ren's grip on the back of her neck loosened slightly as he felt her pain and the tears in his own eyes threatened to spill over any moment.

"Stop crying." He said softly but sternly, his voice hoarse with an emotion he couldn't fully explain. "You're only making this harder."

"Stop kissing me." She retorted.

Their breathing was heavy. The desire had taken control of their bodies, and the sensations of pleasure swept over them, leaving them lost in each other.

The desire...

It was overwhelming.

The want for more...

For everything.

She tried to push him away, she tried to stop the kiss...And yet, as she did, she found herself only falling deeper into his embrace, her body pressed against his, their breaths becoming one.

He reached out, letting his fingers grace her chin, as if to remind himself that she was still there. "Please..."

Her heart cracked at his pitiful please and her eyes filled with tears once more.

"You are not looking for love, Lord Ren. You are looking for someone to join your side."

"Join my side ?" Kylo repeated, his voice soft and wounded. "I don't want you on my side, JR. I want you to be mine."

"Liar."

Their breaths became heavier with that one word...

"Liar."

It wasn't simply a word of dismissal, It was an accusation, it was her doubting him and not believing him.

And it was...hurting him.

And the hurt in him grew into anger as he clenched his jaw and tightened his grip on her body once more.

"I am not...a liar." He grunted, his rage growing by the second.

"You want Rey…" JR uttered in a whisper.

Kylo's eyes flashed with an intense mixture of frustration and longing. "You could still be by my side," he said in a low voice. "We could rule the galaxy together...as partners, and equals."

He took a step closer, his hand reaching out to caress her face. "Stay with me," he said, his voice trembling slightly. "Let me love you."

Her heart ached.

"…I chose forgiveness and peace. You chose revenge and rage. That is why I cannot fight alongside you. I am sorry."

Kylo's face twisted into a mask of rage and pain. "I'm not asking for you to fight with me !" he spat out, his voice strained with emotion. "Just be mine ! It's not that hard !"

Those words hurt more than anything he could have said. She didn't understand this desire for love. A need for something that was more than a mere bond.

She simply didn't understand.

She would never understand.

His grip on her tightened once more as his anger continued to build.

He didn't want her to join his side.

He didn't want her to fight alongside him.

He wanted her.

"Why ?! Why should I be yours ?!"

Kylo's expression shifted from hurt and confusion to anger once again. "Because I deserve you !" he snarled, his voice laced with possessive rage. "I deserve you. I want you. And I will get you !"

He grabbed her roughly, pulling her against him, his lips crashing into hers in a fierce and almost feral kiss.

JR-6025 gritted her teeth before a force surged through her.

"LET GO !", her voice boomed and Kylo Ren’s eyes widened in shock as he heard her and felt the energy—pushing him back.

He wasn't expecting her to fight back...He hadn't realized just what she was truly capable of. He stumbled back as he released his grip on her. His shock and anger grew in tandem as he saw what was happening.

She was fighting back.

And she was fighting with…

The Force.

JR’s eyes were wide open and she was looking down at him with fear in her eyes. She had never feared him before…

JR sighed.

"You are jealous. It is the only reason you are here. You are jealous of General Hux. You are trying to take over my mind. To make me into something I am not !"

He...

…Wait…

He suddenly realised something.

She was…

She really was...

She was reading into his very thoughts.

Reading his jealousy...

He was silent as he listened to her, a mix of anger and astonishment on his face.

"Yes." He finally confessed. "I am jealous."

His voice was tight with a mixture of rage, jealousy, and fear.

"Of Hux."

JR looked away.

"��Of course. Of course you would want the same thing. You do not care about me. Not truly. It is just another part of your childish game of rivalry…"

"It is not a game." He snarled, the anger boiling over as he finally let the mask drop.

"I..." He stopped, forcing himself to take a breath. His voice was a mix of pain and anger as he spoke again.

"I thought that..."

He shook his head violently.

"...I thought that...if I had you, I could..."

She closed her eyes and sighed as she saw his struggling with his own words.

"I think…I thought…I want to help you. I want to help you. But, I do not know how…"

She was so sweet...

So innocent and caring...

He felt such...

Such....such anger.

He didn't want to feel that anger anymore...

He hated the anger...

"Then...Help me."

His voice was soft as he spoke, the anger gone, replaced with something...different.

"How ?" She sobbed and cupped his face. "Tell me. How ? Please. Tell me. How can I help you ? How do I help you ?"

"Just...Be mine." He answered softly, his words full of pain and desperation. "Let me...have you. Let me possess you. Let me own you..."

He swallowed.

"Let me love you."

The words hurt her. They hurt her deeply.

"…Have. Possess. Own. The words you use hurt me. Because they go against everything I desire. Everything I fought for…"

He couldn't deny her words. They went against everything she stood for. Everything he had tried to deny. She didn't fight for her own gain. She fought for the freedom of others.

They were the exact opposite of his desires.

He was the exact opposite of her dreams.

He couldn’t deny any of her claims…

And yet, he still...desired her.

She gritted her teeth and sighed deeply.

"How could I love a man I know would bring my own destruction ? You would destroy me and whatever freedom I have fought so hard to get…How could I love…" She looked up at him. "…Kylo Ren ?"

"Because I..." He bit his lip as he looked at her. "Because I..."

He squeezed her arms, trying to get a hold on himself. His breath quickened as he found that the only thing he had to hold onto was her. His words were quiet, almost a whisper.

"...Because I love you."

She sighed and shook her head.

"…I do not think you know what love truly means."

The words hurt more than any blow he had ever suffered. Especially from her.

"I..."

He choked on his words, his anger growing once again.

"Then...Educate me."

Her eyes widened at his request and she looked sorry for him as she replied.

"I cannot."

"Why not ?!" His anger exploded again, but he was trying and failing to hold it back for her sake. "I am desperate for your love…I am desperate to hold it…desperate to possess it and claim it for myself…"

Words he had struggled to keep in came out in a rush.

"And you’re going to turn me away because I don’t know how to love ?"

"It is not something to be taught, Lord Kylo Ren." She started and he took a deep shaky breath.

"...Then I will learn it through you." His grip on her arms tightened, his anger spilling out again. He was desperate to have what he wanted. "...To have you."

"Have. Get. Possess…" She shuddered as she uttered those words. "…You still only see me as a stormtrooper. You grab me, squeeze me, use words that I have been told all my life. You wish to receive more than just love, but blind obedience…"

"If blind obedience is what it takes for you to be mine..." He was silent as she spoke, her words sinking into him. He couldn't deny his desire for it. His need to be obeyed. "...Then...Then I'll take it."

A threat. JR sighed. He would truly never learn or listen to her.

"…Then tell me…How would Ben Solo love me ?" She asked and Kylo was stunned.

Ben…Solo.

"He would treat you with respect...And kindness...And dignity..."

He was silent as his anger rose at the thought of someone else treating her with such things...

"He would ask things of you..."

His grip tightened even more.

"But he would want what was best for you...And he would never ask you to abandon your morals..."

She took a shaky breath. Oh how she wished for such love…But she then looked up at him with a sad smile.

"But you are not Ben Solo. So tell me…how would Kylo Ren love me ?"

His eyes immediately darkened as he grabbed her head and looked deep into her eyes.

"...He would possess you..."

His answer was blunt as he met her eyes, his anger and frustration slowly simmering down.

"He would claim you. Take you whenever he wants you...Whenever he needs you..."

There was a hunger in his words that he could not deny.

"He would bend your will to his wants and desires alone..."

She closed her eyes.

"…Would I still be…me ?"

He was silent for a few moments as his gaze fell on her.

"...No..."

He couldn't deny her words.

Her will would be bent to his own wishes. He would claim her as his own. She would do as he bid her...She wouldn’t be herself.

"...No..."

She remained silent and Kylo Ren could feel her pain.

"You wouldn’t be yourself. You would be what I want..." The words hurt as he spoke them. It hurt him to know that she wouldn't be herself...But he couldn't deny it. "…Or I would make it so..."

He was silent for a few moments, his fingers tightening on her arms as he tried to process what he was saying.

"...You said you wished. That you hoped for such love..." He was hesitant. "...But I am not Ben Solo..."

His voice still held some of that bitterness he had before.

"...And I...am not a kind man."

She looked away and took a deep breath.

"…What if I asked you to be ? For me ?" She asked and looked back at him.

His grip softened slightly at her question.

He was silent for a few moments.

"Do you want me to be…Ben ?" His voice was careful as he spoke, the hurt in him showing ever so subtly. "Do you...wish for me to be kind to you ?"

"Would you be ? If I asked you to ?" She asked again but with more confidence. But, Kylo Ten seemed in pain. Because he knew the answer. And she wouldn’t like it.

"...I couldn't..."

This had to be the hardest thing he had ever had to admit...

"...To be kind...To be gentle...To treat you as an equal..." He hesitated even now, his anger still simmering beneath the surface as he spoke.

"Yes. I could want to..."

But the harsh truth came out at last.

"But...I cannot be that man...Not for anyone...Not even for you."

She closed her eyes at the harsh truth.

His grip on her arms tightened again as he saw the hurt in her eyes.

He knew his words had hurt her...

And yet...

"...You did ask me. I am being honest. For you."

He paused for a moment, struggling to find the words.

"...I wish..." He couldn't finish the sentence, but he forced himself to. "...I wish I was that man...I wish I could be that man for you."

Yet the wishes of a man mattered little.

She slowly leant forward to kiss his lips softly.

"…This is a kiss for Ben. And I hope he will feel it."

His entire body tensed as she kissed him softly.

For a brief moment, he felt it...A warmth, a gentleness, something that reminded him of another...

For just a moment...He felt as if she had kissed…

Ben Solo.

"I…am not him. Not anymore." He whispered, but she just kept softly kissing his lips…There was no hurry or violent passion that threatened to burn. It was her first true kiss. A kiss she meant. A kiss full of hope and love and care…

He did not want to feel the gentleness, the tenderness in her touch. He did not want to feel the warmth of her kiss.

But he found that it was...

Comforting.

"...More..."

More than anything he could possibly deny...Than anything he wanted to deny.

Her lips felt gentle. Caring. Warm.

Hope.

Love.

Care.

He had never known such a gentle, wonderful, sweet kiss.

She pulled away.

He hesitated for a split second as she pulled away, as if he was holding on to a dream that was fading away from him.

Then he realized that the dream was real.

The kiss happened.

Her sweet kiss.

"...Again."

His voice was a whisper as he spoke, the hunger in him for her touch threatening to overwhelm him.

"Do not demand, Lord Ren. That kiss was for Ben. Not for you…" She denied him and he gritted his teeth.

"...Then give it to me..."

His voice was tight.

He was desperate for that kiss...

He tried to hide it.

To hold back from asking...

But he couldn't resist.

His hands tightened behind her back.

His tone had become hard once again...

...No longer gentle, but demanding.

"...Kiss me..."

"You wish to claim something that isn’t yours, Lord Ren. That kiss. It was for him. For…the man that could have been. That could still be." She said.

"...Then make it mine..."

His grip tightened on her.

He wouldn't deny her words. Not at all.

But he needed that kiss.

He wanted it for himself. For Kylo Ren.

And he couldn't resist...He couldn't deny the hunger that was growing inside of him.

"Kiss me once more, trooper..."

Her expression hardened as he called her that.

"That is NOT my name. Or what I am. Not anymore."

"I said..." His grip tightened, but his hands were trembling despite his effort to maintain his firm and stern grip. He needed her to obey, but his words came out weak and shaky and almost pleading.

"...I said..." The hunger in him had started to spill over. "Kiss me again."

The words were a mix of rage and desperation.

"No."

He was stunned at her mere utterance of the word. He was so used to getting his way. And now here she was, denying him.

And he hated it.

"I SAID..."

His voice rose.

The hunger. It was growing within him...

He wanted...He wanted so desperately...

"That kiss was for Ben. Only Ben Solo." She said and Kylo Ren’s eyes darkened

"Then you will be disappointed."

He tightened his grip again, trying to contain his anger. The hate within him.

"That man..."

Ben.

"...Doesn't exist."

His voice was cold, cruel, and brutal as he spoke.

"The only man that exists..."

He squeezed a little tighter.

"...Is me."

His grip tightened on her and his knuckles were white as he squeezed...

Rage boiling inside of him.

"You're mine..."

It was all he could think of as he squeezed her arms.

"...You're mine if I say you're mine..."

The words spilled out of him like poison, his anger growing as she refused and his hold on himself growing weaker...

"...Do you understand ?"

JR glared at him and wrench away from his grip.

"No."

His jaw twitched at her refusal.

"Very well..." His words were hard to get out as the hunger inside of him grew even more. "...Then I shall take what I want by force."

He watched as she refused him to his face.

And he hated it.

That hunger. That rage.

It wasn't being sated, it was simply bubbling up and up as his grip on himself grew weaker...He stared at her with a hard, almost cruel look, the hunger still boiling up and up and up...

"...If you refuse..." It took him an effort to speak the words. "...I will hurt you."

"You wouldn’t."

"...Try me."

The anger in him was spilling over now as he gripped his fists. He was desperate to keep her...And if she wouldn't be willingly...Then he would take her by force.

"Try to resist me. See if I wouldn't hurt you..."

She frowned.

"You are only a guest in my head, Kylo Ren." She reminded him.

His grip on his sanity weakened further as he heard the words.

Her head...?

He was just a guest ?

His rage rose, and with it came the hunger within him...He wanted to show her that she was wrong...And to make her see.

"...So you think you're safe from me here...?"

He paused, a cruel smile playing on his lips as he spoke...

"...That you can just refuse me here ?"

"Don’t."

She was still refusing him. She still believed herself safe, despite the situation they were in...

"Don’t..."

It was an absurd thing for her to ask.

She was his.

The hunger inside of him was growing, and he was finding it harder and harder to maintain his hold on himself...

"Don’t..."

He wanted to laugh at her naivety. Did she really think her words held any power over him ?The hunger was growing, spreading, taking hold of him...and there was no stopping it.

He took a step towards her.

She took a step back.

Another step forward.

His grip on his willpower was growing more and more tenuous as he stepped closer and closer to her.

Another step...

"Do NOT take another step !"

Kylo Ren didn’t listen.

"...You cannot stop me."

His voice was low as he took another step towards her...She gritted her teeth.

"Please."

A flash of amusement flitted across his face.

"You know very well that I don't care for please..." His voice was still hard as he took a step backward. "Besides, I already have what I want..."

He was close to her, just close enough to reach out a hand and touch her. Suddenly, she raised her hand towards him and tried to use the Force to stop him. His eyes widened as he felt something tug at him. He took an involuntary step backwards, his eyes flashing with surprise and annoyance...

He was still trying to maintain his grasp on himself. His voice was a snarl. But he took her grip by the wrist, holding it in his hands...

He pulled her towards him.

He was furious.

The hunger was gnawing at him.

And he was starting to think...

Perhaps I should break your mind...

JR’s eyes widened in fear.

"Lord Ren. Please…No."

"I will do what I please." He seethed and lifted her hand to do just that. The hunger inside of him was growing, just like the rage. His grip on her wrist was tight. He didn't want to hurt her if he could help it...But he was growing weary of her refusal to submit to him.

Perhaps if he just showed her...what he could do ?

"K-Kylo Ren. P-Please." She felt tears in her eyes as pain spread through her mind. "Don’t. You’re not a monster."

His grip tensed as he saw the pain and heard her words. He was almost ready to stop...almost tempted to release her.

...But the rage inside of him was growing.

"You don't know what I am..." He hissed as his grip tightened on her wrist.

"I know. I know that you think yourself irredeemable and that you feel there is no one you can trust and everyone is seeking to hurt you. But, I know there's some good in you. I know it."

His response came out almost instantly without a thought.

"There is no good left in me...I am what I am..."

His grip went even tighter...

"And you will learn to accept that fact..."

"Never." She still felt his mind clashing with hers and threatening to crush her. "I won’t…ever…stop believing."

He paused for a moment at her words.

Her resolve...

Her absolute belief that there was some sort of light left in him...

It was...disconcerting.

"...Then your beliefs will prove to be your undoing..." She felt his grip tighten on her just a little bit more. She suddenly reached out for his face and gently ran the back of her fingers over his scarred cheek.

"…So beautiful." She felt him trying to crush her but her eyes revealed nothing but love.

His mind was faltering as her fingers ran over his scarred face. The hunger and rage within him was starting to be overwhelmed by something else. He was trying to regain his focus, to maintain it. But her touch on his face. There was something...soothing about it.

Soothing and warm and gentle.

And she wasn't even trying...

She was just...

Touching him.

She kept touching him gently and smiled softly at him. Her eyes glassy and her thumb stroking his scar before she leant forward.

"…You wanted a kiss, Lord Ren ? Here it is."

She kissed his scar.

His grip on his sanity was gone the moment she kissed his scar.

She wasn't trying to tease him.

She wasn't trying to appeal to his desires.

And yet he found himself wanting something more, something he hadn't wanted or desired or needed since...

...It had felt like a lifetime ago...

His eyes fluttered closed as the kiss continued on his scar. She had finally kissed him...

She peppered the rough skin with kisses, her lips seeking to soothe all his scars. Her gentleness was almost torture for him…a sweet torture.

It was torture. And yet he craved it like nothing else. His mind was growing fuzzy as her lips touched him. The hunger and the rage were beginning to disappear. The sweetness was taking hold of him...

And he wanted more.

His hands ran through her hair...

Cradling her head as the kisses continued.

More...

She lifted her hands to grab the back of his head as her lips kept their tender assault on his scar. His grip tightened on her as she grabbed the back of his head. His mind was growing foggy as her lips kept up their assault on his scar...

More...

His mouth opened a little and his lips pressed against her cheek. There was no need for her to respond, no need for her to do anything at all.

Just let him drink in her affection...

Let her show him how gentle she could be...

She shivered at the sensation of his lips against her cheek and let her lips linger over his brow…

"I shall heal you…I shall heal you…I promise." She uttered in a whisper against his damaged skin.

He was breathless as her lips lingered over his cheek. His hands found themselves in her hair...

I shall heal you..

He was overwhelmed. He was overwhelmed by her soft touch and her words...Her confidence in him, her faith that he wasn't an irredeemable monster...He needed her to keep it up...

Keep up this...

Gentleness...

To keep showing him that he could be healed...

He needed her to keep it up...

Keep it up...

He suddenly pulled her closer and hissed in her ear.

"You are wasting your time trying to heal me. There is nothing left to heal. It is all gone."

She held him fearlessly.

"No. I will mend and fix and heal. It doesn’t matter if it hurts or takes me a lifetime. I will not give up on you."

His grip tightened around her as his voice was a low, harsh growl.

"...You will never succeed..."

His face tilted so that his lips were almost touching her ear as he spoke...

"...I am beyond repair..."

He pulled her closer.

Beyond healing...

"It's a waste of time..."

"There is...nothing..." He choked out as he pulled her closer to his mouth, his words growing more harsh and more bitter..."Nothing to heal. The time for healing passed a long time ago."

He was panting as he heard her words.

"There is nothing left to heal."

The hunger boiled up inside of him once more...There's nothing left to heal. The words pounded in his head.

His grip on her tightened as he hissed once more...But still she held him, refusing to give up on him even as he continued to refuse her. He wanted to punish her for her obstinacy. For her self-righteous refusal to believe him.

She dug her fingers into his shoulders as she kept him close. His grip on her tightened as his hissing grew into a growl.

There’s nothing…

Nothing left to heal.

Nothing left to heal.

The words repeated in his head like a mantra as his mind was growing hazy. The rage he felt at her stubborn refusal was growing into something else...Something he barely recognized...His hands ran through her hair, his fingers running through her soft locks.

His mind was growing more and more clouded. The anger and rage were bubbling up and up inside of him...His hands started to shake with the rage that he felt boiling up and up and up...

He wanted...He needed...

His eyes closed, and his breath was coming in short, harsh puffs as the rage and hunger continued to bubble and boil up. She was digging and digging and digging into his shoulders...But he was trying to get away...She wouldn’t let him.

His hands started to shake more...His breath coming more ragged...The rage was threatening to become unbearable...

...The hunger...

The need for her...

His grip tightened on her as he tried to break free of her stubborn grip...His mind was foggy and haze as he tried to tear himself away...But all efforts were useless as he felt himself grow even more enraged.

"LET ME GO !"

"NO !"

"WHY CAN'T YOU JUST LET ME GO ?!" He was shouting now, his anger burning hotter as every second passed. But there was something else he was feeling beneath this rising rage...

Need.

He pushed her hands away and tried to pull away from her...But every movement felt as if an anchor was tied around his limbs.

His breath was coming in short, harsh puffs as his face distorted in rage...

She let out a scream of determination and held on to him with every inch of her body—tackling him to the ground and wrapping her legs and arms around him. The scream cut through him as he felt her grappling onto him...

He screamed too as he tried to break free.

Her grip was too strong ! She was too strong !

He couldn't break himself free. His mind was cloudy.

"LET ME GO !" He forced himself to demand once more.

Let me go !

He pushed back, his hands gripping her legs and body as he tried to pull her off of him.

"NEVER !" She held on stubbornly.

"WHY ?!" His voice was filled with rage as he screamed, his grip on her tightening. "WHY CAN'T YOU LET ME GO ?!"

"BECAUSE I CARE ABOUT YOU ! BECAUSE YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THE ONLY DAMN PERSON THAT I COULD CONFIDE IN AND I CAN SEE YOU IN PAIN AND IT IS KILLING ME !" She shouted back. She was tired and she just wanted him to understand that no matter what…She wouldn’t give up.

Her words hit him and stopped him dead in his tracks. No one had ever confessed such feelings towards him. No one had ever told him that he had been someone that they could confide in...

"You're lying." His voice was harsh as he said the words, his grip tightening as he tried to push her away again.

She held on strong. No matter how desperate he was and tried to get her off him.

"I WON’T LET GO ! YOU MIGHT AS WELL KILL ME RIGHT NOW !"

"SHUT UP !" He screamed in a blind rage, but there was something in his mind...Something that told him she wasn't lying to him. His grip on her grew slightly weaker...

"NO !" She buried her face against his neck.

His grip continued to slacken as he tried to push her away. But her grip was still too strong.

"...let me go..." His voice was barely a whisper now as his demand turned into a desperate plea.

"…No…" She took a deep inhale and grabbed a handful of his hair and pull him closer to her—but her grip was soft as not to hurt him.

He flinched as she pulled him in closer, holding onto his hair. But his eyes were beginning to grow softer. He was staring at her.

But he said nothing.

"…Never." She repeated—holding his gaze.

His gaze slowly softened. His face began to relax. He looked as though he were relaxing in her grip. As though her presence were something welcome, an anchor that prevented him from flying off the edge...

She smiled and restrained tears.

"Never."

Suddenly his grip loosened and his hands ran through her hair.

So soft...

He moved his forehead to hers.

"Never never never…" She kept repeating over and over as her grip on him grew stronger and more intense.

"Never never never..."

She wouldn't let go. And he wouldn't make her. He wrapped his arms around her, buried his face in her. He had no choice but to finally accept his fate.

She let out a sigh of relief and smiled before kissing the top of his head.

His arms squeezed around her, burying his head in her chest...

"Never never never..." He repeated the words. But this time, they were said with comfort and relief...

Never never never...let me go.

He thought and tightened his grip on her. She closed her eyes and held him as if she was afraid of losing him…as if she would never let him go…as if she sought to keep him safe forever.

He had never felt such comfort and reassurance. Such safety and relief...All her presence told him was:

Home.

He was safe.

She would keep him safe.

He buried his head deeper into her chest, clinging to her with a tenacity he had never shown before. She huffed a laugh at how calm he seemed now and she wrapped her arms around his head as she laid her cheek on top of his head and gently caressed his wild black locks.

His arms only tightened around her.

And he felt content.

He felt safe.

...And that's what he had craved all along.

His hair was as soft as silk...the strands of black, curly locks, curling loosely around her fingers.

He tilted his head back and looked at her. She was so…

...Beautiful.

He tilted his head back more, his gaze focusing on her lips...She noticed and smiled as she saw something else in his gaze. She was now certain that it wasn’t Kylo Ren in her arms right now…

She stopped and smiled down at him before uttering softly—as if she was talking to a scared kitten ready to run away at any moment.

"…Hi there, Ben."

He didn't answer her with words. Instead he moved his forehead forward more. Touching hers...And then his lips were moving along the curve of her cheek...her jawline...her chin...Before her lips were found.

She smiled before kissing him softly.

He kissed back, softly at first, trying to keep this tender and gentle. But soon it became more feverish, more desperate. He pulled her closer, gripping her tightly as he pressed his lips harder against hers.

She met his kisses with a soft smile on her lips.

His lips explored hers. And his hands continued to grip her, pressing him close to her, their bodies together now, their hips touching as their hands roamed each other's bodies...

A breathless chuckle escaped him as a smile spread across his lips too...

She smiled back and looked him in the eyes. She found a whole new soul there and one that was worthy of being loved…She kissed him again. Her lips were warm and soft and gentle and they teased him. They teased him into pressing back harder, teased him into holding her tighter. His body moved against hers as their hands roamed each other. He was holding her in every possible inch of him...not allowing her to escape his grip, while their lips explored each other.

She smiled and even though she had trouble breathing, she still kept kissing him. He moaned against her as his grip tightened around her, his hands starting to roam all over her body.

And the breathlessness began to hit her too.

They were both breathless as they kissed, their lips pressed together tightly as they both gasped for air.

She pulled away and breathed out a laugh.

"Just…Just a second. Give me…"

His eyes remained closed as a blush spread across his cheeks. His breath was still shaky...

"Alright...."

But his hands had their own agenda. They gripped her tight and pulled her back against him, his hands holding her to his chest as their bodies remained in contact...

She chuckled.

"Clingy much ?" She teased.

"Only when it's you..." His voice was still wobbly as he smiled and looked up at her. He tilted his head up and pressed his face against her neck, kissing the soft skin, his breath warming her as he did so...

"What if I just…?" She moved barely an inch away.

His grip tightened around her as she moved.

"Do not."

His voice was low and hoarse as he warned her. He buried his face into her neck again, moving to another spot, before his mouth found another patch of skin, planting a few kisses over it...

She chuckled.

"Okay okay…Sorry."

"Do. Not. Move." He spoke a little more forcefully and his grip tightened around her further as his voice dropped an octave. He continued planting kisses around her neck as his hands found his way to her hips, their hands and bodies still completely pressed together.

She smiled.

"Alright. That’s ONE command I’ll follow."

"Good girl...." His voice was husky as he spoke, his grip loosening just a bit. He planted a few more kisses around her neck before leaning back and looking up at her. "Now stay."

"…With the way you’re holding me. I don’t think I’d be able to do much moving even if I wanted to…"

Ben playfully rolled his eyes before holding her closer.

"Mmmph..." A small chuckle escaped him as he pressed his face against her chest.

He chuckled as well as he continued letting his hands roam...

"What a shame..." His arms remained wrapped tightly around her and he kept holding her. But he continued to plant kisses on her. As he moved his lips...to her jaw...And then to her ears.

Her ears were scarlet red.

He chuckled as he took note of the redness of her ears. He planted a kiss on one of her ears and then another on the other. He moved back once more, smiling cheekily, as he asked.

"Do they always get flushed when you're aroused ?"

They became even redder and she looked embarrassed.

"I don’t know what you are talking about…"

"Mmm-hmm....." He chuckled as he moved to kiss her on the tip of her nose. "I think you do..."

His hand ran over her cheek as he spoke. She humphed before suddenly reaching for the hair covering his ears—attempting to see them.

He felt her hand reach for his ears and suddenly his head was being forced to the side as she tried to take a look at his ears, trying to see if they were red as well...

"What do you think you're doing ?" His voice was hoarse slightly tense as he spoke. He glanced over at her, his eyebrows raised as he saw what she was doing...

She didn’t reply and only pulled back the hair behind his ears to look at them. She smiled.

"I knew it. They’re red too !"

"They are not red !" He spoke with a growl as he moved to cover his ears again but was pulled back again by her. His breath became shaky again as he spoke, but he was still trying to put on an angry expression. But the way her hand was pulling at his hair made it impossible to hold the facade for too long.

"…Don’t cover them." She said and smiled. "Please ?"

He thought about it for a second before slowly lowering his hands from his ears. And then, reluctantly. Keeping his eyes on her the entire time. He let his hands fall into his lap and sat still, letting her look. She looked at them and her smile widened.

"They’re big. And red. But…they’re also very nice."

She then pressed her forehead against his and smiled.

"And that way…we match."

Match...

The word hung there in the air for a moment between them...

Match...

The way their ears were red.

The way their lips were red.

"Yes. I guess you could say that..." He sighed and his arms went around her again. "…we match."

She smiled before resting her chin on his shoulder. They remained like that. His arms wrapped around her, her chin resting on his shoulder. Their bodies together as they stayed quiet. In that moment, there was nothing but the two of them in the galaxy.

No First Order...

No Resistance...

No Rey...

And definitely no Kylo Ren...

All there was was two red-eared lovers.

She smiled and kissed his cheek.

A soft chuckle escaped his lips as she kissed him. She was the only one that could make him behave like this. The only one who could turn him from the Supreme Commander of the First Order into just...

Ben

She squeezed herself tighter into him as her arms remained around his back.

"Now who is being clingy ?" His voice felt hoarse once more as he whispered the words in a tone that was somewhere between teasing and affectionate.

"Me." She admitted unapologetically and looked at him with a small grin.

He chuckled softly and hugged her even tighter.

"Yes...Now stay still." At this point he was just looking for an excuse to touch her more. He kissed the side of her neck again. "Or else...I might have to make you."

"That sounds like a threat." She grinned.

"It was. It is. And you better listen." His voice was huskier now as he spoke. "Now stay still..."

His grip on her tightened once more as he reiterated his threat.

"...Or I will make you..."

She chuckled.

"Is that so ?" She kissed his red ear. He shuddered at the sensation and his grip tightened around her as an instinctual reaction.

"Yes..."

His breaths were shaky as he spoke...

"And I'll keep making you until you stop teasing me. So stay...still."

She grinned.

"Sorry…"

She then held him closer and sighed.

"…Ben."

He felt himself melt as she said his name...

Ben...

She said his name in such a loving way...

This is who I am to her...Ben, her Ben.

In her arms, with her around him, his world felt right...She smiled at the loving gaze he gave her and only repeated the name again.

"Ben…"

He sighed as he felt a soft shiver run all over his body. How could she do this to him with such simple words...? With just one name ? His breathing became even more shaky.

"That’s right. Say it again."

"Ben."

"Mmm..." That was all he could manage at that moment. He pressed his face against her chest again. "Say it again..."

"Ben…" She kissed the top of his head.

"Again..." His voice was so quiet and weak she had to lean down to hear it. But she heard it all the same...

"Ben." She repeated once more and proceeded to caress his head with a loving smile.

He let out a sigh as her hand went through his hair and over his ear.

"Again..." His tone was husky, desperate, even. He wished to remember that name. To remember it until he could never forget it again. "...Just once more..."

"…Ben." She cupped his face.

A soft gasp escaped him as her hand ran across his face. And she cupped his face. He was powerless here.

Nothing but a boy. A boy who had finally found a home.

"Again..." He was on the verge of tears. He muttered the words but they were barely audible as he spoke.

She opened her mouth to say his name again when she suddenly felt like she didn’t have a voice any longer. And her eyes watered as she suddenly felt an invisible force tightening their grip on her throat. Behind Ben, she could see a tall dark figure standing there…Supreme Leader Snoke.

He stood there and suddenly, both her and Ben were thrown off each other and she tried to scream—but no sound came out.

The force holding them apart was so strong, so impossible to fight...Neither of them were strong enough to budge themselves even an inch. His grip tightened around her throat and she suddenly couldn't breathe. Her eyes were watering, her voice was silenced. He could sense the terror in her. He could also sense his own fear.

How had he failed to sense Snoke's presence...?

Suddenly, the connection was cut and JR was brought back to the island with Luke and Rey while Ben was brought back to the ship.

"BEN !" JR screamed…But he was gone.

And worst part was ?

She couldn’t even feel their connection through the Force anymore…Someone had cut their connection.

#fandoms #imagine #fanfic #star wars #kylo ren x reader #general hux x reader

[write-and-wander]

Touch: Epilogue

Pairing:  Kylo Ren x Fem!Reader

Warnings:  Non-canon AU

Word count:  1K

Author’s note: As much as I loved the ending of the last chapter, I can't resist a little epilogue to show where I imagine things would go in my version of the sequels.

(Part 1)

(Part 2)

(Part 3)

(Part 4)

(Part 5)

(Part 6)

(Part 7)

Epilogue: Future's Path

“General Kenobi?”  You hear Poe call out to you.

“Be there in five!” you call back, looking back down to your journal.  It’s been a while since your last entry, and you just wanted to finish recording things before The Path Forward’s first meeting for Project Rebuild.  With a deep breath, you think back on all that has transpired since the Final Victory.

The first order of business was to repair what had been broken.  For the Path- which, at the time, was still the Resistance- that meant tending to the wreckage of the bases we had built in the past.  They settled on rebuilding in D’Qar as, for most of those who stayed after the Victory, it felt like home.  Though many people left the Resistance after that final battle was won, feeling satisfied with having achieved what they had set out to accomplish, some still remained, determining that the work was not yet finished.  Those that stayed reached out to those that left and other allies to raise funds and gather supplies, and while the Resistance itself was gone, the spirit of working together to make the galaxy a better place yet remained.  We all had managed to gather enough not just to rebuild the base we once had, but to also improve upon it with the hope that future generations would be using this place to continue to strive for better.  In fact, reconstruction and renovation just came to completion- hence the meeting I’m about to attend.

General Dameron seamlessly took over the Path after the Victory.  Those of us who joined prior to Leia’s passing knew that it was exactly what she would have wanted- and seeing him lead now confirmed that it was for good reason.  He really was the perfect choice for the head of the organization.  Poe, having grown up with the group and being- well, himself- made for a natural leader.  While some members, new and old alike, still disagree with the risks he’s willing to take, it’s hard to argue against his decisions when they always seem to work out.  I don’t want to discount his natural talents, but I also believe that none of it would be possible without the force’s favor over him.  Regardless, he really is the best we’ve got.

General Storm would agree with me- and, being as force sensitive as he is, I trust his word (admittedly, sometimes more than I trust my own).  Finn’s wisdom is unparalleled, and his bravery and even head makes for a perfect counterpart to General Dameron.  I’m still getting used to calling him General Storm; it was the last name he had taken for himself while Ben, Poe, and I were working out logistics for the Path.  We were shocked when it was the first name he offered for himself, being a reference to his time with the First Order as a Stormtrooper.  However, he said it best himself: “It’s who I am.  It can always mean something new.”  It was a short deliberation, then, on how we would be referring to Finn upon his promotion to General: ‘Storm’ it was.  Shortly after, Rey took the same sort of inspiration, having found out the truth of her past- though, there was no concern about a proper title, as she would not be stepping up into any sort of leadership for the Path.

Now make no mistake, Rey was still working in a close alliance with the Path- which I believe is at least in part due to General Storm.  Instead, she had also taken on her own mantle moving forward.  She had kept both Luke and Leia’s sabers, as well as some of the ancient Jedi texts- which, I just recently learned, were otherwise turned to ash on Ahch-To by Jedi Master Yoda; meaning that the ever-resourceful scavenger managed to recover some before the fiery incident.  With those few relics, she determined that the Jedi tradition should not so easily die.  She decided to try again what Luke had failed to do in his lifetime- rebuild the Jedi Order.  While we disagreed with her decision, we’ve also decided to respect it; with the caveat that the Path would be keeping a close eye on her new Order.  Understanding the hesitation and wanting to be held accountable for the sake of the galaxy’s security moving forward, she easily accepted the conditions.

General Solo- my beloved Ben- took a similar path for himself.  While he was more invested in the Path than Rey was- enough to be given a proper title and position- he also still pursued more, taking the last words of his uncle to heart.  Actually, it’s a project we’ve both been working on for a while now.  We want to forge a new future; to pave a new path for those who are strong with the force.  It will be a way of balance, where the dark cannot exist without the light, both in the galaxy and within ourselves.  We hope to honor our ancestors with the work we do- and, having taken advantage of the presence of their force ghosts to seek out guidance from them, we can confidently say that we’re off to a good start.  Together, we began to teach new, young force-wielders what true balance and harmony with the force might look like, and how one can harness the power within that.

Finally, both sides of the force are intertwined into one, just as intended; and to think it all began when the light first touched the darkness.

You jump at the sound of the door opening, but relax when you see Ben walking in.

“If you show up any later, they might think you’re nervous,” he teases.

“Nervous?” you scoff, “Never.”

Ben laughs.  “The journal can wait, my light,” he says with a kiss to your temple. You stand.

“There’s just so much to record, I wanted to at least start-”

“Will you two stop making out in here?” Poe butts in, “We’ve got a project to start.”

You laugh and give Ben a kiss.  “Okay,” you say, taking a deep breath.

Ben grabs your hand.  “Together?”

You nod as you both follow Poe to the meeting room.  “Together.”

#completed #cross-posted on ao3 #touch #touch series #touch epilogue #touch: epilogue #touch: epilogue #touch (epilogue) #star wars sequel series #star wars #star wars fanfiction #star wars fanfictions #star wars fanfiction series #star wars fanfic #star wars fanfics #star wars fanfic series #kylo ren fanfic #kylo ren fanfiction #kylo ren fanfics #kylo ren fanfictions #kylo ren fanfic series #kylo ren fanfiction series #fem!reader #OC!reader #fem!OC!reader #OC!fem!reader #x reader #reader insert #reader inserts #reader insert series