#about Poe and Leia and Luke right now

[spectordameron]

"There aren't many people I can be a person with, not just a symbol. You made the short list. Lucky you."

"That's right, Leia. Lucky me."

[ivystoryweaver]

The Only One

Episode 7

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Summary: The last time you saw Poe was right before he blew up Starkliller Base - a huge victory for the Resistance. Things go to hell after that and you are separated from Poe, needing to rely on your instincts...and the Force. A huge secret starts to be revealed.

a/n: This Episode glosses over the events in the film The Last Jedi. You don't have to be knowledgeable about the sequel films to continue the story - everything that relates to Elia is summarized here. She is a bit separate from Poe during film events, so this is not a re-telling.

Pairing: Poe Dameron x female original character. Fic is written in second person, but the female "you" has a name (It reads basically the same as any other xreader)

Word Count: 1.6k

Content: violence, action, little angst (no more than in the films), not beta'd

PREVIOUSLY on "The Only One"...

He turned around one more time, granting you another sweet smile. “Wait for me, Ells. I’ll be right back.”

Somehow his humor and good nature gave you hope. Poe always gave you hope.

“May the Force be with you,” you whispered to no one really. Or, to all of them.

The next week was hell.

Which was, perhaps, what a demon like yourself deserved.

At first, the Resistance buzzed with the thrill of victory. Poe and his team destroyed Starkiller Base after Rebel legends Han Solo and Chewbacca worked together with the stormtrooper who defected and a young woman named Rey.

But before you could celebrate or have much of a reunion with Poe, the stormtrooper, who you learned was named Finn, was sent to medical in critical condition, while Rey supposedly flew away to find Luke Skywlaker.

Kylo Ren had murdered Han Solo.

You thought taking out Starkiller Base would give the Resistance a huge advantage in the uphill battle against the First Order, but the New Republic had suffered tremendous losses, crippling, if not obliterating support for the Resistance.

Your assignment kept you apart from Poe for days, so you hadn’t seen him since that fateful moment directly before the Starkiller Base battle.

...where he kissed you and asked you to wait for him.

So many had been lost since then - the chaos, nonstop. After the most recent attack took out most of Resistance command, someone named Holdo took over.

You were dying to see Poe, desperate to see for yourself that he was okay. Every time something else exploded, you felt sure you’d receive a report of his death. The stress piled up as you worked separately from Poe, thinking he might die, or you might die.

To make a desperate situation worse, the attack on the ship's bridge left Leia seriously wounded. And directly before Holdo took command, Poe was demoted, which infuriated you.

And, aside from the fact that you were (thankfully) able to focus, or hyper focus, as it were, on computer programming and other computer tech needs, the news of Commander Dameron's demotion was all you could think about...

...or talk about.

Thankfully, Perrha was with you for the past few days and was a wonderful grounding force for you.

Now, the Resistance was trying to safely land transports on the planet Crait.

Everyone watched in horror as one after the other, the First Order blew them out of the sky. You kept yourself busy working, tears streaming down your face at the thought of Poe being on one of those obliterated ships.

Poe felt the same way.

After maybe the worst week of his life (aside from when his mom died), Poe woke up from the little nap Leia's stun gun gave him. He listened patiently as Leia explained Holdo's plan, then watched in horror as transport after transport was obliterated.

"Where's Elia?" He asked Leia, as if she might somehow know. He had lost too many today, not only on the bridge, but when some of his closest friends died in the hangar explosion.

Leia shook her head, unsure.

Poe stared out into space. "Which one is she on?" He murmured, thankful that his new friend Finn was at least safe for the moment. Hopefully.

The planet's surface was so close. You and Perrha might make it through this. But who could be sure what awaited you on Crait, with the First Order bearing down hard?

As you entered the planet's atmosphere, the transport closest to yours exploded - near enough to your own that the blast and debris wreaked havoc. You were taking serious damage - hit hard enough to crash, just not to explode instantly like the neighboring transport.

Everyone around you was astoundingly calm, focused and professional, but a crash landing would not be avoidable.

Perrha's eyes met yours frantically as fire, debris and smoke filled the transport.

"We're not gonna make it," they gasped, coughing from all the smoke.

Panic gripped your heart. You didn't want to die. For once in your life, you really wanted to live and not just in terms of survival. You wanted to help the Resistance. You wanted them to win. You needed to learn about the Force, and ascertain from Leia if you were truly doomed to be a servant of the darkness.

Perrha was your friend and so was Poe. Your very best friend. Your heart broke as you thought of never seeing him again. It couldn't end this way.

So instead of giving in to despair, you opened yourself up to the flow of energy - no. The Force. A wall of fire swept through the transport.

"No." Your voice could barely be heard over the commotion. It wasn't a plea but a command.

Perrha cried out your name as you stretched out your hands and literally pushed the fire backward.

Your breathing steadied, your countenance - a mask of serenity. Your eyes fluttered closed as the Force surrounded you, flowed through you.

The fire would not touch you. Nor Perrha.

The remaining Resistance fighters watched from their transports, in awe, as a transport-on-fire gently touched down on the planet's surface.

You heard nothing. You only felt.

Calm.

Finally, you heard Perrha screaming your name. "This thing is gonna blow, come on!" They quite literally jerked you away - your boots thumping on the planet's surface as you ran for your life.

The ship exploded, knocking the survivors to the ground with a concussive force - dangerous, but not fatal.

Your ears rang, dusty salt filled your lungs, but Perrha hauled you up. You ran again, as fast as you had ever in your life.

The First Order had entered the planet's atmosphere and took up position at the mine entrance - the old Rebel base. Unfortunately, your transport's crash left you quite far away on foot. But thankfully, the First Order would assume your exploded crash site would leave no survivors - giving you time to run.

A battle raged overhead and in the distance. Blaster and cannon fire, and boot prints turned the ashy, salty surface blood red.

Your group finally made it to the mine, but there was no getting in the front entrance. The huge blaster door was sealed, but under heavy attack.

"Is there another way in?" You wondered aloud.

"Is there another way out?" Perrha countered, panicked. "Are they trapped in there?"

Your ragtag team rallied, determined to find a way to either get in to the safety of the mine, or help the remaining Resistance fighters escape, if they were trapped.

Suddenly you saw an old rust bucket ship zoom overhead and land at the edge of a shallow cliff.

Your team arrived just in time to see a young woman...making dozens of piles of rocks...float. This action served to clear a blocked path, allowing the Resistance fighters to escape the mine.

You saw the stormtrooper, Finn. The young woman must be Rey. You were so distracted by her dazzling display of the Force, that you almost didn't notice that just beside Finn...

was Poe.

Finn raced into Rey's arms for a hug, but it was Poe who noticed your ash-covered, singed, rag-tag crew, confused, for a moment, as to why you would have appeared with Rey.

"Elia," he breathed, pushing his way past anyone and everything in his path, including the huge boulders Rey had lifted moments before.

You were an adorable mess, most of your hair had tumbled out of your twin buns. Soot tarnished your cheeks and clothes. By some miracle your unlaced boots stayed in place while you ran for your life.

As Poe clambered toward you, your hands anxiously grabbed for your backpack straps…only to come up empty.

“M-my backpack,” you gasped, frantically touching your arms and chest.

Okay, people were dead.

Your transport crashed and exploded.

You only survived because you wielded the Force and ran for your life.

The First Order was bearing down.

Poe was alive!

But your brain?

“My backpack,” you repeated, desperately, craving the familiar soothing touchstone of its frayed straps.

“Here, sweetheart,” Poe gently offered, reaching for the fallen strap, to pull it back onto your shoulder. “Looks like the other one got burned.”

Which meant…

You grabbed for the other strap urgently, realizing the little pack might have been destroyed, leaving your wings out in the open.

Poe, so relieved to see you alive, wishing with all his heart that the could throw his arms around you, tried to understand…

“No, no no …” You shook your head, eyes wide with horror.

“Ells?” He asked, confused, holding up his hands in a supplicating manner, trying to show you he wouldn’t touch you if you didn’t want him to. “Baby, are you hurt?”

“I can’t…my backpack,” you gasped, short of breath. “I can’t…” Shaking your head rapidly, you backed away, running into Perrha…who got a look at your exposed back.

“Oh, Elia. A-are you - w-what happened…” they trailed off, glancing at Poe, confused at the sight of your tightly furled, dark wings. Perrha wasn’t sure if you were burned, or what was going on.

“What is it?” He demanded. “Is she hurt?” He reached for your arm to turn you around, but before his hand made contact, you clenched your fists and cried out.

“No!”

…sending tiny bits of rock flying outward from you body in every direction.

This got Rey’s attention.

As far as the young Jedi trainee knew, she and Leia were the only ones capable of this sort of thing.

Poe backed away, stunned, brushing bits of gravel from his face and hair, exchanging worried glances with Perrha, but determined to make sure you were all right.

He thought to approach you, but stopped short at a miraculous sight.

Your hair had tumbled down, beautiful and wild, your eyes closed in concentration.

Hands clenched by your sides, you held yourself still as bits of rock and earth circled you slowly.

And behind you, dark, slick wings unfurled.

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[ave09]

together

poe dameron x reader

note: headcannon that poe’s middle name is cosmo, and i will now be using that as his personal cutesie nickname-

han solo was dead.

and you had never felt more lost.

you knew him-you knew him very well.

he was practically your father. 

he had been around since you’d been just a child, and you had accompanied him on many endeavors across the galaxy. you’d listened to his rants about his smuggling years, about his meeting of leia and luke, about leia in general.

you’d heard it all.

you weren’t with him when he died. 

you didn’t even know until chewbacca returned with only rey and finn. no sign of the old man. 

you didn’t cry for him. not yet at least. all you felt was… numb. a pain that rotted your core—something that felt as though it would never go away.

you’d been there for leia. for she was really who mattered. her brother was missing—her husband murdered—her son turned to a monster—

you knew she was hurting… but was anyone going to acknowledge your hurt?

poe dameron certainly did. 

a few days after it happened, he went searching for you. and yet there was no sign of you.

he’d gone to rey. 

“hey, have you seen her anywhere?” he had asked. she shook her head, “no.”

he’d gone to finn.

“hey buddy-have you seen her? i’ve been looking everywhere.” finn had frowned, “sorry-no.”

finally, he went to leia.

poe didn’t even have to ask.

“check the falcon. she’s always there.”

and so he did. 

walking up the ramp, he felt an eerie sense of… something wash over him. he couldn’t exactly figure it out. 

he could hear han’s laughter as he walked up that ramp, the countless times he’d seen you two walk down it, chucking about something one had said. 

you were so close to han, he knew that. 

why hadn’t he noticed before? 

as he entered the falcon, he heard a faint sound—as though someone was crying.

he walked along the corridor until he reached the cockpit, and that’s where he found you-

curled up in the captain’s seat, head resting on your knees as your shoulder’s heaved with soft sobs. 

it hurt him to see you like this.

you who were always filled with joy, constantly making jokes—seeing you broken just felt so very wrong. 

cautiously, he took a few steps forward, gently

placing a hand upon your shoulder. you flinched, lifting your head, locking bloodshot eyes with his, “for kriff’s sake-“ you murmured, standing up a bit too quickly, “you scared me-“

“sorry,” he slowly removed his hand as he watched you wipe your eyes with the back of your hand. you always refused to let anyone see any sort of emotion, and he hated it.

he hated it because he did the exact same thing. 

you sniffled, “what’re you doing here?” 

“checking up.” he said simply.

“i’m fine.”

“you’re not.” 

“i am;” you argued, but he knew better.

he knew you better than anyone—now that han was gone. 

you fell silent then, letting out a shaky sigh. 

poe took a step closer to you, a look of sympathy crossing his face. he took another step, uncross his arms, extending them slightly.

no words exchanged-and you knew.

he knew what you needed. 

before you knew it, you were crumbling again, and like a savior, he was there to catch your fall. 

you were enveloped by his arms, a tight embrace that you never wanted to leave as the sobs came again. 

he held you close—not knowing the right words to say but he knew this was what you needed.

you didn’t need any words of comfort. you just needed someone.

and poe turned out to be that someone. 

“i want him back.”

her voice was so fragile. as if anything could break it. 

“i know,” he whispered, pecking the top of her head, “i know.”

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 

leia organa was dead.

there was a sort of heaviness in the air. 

the galaxy had lost not only a valuable general—but a ray of light—a beacon of hope.

the war was over. kylo ren was dead. the first order had fallen.

the galaxy was okay. 

but poe dameron was not. 

but—this time—he had you.

you returned to your quarters one night to find him seated upon the bed you shared, his hand hanging low. 

you quietly closed the door behind you. “cosmo?”  he didn’t move. you furrowed your brows, “poe?” your footsteps were the only sound in the room. 

you rounded the bed, sitting beside him. and then you noticed what was held in his hand. 

it was a grainy photograph. displayed on it, was a young leia organa. she was smiling brightly, and you couldn’t help but wonder when exactly this was taken. 

you’d never seen her look so happy. 

you placed a hand on his shoulder, and only then did he lift his head. “hey,” he murmured.

“hi.” you whispered, smiling softly at him. 

“how you holding up?” her voice was soft. 

“fine.”

“liar.” 

he bit his lip, frowning. despite his best efforts,  you could see his lip quivering. 

“i just-“ he let out a sigh, running a hand over his face, “what-“ he paused, “what am i supposed to do without her?” 

“poe-“

“she’s been there since-since i was a kid-i’ve already lost my mom-losing leia-“ his voice caught in his throat, choking back a sob. 

you didn’t hesitate to wrap your arms around him, “i know,” was all you could say. 

“i just—i can’t lead-“

“you can.” you whispered, “i promise you can.”

“y’know why?” you asked. poe didn’t answer. “you’re strong. you’re a natural-born leader. poe, you’re the strongest man i know. and leia knew it too.”

he sent you a teary smile.

“we’re gonna get through this.” you assured, rubbing his back as you pecked his cheek softly. 

“together?” his voice was shaky. 

you nodded,

“together.”

[radiantvader]

˗ˏˋ Rules ˎˊ˗

Hellooo! I'm genuinely super excited to finally start up my blog! I've been wanting to do it for a while now but I've been too scared to actually commit to this account. Thank you to anyone who's reading this right now, I really appreciate you taking the time to actually read this <3

So, before I start writing anything, I wanted to set up some boundaries since there are a few things that make me uncomfortable.

1. A major part of my content is nsfw (18+) so with all due respect, if you're a minor, please leave. I know I can't stop you from viewing my posts but if you interact with any of them, I'm sorry but I will have to block you.

2. Writing ships is something that I've always found super hard to do since I can't seem to find ideas or be creative while writing them, but, I'm not entirely closed to the idea of writing Anidala one-shots, blurbs, headcanons etc. I will mostly write Anakin Skywalker x Reader or Darth Vader x Reader. However, I accept requests for some other characters like :

Obi Wan Kenobi

Luke Skywalker

Han Solo

Poe Dameron

Leia Organa

Padmé Amidala

3. I'll try my best to write a lot of gender-neutral stuff. However, I can't lie, the chances of me writing MxM content are very low. I just don't know how it works and I'm really sorry if I disappointed any of you guys but I can't write about something I genuinely know nothing about as I'm sure it won't be accurate. I really don't want to mess up and offend anyone, once again, I'm really sorry.

4. I'm okay with writing a lot of kinks and tropes such as :

BDSM

Breath Play

Knife Play

Enemies to Lovers

Size Kink

Corruption Kink

Age Gaps (only if characters are consenting adults)

Blood Play

Anal

Breeding Kink

Infidelity Kink

And much more but I'm too lazy to write them all down. However, Kinks/Tropes/Ships I will NOT write about under any circumstances are :

Rape

Suicide

Self-Harm

Piss/Scat

AniSoka (If you request it, I'm blocking you.)

ObiKin

Age Play (There is a huge difference between Age Gaps and Age Play. I am totally fine with Age Gaps but I will not romanticize infantilism.)

Pedophilia (If you request this, I'm blocking and reporting you.)

Any non-human characters from the SW universe

OmegaVerse

5. Finally, I absolutely love writing but I can't say that I'll answer your requests quickly, especially since I'm really busy with college. However, I promise that I won't take too long, 7 days max. Anyway, I hope you guys like my content, have a good day/night ! <3

[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.

[agirlwithachakram]

the character arcs we were promised in TFA:

where we started

Finn: renegade stormtrooper, lightsaber wielder, friend-maker. brave guy who wants to be good in spite of what he was taught.

rey: random scavenger whose life experience actually sets her up well to be good at Jedi stuff. protective of nice droids. defensive of self, but can be friends under the right circumstances.

poe: tortured, basically made responsible for a massacre of civilians after carrying out a mission under Leia's orders. made a friend of a stormtrooper and immediately welcomed him into the fold. killer pilot, deeply respected by his fleet.

what that was leading to

finn: serves as an example and liberator of other stormtroopers. proof that stormtroopers aren't just faceless baddies. show that a random kid can be force sensitive and learn Jedi stuff. get his own lightsaber or inherit Anakin's.

rey: learning to trust people when presented with people and situations where trust is reasonable and necessary. showing that anyone can have the Force, not just the Special Family. her walls built from her difficult upbringing is a foil to Luke's bright eyed naivete, but she still learns to use the force in good ways and reject its darkness.

poe: eventually taking over command from Leia. A fight with Leia over acceptable casualties, possibly over the fact that her son tortured him, something remotely consistent given that Leia got those civilians killed just to get Luke's coordinates and Poe got some of the fleet killed in TLJ for an ACTUAL military reason and YET somehow Leia found the civilian deaths more acceptable. I mean, they didn't talk about it at all, which is the problem. anyway. what it should have been leading to: consistent characterization and complicated disagreements between Poe (de facto boss, as the fleet commander) and Leia (official boss)

what we got

Finn: meets other ex-stormtroopers, but nothing really comes of that. vaguely tries to tell Rey he's force sensitive but nothing really comes of that. randomly appointed co-general in a painfully unearned weird scene. stormtroopers largely remain faceless baddies.

rey: actually she's Palpy's granddaughter which means she can use force lightning and she decided to be a skywalker because everyone loves those guys and she's a girl so she's in love with baaaad boys oh btw she can force heal now. even though that's like a really difficult thing that most can't do and takes a lot of work and would be really cool except we have no idea where she learned or when.

poe: DEMOTED. by leia who is NEVER wrong. re-promoted after learning you're not supposed to let any of your guys die in war. duh, everyone knows that. *sniffle sniffle* idk if i can be the general...that sounds hard... :'( Oh! I know! I'll ask my best friend Finn, who has never suggested he wants to be general, and has not had any kind of arc showing he would be good at it, to be my co-general. Surely this will be good and not look like he's my sugar baby. oh btw I used to smuggle drugs and i am a straightie heteroman.

[nonhumanhottie]

Rise of skywalker rewatch

I'm so excited and nervous

Dude the crawl is crazy that's too much front heavy information even for star wars

Kylo in his ratty era I miss his lucious hair

Do the movies ever have holocrons or wayfinders in them before this??

Like I think Palpatine returning could have been slay if they had built it up but nooo

Kylo why would you want another master isn't that why you killed your first?

Everything with Finn and poe is perfect and I love that they're spicer this movie

Oh Leia it's so clear you're not actually in these scenes you're talking to no one

Rey and Poe's fight is one of my favourite scenes it's so fun and fluid

Somehow baby somehow that Palpapussy is back slaying the game

This plot is out of control already and the first act isn't even over

Hux is just ready to fucking kill Kylo and I so stan him for that

Chewie needs some damn conditioner

'I'm just Rey, anywhere else I'd be a slay'

Kylo leave Rey the fuck alone challenge

Now who is this mysterious well dressed man hmmm

I hope they do a comic of Luke and Lando trying to find the wayfinder

'They fly now!' makes me so fucking angry lmao stormtroopers are based on clones who are based on Mandalorians!

'Bones. I don't like bones' is such an underrated line from Poe lmao

'Horrible things happened with this knife' Rey babes you're holdng a weapon that was used to slay younglings

Threepio is great in this so many banger lines

Chewie got got!

Letting my housemate think Chewie died lol

The way the trio hold hands is so precious

Kinda live for Zorii I love someone putting Poe in his place

Zorii and Rey being friends iconic

Casually sneaking onto a star destroyer

Rey has bad communication skills my God call her out

Rey saying 'I don't want this' while Kylo torments here is so gross

Hux just as chaotic as Poe and Finn lmao and so petty I live

How would this blade have even been made like you're telling me the debris hasn't moved in 30 years?

Do love Jannah even though it feels like her choice is taken away by making the Force tell her to do the right thing

Finn and Poe are arguing! The boys are fighting!!

I wish we saw more of evil Rey she's so slay

Love how there's no music where they fight

Dude I fucking hate when Rey heals him like you could have taken out the Supreme Leader!!

Chewie's reaction fucking kills me

Kylo's change of heart is so fast like shut up

Poe looks exhausted but him talking to Lando is so special

Luke and Leia should have told Rey about her lineage if they knew though

Oh I do love Luke and his cheeky little smile

'What our mothers and fathers faught for' yes they did Poe and your mother and father were hot and cool!

Poe is flying with Artoo I love that

I wish Rey wasn't separated from her friends in the final battle

I fucking do love Palps though he's just such a delight

Kylo how did you get here and why aren't you talking??

The knights are like bros before hoes @ Kylo

Truly Han Solo's son not a single fucking brain cell

The 'on your left' of it all

The scream I scrumpt when I heard Kanan's voice I always forget

Yes girl fucking slay Palpatine

I hate the way Kylo holds her get your hands of her fucking waist

The kiss genuinely disgusts me lmao I get such ick vibes

And then Kylo dies and escapes all consequence

Ewoks!!!

Connie and Rose together... perhaps girlfriends?

Lesbian kiss!!! And older lesbians at that we love to see it

he trio hugging at the end is genuinely one of my favourite shots in all of Star Wars I hate that it's in such a bad movie lmao

This ending is sweet. Not deserved, but sweet. I like them being happy. d

[stedefxckingbonnet]

requests info/intro!

hi, everyone!

i thought i'd take a quick second to introduce myself and to also formally open up requests. i'm already working on a few things, but requests really do always help and feel free to submit them at any point--but, we'll get to all of that in a moment!

my name is lavinia, and i am a uni student studying both theatre (dramaturgy specifically) and creative writing! i love to sing, act, write (obviously haha), read (i am a huge fan of classic literature, as well as donna tartt, mona awad, sally rooney, elif bautman, and ottessa moshfegh's works), go to concerts, go to the movies, style/design clothing, paint, collect records/cds, and so much more! this barely scratches the surface really but, if any of you share these interests, always feel free to reach out!

anyhow, as i said, i will officially be opening requests, and at the moment here is the media and the characters i will write for:

Our Flag Means Death

Izzy Hands (my BELOVED)

Ed Teach

Stede Bonnet

Lucius Spriggs

Jim Jimenez

Oluwande

Mary Bonnet

(more available upon request! these were just sort of my first instincts.)

Gilmore Girls

honestly, i'm pretty open to anything unless it's dean. just request and i'll see what i can do!

Gossip Girl

Blair Waldorf

Serena Van der Woodsen

Dan Humphrey

Nate Archibald

Chuck Bass (like sometimes)

Rufus Humphrey

more available upon request.

The Fosters/The Good Trouble

Callie Adams Foster

Mariana Adams Foster

Brandon Foster

Jamie Hunter

Gael Martinez

Dennis Cooper

Malika Williams

more available upon request.

Select Wes Anderson and Tim Burton characters. just ask!

Enola Holmes

Enola Holmes

Tewkesbury

Sherlock Holmes

Little Women (2019)

Jo March

Amy March

Beth March

Meg March

Laurie

Friedrich Bhaer

Star Wars

Obi-Wan Kenobi

Anakin Skywalker

Padmé Amidala

Luke Skywalker

Han Solo

Leia Organa

Kylo Ren

Finn

Poe Dameron

Ahsoka Tano

more available upon request!

Pride & Prejudice (2005)

Basically me just saying I'll write Mr. Darcy. but more characters available upon request, of course.

Community

Abed Nadir

Troy Barnes

Annie Edison

Jeff and Britta I'm a little iffy on but with the right request, maybe. don't hesitate to ask!

The OC

Seth Cohen

Ryan Atwood

Summer Roberts

Marissa Cooper

The Umbrella Academy

Klaus

Viktor

Ben

Five

Diego

Allison

Luther is like, not preferred for me but if you feel strongly about him and have a good request, i’ll consider it but don’t get your hopes up too high!

Once Upon a Time

Emma Swan

Regina Mills

Killian Jones

Neal Cassidy

August Booth

Jefferson (The Mad Hatter)

Mulan

Ruby Lucas (Red Riding Hood)

Belle French

Mary Margaret Blanchard (Snow White)

David Nolan (Prince Charming)

Peter Pan

Robin Hood

Any others, feel free to ask! I know I left Mr. Gold (Rumple) off, but that's only because it depends with each request. Also, please specify if you want it to take place in Storybrooke pre or post curse, or in The Enchanted Forest.

Merlin

Merlin

Arthur

Gwen

Morgana

Nimueh

Lancelot

any others, feel free to ask. i am just starting S2, keep that in mind.

The Holdovers

Angus Tully

Dead Poets Society

Todd Anderson

Neil Perry

Knox Overstreet

Charlie Dalton

Steven Meeks

Love Lies Bleeding

Lou Langston

Jackie Cleaver

i'll just start there for now, as honestly it's been a bit since i've written an x reader and i don't want to overwhelm myself much! but please, feel free to request at any time! I will update this frequently, as I am always either getting into new things or remembering things I already love. I am mostly dedicated to OFMD right now, but you may also leave requests for other fandoms and I will keep them on file, or who knows, perhaps even get to them sooner than you may imagine! Have a wonderful day (or night!), and don't forget to request!

yours truly,

lavinia

me filing through all of your requests (hopefully!)

[just-dreaming-marvel]

The Bond Between Us ~ 82

THE BOND BETWEEN US MASTERLIST

< previous chapter

Word Count: 1,655ish

Summary: You and the other go back to the Resistance base to put a plan together.

Notes: Two chapters in one day! (Also, can't believe that this series is almost over! Insane!)

You fell asleep almost as soon as Han helped you to a bench. He held you up against him so that you wouldn’t fall over while Chewie flew the Falcon to the Resistance base on D’Qar. Leia and he shared a worried look as they came to the realization that you were no longer as young and spry as you tried to keep being. Han explained to Leia about Rey and Finn, how he had gotten the Falcon back, and ended up on Takodana.

“Hey, kid, wake up,” Han whispered, shaking you gently.

You groaned as you woke up. Looking around, you noticed people getting off the transport. Han helped you to your feet and walked with you, following Leia, to the command center. He guided you to sit down and you thanked him with a smile. Han smiled back with a nod, eyes roaming over you to check for any injuries.

“I’m fine,” you told him.

“I don’t know think it was a smart move to fight, kid,” he worried.

“Yeah? Who would have saved your skin then?”

“Y/N…”

“Don’t worry about me, okay? I’ll be fine after I rest up.” Han sighed. He turned around and plopped next to you, staring at Leia as she conversed with a group of officers. You noticed his longing, sorrowful stare. “She missed you, you know?”

Han scoffed. “Doubt it.”

“It’s true.”

“Yeah? Well, how about you?”

You reached over and placed a hand on his knee. “Of course I did, Han. You’re family.”

“General Organa!” Poe called as he hurried up to the group with the man that had been with Han and Chewie. You and Han put your attention on the commotion. “Sorry to interrupt, this is Finn, he needs to talk to you—“

“And I need to talk to him,” Leia said, taking Finn’s hand. “That was incredibly brave, what you did. Renouncing the First Order, saving this man’s life—“

“Thank you, ma’am,” Finn responded, clearly surprised she knew. “But a friend of mine was taken prisoner—“

“Han told me about the girl, I’m sorry.”

“Finn’s familiar with the weapon that destroyed the Hosnian system,” Poe said. “He worked on the base.”

“We’re desperate for anything you can tell us.”

“That’s where my friend was taken,” said Finn. “I’ve got to get there, fast.”

You pushed yourself up from your seat and walked over, Han right behind you. “And we will do everything we can to help,” you told Finn, “but first you must tell us all you know. Including, where you found that lightsaber attached to your hip.”

That’s when Leia noticed the old saber attached at Finn’s hip. 

“Maz Kanata had it,” Han responded. “It called to Rey but she refused to take it.”

“Wait…” Finn looked at you closer as he mumbled. Realization hit him, blowing his eyes wide. “You—You’re Jedi General Y/N L/N!”

“It’s Skywalker,” Han corrected at the same time Leia said, “Her name is Y/N Kenobi.”

“Doesn’t matter who I am,” you said. “That’s Anakin’s lightsaber that Luke lost on Cloud City.”

“I—I don’t—“

“Doesn’t matter about the lightsaber right now,” Leia interrupted Finn’s stuttering. “Tell us what you know about the base.”

~~~

After Finn explained what he knew, you, Han, and Leia found yourselves alone in the main command room with C3PO, BB8, and a shutdown R2D2. You watched as C3PO took a data device from BB8 and inserted it into a base computer. A map appeared on the base computer. You and Leia walked up to it, studying it. You sighed at the sight of the incomplete map.

“Generals, I regret to inform you, but this map recovered from BB8 is only partially complete,” 3PO explained. “And even worse, it matches no charted system on record. We simply do not have enough information to locate Master Luke.”

Leia shook her head as she sighed. “I can’t believe I was so foolish to think that I could just find Luke and bring him home.”

“Leia—“ Han tried.

“Don’t do that.”

“Do what?”

Leia turned around to walk away. “Anything.”

Han looked to you for help. You simply shrugged. He started following her, though the two never left the room allowing you to what the whole interaction.

“I’m trying to be helpful!” Han argued.

“When did that ever help?” Leia retorted. “And don’t say the Death Star!”

Han sighed. “Listen to me, will you?” Leia turned. “I know every time you… every time you look at me, you’re reminded of him.”

“You think I want to forget him? I want him back!”

“There was nothing we could’ve done.” He glanced at you briefly while he said that. “There was too much Vader in him.”

“That’s why I wanted him to train with Luke… with Y/N. I just never should have sent him away. That’s when I lost him… that’s when I lost you both.”

“We both had to deal with it in our own way. I went back to the only thing I was ever good at.”

“We both did.”

They stared at each other in silence for a moment before Han spoke up again, “we lost our son, forever.”

“No… It was Snoke… he seduced our son to the dark side. But we can still save him. Me. You.”

“If Luke and Y/N couldn’t reach him, how could I?”

“Luke and Y/N are Jedi… you’re his father. There’s still light in him. I know it.”

“Generals,” General Statura interrupted, “the reconnaissance report on the enemy base is coming.”

~~~

A group of Resistance members surrounded the holo table which displayed a wireframe hologram of the surface of Starkiller Base.

“The scan data from Snap’s reconnaissance flight confirms Finn’s report,” Poe informed.

“They’ve somehow created a hyper-light speed weapon built within the planet itself,” Snap explained.

“A laser cannon?” One of the members questioned.

“We’re not sure how to describe a weapon of this scale.”

“It’s another Death Star,” you breathed out. “Just… worse.”

“I believe that’s an understatement, General Kenobi,” Poe said. He hit a button, revealing the comparison of the Death Star to the Starkiller Base. The Death Star was minuscule in comparison. “This is Starkiller Base.”

“So it’s big,” Han said, trying to lighten the mood slightly.

“How is it possible to power a weapon of this size?” Admiral Ackbar questioned.

“It uses the power of the sun,” Finn explained. “As the weapon is charged, the sun is drained until it disappears.”

Suddenly an officer ran up, handing Leia a data card. She looked at it, heart clearly sinking.

“The First Order, they’re charging thee weapon again, now,” Leia said. “Our system is the next target.”

“Oh my!” 3PO exclaimed. “Without the Republic fleet, we’re doomed.”

“Okay, how do we blow it up?” Han asked. “There’s always a way to do that.”

“Han’s right,” Leia said, surprising her husband.

“In order for that amount of power to be contained, that base would need some kind of thermal oscillator,” you said.

“There is one,” Finn responded, moving the hologram to show a location on the base. “Precinct 47. Here.”

“If you can destroy that oscillator, it might destabilize the core and cripple the weapon… maybe the planet.”

“We’ll go in there and we’ll hit that oscillator with everything we got,” Poe said, very gun-ho.

“It’s not that easy Dameron. There’s a defensive shield that our ships can’t penetrate.”

“We disable the shields,” Han stated, a matter of factly. He looked to Finn. “Big Deal, you worked there, what do you got?”

“I can do it,” Finn confirmed.

“I like this guy.”

“I can disable the shields. But I have to be there, on the planet.”

“We’ll get you there.”

“Han, how?” Leia questioned.

“If I told you, you wouldn’t like it.”

“So we disable the shields, take out the oscillator and we blow up their big gun,” Poe confirmed. “Alright! Let’s go!”

~~~

Han, Chewie, and Finn were working on the Falcon when you finally got the strength to go out there. You had a bad feeling about the mission—specifically Han’s part in it and you wanted to do what you could to keep him safe.

“I’m coming with you,” you stated.

“No,” Han turned to you, shaking his head. “Not a chance. You barely had the strength to fight the way you did.”

“Han, I’m fine. Besides, I have a bad feeling about this and—“

“Then you’re definitely not going.”

“You’ll need my help.”

“Y/N,” he placed his hands on your arms, “you need to stay here.”

“I can save him, Han,” you whispered, getting emotional. “I wasn’t able to be the Chosen One and bring balance, but at least let me bring him back. Let me bring Ben home.”

“What happened to Ben wasn’t your fault. You couldn’t have prevented it.” He leaned over and kissed your forehead. “It’s going to be okay.” He smiled as he pulled back. “It’s me.” He stepped away and turned to go back to the Falcon.

“No matter how much we fought,” Leia’s voice caused Han to stop, “I’ve always hated watching you leave.” She came to stand beside you.

Han turned around. “That’s why I did it. So you’d miss me.”

Leia laughed and moved closer to Han. “I did miss you.”

“It wasn’t all bad, was it? Huh? Some of it was… good.”

“Pretty good.”

“Somethings never change.”

Leia smiled. “True. You still drive me crazy.” Han placed his hands on her shoulders. They stared at each other briefly before pulling each other in tightly, holding for dear life. “If you see our son again, bring him home.”

“I will.” He pulled back, looking at you and Leia. “I’ll bring him home.”

Leia slipped her arm through yours as the two of you watched Han go over and enter the Falcon. You followed it as it lifted up and flew off, disappearing into space.

next chapter >

TAGLIST IS CLOSED - Taglist Information

[that-one-kiddo-in-the-back]

I'm bored at work.

I'm super bored at work right now, and I don't want to talk about Lily... so welcome to

Things I would change with Star Wars sequels.

This is just how I would have done it, I know a lot of people like the sequels, and this might be just little nippicks.

There's not all that much to make a whole ass fanfiction as the plot and character stories are gonna stay the same (for the most part).

Okay, first, I wouldn't bring back the original cast, so no Luke, Han, Leia, chewy, etc. Being replaced with completely new characters now just because they aren't here, they will get name drops because, let's be real, Luke, Leia, the emperor, and a few others had a big impact on the galaxy it would be a bit hard (and unnecessary) to completely erase them.

Rey and Finn would train in the force together but with different masters. Both of the masters are from Luke's jedi school, with Rey getting Luke's apprentice and Finn getting Leia's.

The romance between Kylo Ren and Rey is introduced in the first movie, with more of a friends to enemies to lovers still there. I imagine they were friends before Kylo falls to the dark side and before Rey's parents abandon her.

Since Rey gets a lover, Finn gets Poe. It's only fair.

Now that Luke and everyone else from the original series are no longer here, Snoke is keeping his title of main bad guy.

And lastly, Rey still takes the last name of Skywalker, and Finn takes the last name of Dameron. I really want another on-screen wedding.

So yeah, that's pretty much it. Like I said, there's not a lot I would really change since my only real problem with the sequels is just the original characters coming back.

[spectordameron]

sorry you had to see that poll nym 😭 people are so weird about the sequels still

Ten years (nearly) after they started and five after they ended, and people are less normal about them still than I, resident "very not normal about the sequels" nerd.

A lot of the reasonings I saw for "why it hates women", too, just have me even more bewildered and frustrated. I feel like so much of this fandom's misogyny has completely clouded its perception of what the films actually were. And that's not to say the sequels are entirely flawless, though I feel this is an obvious statement that needn't be stated because no piece of media is without flaw, but this is the piss on the poor website, but I feel like a lot of the fandom's sexism just winds up skewering what the sequels really are- and it's a three movie narrative centered around Leia and Rey.

Oh yeah, bells and whistles of the tragedies of Han and Luke and Ben, but ultimately it comes down to Leia and Rey; it's a story of finding Leia's brother to bring him back to her. It's a story of trying (and failing, but trying again) to bring her son back to her. It's about people fighting in Leia's name. The Last Jedi novelization has D'Acy speaking her name with reverence, and Leia striding through the hanger is enough to immediately cease the division that rose up between the Resistance and Holdo's crew. It is in Leia's name that the galaxy pulls together to overthrow tyranny; it is Leia's legacy that Poe and Rey find themselves trying to carry, respectively. It's closure Leia deserved, with Vader, that Rey finds for herself by defeating Palpatine and rejecting his bloodline to choose her own family.

No, Leia doesn't have a big presence in the sequels; but she does drive them. She inspires everyone in the films, and it's a desire to do her and her legacy right that motivates nearly every other character. Leia is the symbol of the Resistance, of the Light, of hope in the films, and she can't even see it herself! But everyone else does.

So, quite. Leia is in a coma for most of The Last Jedi (oh no! The horror! She's now disabled! how completely sexist, as we know disabled women don't exist!), but she drives so much of it narratively.

And this concept that "some of the women antagonists are cruel, so it hates women" is absolutely mind-boggling to me? Of course Phasma is horrible, she's a fascist. And I don't take Holdo as a girlboss we're supposed to 100% believe is a perfect angel who does no wrong, when she represents so much of the elitism that the movie is so critical towards (she stands regally above the rest of the Resistance in fancy clothes that, if not in color, then certainly in trim lines more with the rich quality we see on Canto Bight; she immediately reduces Poe to a hotshot flyboy and nothing more, Finn to an ex-stormtrooper, and can't be bothered to even remember who Rose is, despite the fact that Rose is from Holdo's ship, and her focus is on bringing the New Republic back, which is a return to the status quo, which the film also pretty explicitly goes "no!" to). I don't think her self-sacrifice, or Leia using it as a teaching moment for Poe, negates those traits in the slightest. Holdo is - narratively - an antagonist:

a person who actively opposes or is hostile to someone or something; an adversary.

She was designed, specifically, to be a hardass that Poe and, we the audience, would not trust (according to the Art of the Last Jedi). The fact that two female antagonists (and one outright villain) is used as some sort of "gotcha!" that the films are somehow sexist doesn't sit right with me - it veers entirely too closely to the concept that women are somehow inherently pure creatures, and the thought that they might be anything but is sexist. Two white women antagonists embody prejudice? It's the end of feminism, cos white racist (and ableist, looking at you "bedpan duty" comment of Amilyn's from the novelization!) women is completely a myth right?

And people put so much more importance on Kylo than the films even do. They're so quick to write Rey off as nothing more than a mere victim, or like her arc is completely sullied by her having compassion for the villainous character - and the double standard is so completely obvious when Luke is praised for the same thing. But Rey dares to do the selfish, complicated thing - she develops feelings for the man she's supposed to hate! Who has hurt her friends! That's too much nuance, and the idea that Rey might have all the power here is too much for this fandom to comprehend, so we have to reduce her to a hapless little victim. So niave, and helpless but to exist as a mere prop for the white man.....

When in actuality, Ren serves as a prop for Rey's development. He makes her worse, highlights her flaws, and pushes her out of her comfort zone. The throne room is entirely the cause of (most) of Rey's insecurities in The Rise of Skywalker, and why she thinks she needs to earn her place in this story. She doesn't put up with any man's shit - she knocks Luke fucking Skywalker on his ass for lying to her, and when Ren makes it clear he isn't going to change, she kicks him out of her life. Rey has all the agency and uses it repeatedly, but it makes her a complicated character with nuance (an extremely traumatized mercurial one at that!) and that's unacceptable. So it's easier to pretend that she was done dirty, and existed solely for Ren's redemption (which is BULLSHIT because it was a last minute addition to the Rise of Skywalker).

There certainly are some complaints you could make (Rose's reduced screentime), but so much of what I see criticism about "sexism in the sequels" is simply at odds with what is actually present in the films themselves. Tell me again how the trilogy with more women than the first six films combined, which featured our first woman X-Wing pilot (because they'd been cut out of the original trilogy!) and had our Yoda figure be a dazzling, charming and flirtatious pirate queen, and so many other fantastic fucking background/recurring ladies (blows a kiss to Tallie, to Paige, to Kaydel, to all the other Resistance ladies my brain is blanking on atm!), for having ex-stormtrooper Jannah join Finn in helping topple the system that stole their childhoods from them, for letting a woman be covered head to toe and outwardly cold hearted but having a soft heart still as this trilogy's resident love interest scoundrel (Zorii).

The sequel trilogy loves women. It just loves messy, complicated women. Women that are sometimes wrong, who make mistakes, or are sometimes just outright pieces of shit.

So if you think women shouldn't be any of those things then, yeah. I guess it hates the idea that women should be perfect angels. But if you think that means it hates women outright, then I think you need to sit back and wonder what that says about you.

But I doubt the fandom is capable of that, when you had people claiming it was sexist that Leia trains Rey back in 2019.

[virtie333]

WIP Wednesday

I'm going a little insane. Maybe more than a little. This story, like Kinetic was two years ago, is my sanity right now. I was going to share some of the smut I wrote a short time ago, but I hope you don't hate me if I hold off on that for a bit; there's so little of it in this story, I don't want to give away too much.

Then again, not many people will read this, as I'm pretty sure most of my regular readers are not on Tumblr, but that's okay. They'll get it eventually. I've estimated that there are about 7 chapters left, but you know as well as I how easy that could change. But the end is in sight!

(BTW, this story is about 200 words away from becoming my longest Damerey story to date!)

Whenever Poe was done with whatever task he had been busy with, he would find his way to the little cave on the far side of the lake, clean up as best he could, then wrap himself around an already sleeping Rey, as it was inevitably the middle of the night when his work was done for the day. She would wake early and regretfully slide out of their bed (which eventually became a cot rather than a makeshift pallet on the floor), leaving him to sleep as long as he could. Other than a few shared meals of their own, they rarely saw each other while they were both awake.

It was disappointing, but Rey admitted to Leia that at least knowing the other would eventually come ‘home’ was a comforting feeling.

Despite their rough start, Rey eventually learned to enjoy being with Luke, and she learned to appreciate his dry sense of humor. He spoke to her about the history of the Jedi, things he had learned in the years following the war with the Empire, and stories he had gathered from other survivors. He talked about the Bokken Jedi, Force sensitives that had been trained after the destruction of the Jedi order by survivors of the purge. Unfortunately, most of those survivors had been padawans, whose training had been incomplete, making their own training inadequate.

“Including yours?” Rey had asked.

“Especially mine,” he had told her. “I only learned the basics from Obi-wan and Yoda. But at least I had two Masters training me. And there’s my heritage, of course, which is either something to take pride in or something to try and rise above, depending on your point of view.”

[the-force-awakens]

Saw a gif set of Poe sticking up for Holdo, and now I'm thinking about how Poe is first to notice not one, yet TWO self sacrifices in tlj

Oh yeah, I think about that a lot. So much so, that I made a gifset about it once. It's something that I think goes over people's heads, by and large, just judging from how they talk about Poe in that movie -- but the sheer fact is, the movie opens with Poe doing the exact thing that Luke does. He goes out, one man against an army to give the Resistance more time to evacuate, by offering himself up as bait.

Poe recognizes a self-sacrifice, because...he's tried it. We see him do the same thing, it just largely gets overlooked because what happens is that it doesn't work. That's the horrifying fact for Poe: he's convinced that the most he can offer the Resistance is his own noble sacrifice, and if in the meantime, he can take down a fleet killer that could kill them all later? That's even better. But instead, Poe survives - Poe survives, again, let us not forget that he's also the only one, save the First Order and BB-8, that night in the village - and instead he has to reckon with the fact that people under his command have died again, while he hasn't.

"Dead heroes, no leaders" in my perspective, tlj is by and large Poe being forced to reckon with the fact that there's more to him and more to this fight than just dying for the cause. One thing I'm noticing throughout my chronological reread of stuff that's about/features Poe heavily, is that there is this desperate need for purpose that guides him, and that purpose seems to truly be to be a soldier, a hero that can pull of last minute miracles, and if he happens to die for the right reasons at least it'll be for the right reasons, and if he gets a little adventure in between, that's even better. That elusive search for that purpose pushes him off Yavin in Free Fall, and he's still struggling to find it when he's with the Defense Fleet in Age of Resistance.

So, Poe's spent majority of his life wanting to be a soldier like his parents. In some ways, he thinks that's what he's best at. When Leia implies that she can see more in him after L'ulo's funeral in the comics, Poe is confused - he can't see that potential in himself. And then even after he understands what she's trying to tell him, in the Enshado arc, he mentions to Snap that he prefers being a pilot, and not have to make the hard calls or moral decisions that command has to - for Poe, he's more than happy to be t he person to jump into the fire and do what's necessary, even if it costs him his own life. He doesn't fear death, he doesn't even fear it in Free Fall when he's just sixteen/seventeen years old, and it's clear that he still doesn't really by the time the movies roll around.

And TFA, he was originally supposed to be the martyred hero. And he still almost is - but that sacrifice is aborted, and suddenly Poe is the survivor of that mission to Jakku. And the First Order is so much larger than any of them could have ever imagined - so he offers himself as bait, to give the Resistance some time. He could have easily died, during that initial run. He strapped experimental tech that hadn't even been tested to his X-Wing, just to give him an edge, so the Resistance could finish evacuating. He was ready and willing to die for them.

And he knows, first hand, more than anyone else in the Resistance, just how big the First Order is. He puts himself between them and the ship he was just held captive and tortured aboard for days - and decides that if nothing else, the dreadnought has to go because it's a fleet killer.

(And sure, no one in that battle went into it for the "right" reasons. Every Resistance officer in that fight wanted a fight. They've lost people, just lost their home, lost their only support - and I've no doubt that's also going through Poe's head.)

But then...Poe isn't the one to make the sacrifice. It's everyone else, and it's on his command. And he knows it was the right call to make, because the Resistance can't be killed by a fleet killer later (good thing, too, since the first order ambushes them) but...he still lost people under his command, and he has to deal with the worst weight of leadership: being the one to survive.

And then he straight up gets grounded. Like, his X-Wing is destroyed. Poe cannot be the kind of hero that he believed he was anymore - that soldier/rebel pilot to run headfirst into things. Now, he's pushed into the role that Leia normally is: the one to stay behind, and trusting an important mission to someone else. Being the person that everyone tries to come back to.

And it results in Poe becoming what Leia knew he could be all along: someone people could trust and be inspired by to follow, to fight for. When the Resistance feels that it can't trust Holdo, they trust Poe. And under the threat of total obliteration, and the knowledge that they're officially the last line of defense between the galaxy and the First Order, and almost dying several times and losing so many people he was friends with and almost losing Leia - I really do think Poe realizes he doesn't want to die, he wants to live for the Resistance, for the galaxy, and not just die for them. He knows, now, that there's more to him than a noble sacrifice, and he sure as hell doesn't want the people who died while he got to live's deaths are in vein (we see that lampshaded explicitly in tros).

Poe recognizes a self sacrifice when he sees one, because it used to be the first thing he'd think to do. But by tros, we see that he cares less about a noble sacrifice, and more about surviving -- which is the biggest hurtle he's maybe overcome, considering how little he's always feared death.

This is already a touch incoherent and rambly because I'm tired, but I think - I think the slightly tragic thing about Poe is that he wanted to be a soldier like his parents. But he got so good at it, that he ended up flying straight into being a leader - and that terrified him, because that meant that Poe had outgrown the purpose he's been seeking his entire life, and it also means that he has to carry a lot more burdens, including the burdens of when his plans go wrong. He can't be the person to die with his squadron, he gets to be the one to survive and carry their sacrifice with him.

[galacticwildfire]

Fire Meet Gasoline | Poe Dameron

Six

Poe Dameron x Solo Original Character

Hope Solo’s haunted by the night the temple burned. Having gone rogue she hunts the First Order in search of answers until a fateful encounter with Poe Dameron brings her back to the Resistance and Leia puts her daughter under his command to find Luke Skywalker.

Word count: 8.4k

Tags/warnings: the beginnings of black squadron, snap being a big brother to hope and a simp for karé, jealous hope, mother-daughter issues, slightly jealous poe if you blink, snap being a wingman, hondo pointing out daddy issues, subsequent alcohol consumption, attempted assassination, violence, descriptions of blood and wounds, interrogation gone wrong, suicide to avoid capture, skywalker bullshit over authority, fighting and angst, poe realising leia warned him for a reason, moral dilemmas, mentions of anakin's crimes alongside padme's death

All my stories are written for adults with adult themes, I use tags but read at your discretion.

A/N: okay we're getting into it now, considering this story is going to be quite a long one I typically update on ao3 and wattpad before here.

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Hope

When morning comes I'm feeling decidedly more at ease about what comes next, the weight on my shoulder's having lifted slightly, but only slightly.

My relationship with Mom... that's one issue that I don't know how to fix, but this mission is something I know I can pull off. I take my time getting ready considering the Commander will likely be presenting the report to Mom before doing anything else and run my fingers along the white combat suit that's remained untouched in my wardrobe since I ran off without thinking to get it. My staple piece I'd worn since sixteen that I'd once intended to incorporate into my own style of Jedi robe, but they've remained as they've been since I'd been given them by Dormé, only to be traded for smugglers clothes that resemble my father's too much for comfort. 

The tight fitting fabric's familiar beneath my fingers, holding the force signature of my grandmother since it had belonged to her first after all, tailored to meet my measurements like the duplicates that hang behind it. I never knew her, and yet her memory is one I've taken upon myself to protect. Bail and Breha's memory is protected fiercely by Mom, but I'm the only descendant of Padmé's that knows her story in its entirety. Right until the very end as I'd seen during my trip to Polis Massa so long ago in a vision. An image that still haunts me to this day and breaks my heart just as horribly. 

The reminder of what Anakin Skywalker became, a chill that's remained in my bones ever since witnessing it. I can laugh about what he became and mock it to pretend I don't care whenever it comes up with Mom, but that's only because she hasn't seen what I have. She's not haunted by the visions of the slaughter he committed in the temple, the violence against his own wife. 

A reminder of everything I could become as I've so frequently been reminded. 

But despite the violence Darth Vader inflicted upon my mother, she's still ignorant to the violence Anakin Skywalker committed before he ever ended up behind that mask. Ever since I was twelve I'd been compared to him by those who'd known him on Naboo, even my own mother from what little she knows of Anakin Skywalker from Shmi's holo journals has found the similarities. And so I know she'd be horrified if she knew the extent of what Anakin Skywalker had committed before he ever turned. 

For a long time I suppose Padme's clothes served as a reminder of that. That because of the darkside she never lived long enough to raise her own children or to pass the clothes I wear down to me by her own hand. Instead her sister and handmaidens gladly telling me they'd saved them these many years knowing someday they'd find their way into the right hands. A reminder to do right by her instead of taking after him.

It feels like a violation against her own memory to tread that path, as easy as it may feel despite knowing what waits at the end. Which is why I trade my smugglers clothes for the white jumpsuit. Exchanging the worn leather thigh holster in favour of the white embroidered in royal Naboo red with the symbol of the Rebellion, and now the Resistance. 

I have a choice to make now that this Commander's extended to me an opportunity to step up and take charge in a way that isn't destructive. I have the choice of whether to continue on as I have or to try to make Mom proud. To follow by the example of the women in the family rather than the men. 

And so I braid my hair back in a crown around my head, stopping to apply my eyeliner the same as usual, but a darker brown instead of black, before lacing my white boots. The platforms are certainly not regulation with the amount of extra inches they give me in height but I'm yet to have anyone try to tell me off for what I wear since they're more concerned with actual insubordination. Besides, I'd learned well how to fight in more absurd clothing.  

For the first time in a long time I find myself thinking of the life I'd once had on Naboo. The life it seems everyone believes I've been living for the past year. The morning walks to the university by the side of Sola's grandaughter, a girl who was the closest I've ever had to a sister. How I hated sitting through each lesson until I could finally attend physical training. The small group of us girls who closely resembled one another, chosen and placed in the training program under the assumption we would either be elected as royalty or to serve as handmaidens. The flights with the starfighter corps even if I was suspended more often than not. The long days spent out in the lake country wearing summer dresses and floating in the water, the one place I truly felt at peace in the force. 

Looking back I shouldn't have had a care in the world living in such a paradise, but I never appreciated it. It should have felt like home, but it never did without Ben and my parents. All I ever wanted to do was escape it to run to them. Little did I know how soon I'd lose what little stability I had and find myself aching for it now I have no family that I can call home. Naboo seems to be the closest thing to it I still have considering this base has never felt like home.

When I walk through its halls to the mess I'm not sure of whether to go see Mom. We haven't had a civil conversation since I arrived, and my promise to Lando weighs on my mind. Anxiousness quickly overcomes me as I enter the mess hall only to find all eyes on me and whispers following. I don't know who knows what about where I've been or what I've done, especially since so many faces are unfamiliar. Snap and Korrie know more of the truth than most, but the rest must believe I've been living in paradise while they've been working their asses off, and I can feel the disdain as I hover near the entrance looking for a half friendly face. 

"Hey," a voice suddenly says and I look to see Poe come to my side, seemingly unaware of the tension in the room. "I ran the plan by Leia and she liked your input."

"She did?" I repeat in surprise, caught off guard by him let alone the fact Mom's actually approved of something I've done. 

"Yeah," he says and feel his eyes quickly look me over, certainly noticing the difference in my appearance not I odn't look as if I've walked straight off Tatooine. He looks like he's about to make a comment, positive by the slightly flustered look he wears, ultimately deciding against it considering he should be trying to keep things half professional. But it's still enough to give me some satisfaction. "I was just going to get some breakfast and find you but since you're here want to grab some and take it to Leia's office so we can have her sign off on going to procure the ships you were talking about?"

"Yeah sure," I find myself saying, quite eager to get away from all the eyes on me and glance towards his face only to need to clear my throat. "I need caf."

"That makes two of us," he says with a pat on my shoulder that leaves me blinking in confusion as he goes to greet two other pilots. My eyes follow him until my heart stops momentarily at the sight of the girl only for me to shake my head with a wince. Upon second look the resemblance to Voe is less obvious, the contrast of their bronzed skin with the short blonde braids having been what made me panic, but it still leaves me feeling uneasy. It feels heartless to say I haven't thought about Voe in so long, but it's the truth. 

Of the friends I had at the temple, she wasn't one of them.

Upon a third look however I feel something else at the way she laughs with Poe. It's an utterly irrational feeling but still it's there and I wonder if I wasn't that appealing to him after all, rather just another potential conquest. After all, someone who looks like him would have no trouble with that.

"Well look who's still here," I hear Snap say as he comes to stand beside me, his eyes also on the blonde woman who looks to be in her late twenties. "Back in the battle armour I see."

I look at the silver arm bands and laugh lightly. "Well it feels as if I need it with everyone staring at me."

"You do realise it's because you have a lightsaber right?" he asks and I look down at my belt, having not even registered that fact. "And every single person who's new here has never seen a lightsaber let alone a Jedi."

"Huh," I say, taking another look around and rereading the room a little differently now, reluctantly admitting. "I hadn't thought of that."

Snap's probably one of the very few people on base that knows me well, who took me under his wing when the Resistance was formed, especially after Dad left. I've never really opened up to him or anyone, but he gets that and looks out for me which is something I appreciate, especially after being gone for so long. 

"Who are they?" I ask, nodding to the people Poe's speaking to as we head over to the caf machine, the one thing I'm glad for.

"Karé Kun," he says with a reverence that has me raising my eyebrows, the other man with them going utterly ignored in his eyes.

"Girlfriend?" I question and he just shakes his head to himself, his attention solely on her.

"I wish," he mumbles and I squint at him before snapping my fingers in front of his face, and he finally gets what I'm actually asking. "Oh, no, not his. Trust me, he seems to like the batshit crazy pilots and there's only two of those on base, and he's one of them."

I smile to myself a little now, realising Snap knows more than he's letting on I inquire "Is that so?"

"Oh yep," he says, shaking his head now as if something's funny. "He's an idiot, but he's a good one. He might look pretty but he's damn good at what he does, trusts the people he flies with and treats them with more respect than any commanding officer I had in the Navy that's for sure. I've done a couple missions with him over the past few months and there's no one I'd trust more to get me out of a tight spot. He's got the same ego as you that's for sure, but he's not an asshole."

I let out a short laugh. "And I am?"

"Sometimes," he admits and I can't really argue with that.

"Fair enough," I agree, almost a little bitter that my impression of him last night wasn't wrong, that he is a decent guy. But wanting to cover my ground I ask "So, does he try to ask every girl out he sees within five minutes of meeting them or am I the exception?"

Snap doesn't seem as surprised as he should be, meaning he definitely does know more than what he lets on. "Let's just say you left an impression on him in the field. I can't speak to what he was like in the Navy, but as far as his time here goes you're the exception. One thing I can say for certain is that I've never seen him like he was after he'd met you." 

Snap might be his wingman, but he's also known me longer so I can trust what he's telling me. Snap wouldn't stand up for a guy he thought had bad intentions, especially not when it comes to me. I find myself strangely warmed by his assurance as I glance over towards the Commander, chatting to his friends with a smile and speaking with his hands, utterly animated and as alive as I only manage to feel in a cockpit. 

Except for that moment we shared in the hangar.

"How old is he?" I ask and that's when Snap hesitates.

"Late twenties," he says and when I raise an eyebrow clarifies. "Twenty nine."

"Eh, what's that, nine years?" I dismiss, not overly caught up on that. "Not as bad as my parents."

But what does make me freeze is the realisation that I'm actually considering it, as if he hadn't blown me off right after figuring out who I was, and again I'm left with a bitter taste in my mouth.

"Speaking of which I saw Leia, she seemed like she was in a good mood," he mentions casually to reassure me as I survey the room with no sign of her. Not unusual since she spends most of her day in her office but maybe I'd hoped she'd seek me out as more than just a general. "There's a couple of younger people that have come to base while you've been gone." I take another look about the room and see a black haired girl who doesn't look much older than I am. "I helped Jess through her training, she's nice. Seem's like your type of person."

"My type of person?" I repeat as Poe comes over, more cheery than any person should be in the morning and immediately I put an extra shot of caf into my drink. After operating on my own schedule for so long it seems I'm in for a rude awakening and his presence is another unexpected variable to consider.

"Ready to go see Leia?"

"Not really but let's go," I answer reluctantly, knowing I'll probably be glad for a witness as I walk a little more slowly than necessary down the halls. He doesn't attempt small talk thankfully and gets to the mission.

"So, where are you planning on getting ships from?" he asks and I'm glad to at least have some control over things, especially since I can tell it's a conscious effort on his part to have me this involved.

"Batuu," I answer. "Worked for a guy who owns a shipping company there."

He nods slowly, clearly aware shipping company is a common cover for smuggling operation, but doesn't second guess me and gets to logistics. "We'll need to have them transferred to the Echo of Hope to run any maintenance and then we can hammer out the most important part which is how we're going to get on board."

I nod in agreement but my throat's tight and my mind anywhere but on what he's saying as we enter Mom's office after I'd stormed out yesterday. She invites us to sit and gets straight to business. 

"I was impressed with the plan Commander Dameron presented, he noted your contributions to the risk assessment and how to prepare for those risks," she starts and asks "He mentioned you would take care of procuring the ships you need for the mission?"

"Yeah," I say and don't give more information than I have to but she still inquires.

"Where from?"

"A shipping company who owes me a favour," I answer and because I don't want to elaborate she turns to Poe.

"Can you accompany her please to ensure everything goes smoothly?"

He briefly looks at me but finding I don't quite have it in me to argue he agrees. "I can do that."

Silence permeates the room before she asks "Commander could you give us a moment please?" 

He nods before leaving and closes the door, it's silent for a moment longer before she says "I have every faith you will pull off this mission."

"Well I'm dead if I don't," I remark, her having said in no uncertain terms how dangerous this is, and she grimaces at the tension between us.

"I know you aren't happy, but this is a step towards remedying some things," she explains gently. "To prove to command you aren't just capable in the field, but strategically competent enough to do these missions by the book with the reports and the rest. Something that is required to move up through the ranks. To show that your missions aren't pure improvisation and that you are mitigating the risks, which you have done."

Her praise should be welcome, but it feels hollow when the only interactions I've had with her have been from across a desk. I don't want praise from my general, I want my mom. Lando promised her, her warmth, her reassuring words that everything would be alright. Not a general's tactical words and praise mixed with criticisms and lessons.

"Yeah," I nod, my throat too tight to manage words, a stark contrast to yesterday. I'd been convinced I'd take off and not look back, that I wouldn't have to sit and deal with the aftermath of my words.

But here I am. 

Her expression is heavy as she continues "If you don't feel like speaking to me that's fine, as long as you act sensibly-"

"I can't remember the last time you talked to me as my mom instead of my general," I manage to force out, my voice weaker than I'd like it to be. "I thought from what Lando said I'd be coming home to the former but it seems I was wrong."

"Hope," she says sadly. "I- I know that what I'd said about learning the difference hurt you-"

"It did," I finally admit to her. "Because you're all I have left Mom, and if I don't have you then I don't have anyone except for R2."

There's a type of loneliness that comes from being separated from those you love, but it's a different hell sitting across from them and feeling as if there are galaxies between you. 

"For the last year I haven't had a child to parent," she says bluntly but there's remorse in her voice. "Forgive me for struggling to reconcile the two."

She sees it in my eyes, the flight, but before I can even move to leave my seat she reaches across the table for my hand and this time I let her take it. 

"I am your mother, but I have to be more than that. Hope, you know this isn't the life I wanted, if anything this is the life you jumped at before we even knew what we were fighting," she reminds me. "You know I wanted to retire before that last scandal but you and I both know neither of us are physically able to walk away from this threat-"

"You mean your son and the monster who groomed him?" I correct since it's just us and she struggles to keep her face neutral. "Mom, you don't have to separate yourself from being our parent to do your duty to the galaxy, you don't have to pretend your child isn't on the opposite side of this war."

"I have to," she says regretfully.

"Well I can't," I fire back and again there's that wall between us we can never truly break down. For her this fight is duty, but for me it's something else entirely, and we both know it. "Don't worry, I'll get whatever intelligence is on that ship."

But as I stand to leave she warns "And I want it returned to this base. If you take off with whatever is on that ship I will send Commander Dameron and Captain Wexley to drag you back to be court-martialled."

Her threat stuns me considering how gentle her voice was a moment ago, but when I meet her eye I realise she knows me too well. She's my mother, of course she should, but it feels as if I hardly know myself anymore. Except she was the one who forced me into a profession that taught me the importance of finding loopholes.

"It will be returned," I state before opening the door and Poe jumps at the haste in which I walk out into the hall and order him. "My ship. Now. We're leaving and heading straight to Batuu and then to the Echo of Hope. Get whatever you need because we won't be returning until the mission is complete."

He blinks in surprise at being given orders but it too taken aback to do anything but raise his hands in his defence as he follows me, but doesn't shy from a whistle. "Alright princess, do I have time to get my droid before we take off?"

"I like the droid," I say, knowing I'm not harsh enough to abandon the little BB unit without explanation. "Speaking of which have you seen mine?"

R2 better not even think about pulling another disappearing stunt now of all times.

"No," he says and after a moment of hesitation asks "You seen mine?"

We stop in the hallway, sharing a look of mutual confusion mixed with alarm at having lost out droids and he scratches his head before following me to the hanger.

"R2!" I call loudly, not wanting to have to search the entirety of the base twice over again only to walk past Threepio on his way from command. "Threepio, what have you done with my droid?"

"I beg your pardon!" he exclaims. "What have I said about manners?"

"Threepio," I warn. "If R2's decided to go rogue on me-"

"Well I do I wonder where he learned that from," Threepio chides and I actually scoff at the protocol droids audacity. "I wish you luck Commander Dameron, statistically speaking you're going to need it."

My mouth falls open as Threepio walks past us and Poe Dameron doesn't look sure whether to laugh or be offended on my behalf, a quick study of my face has him choosing the latter.

"I've never heard Threepio sound so..."

"Sarcastic."

"You know what they say, owners leave an impression on their droids," he tries to reason but quickly clears his throat. "Let's find ours."

In a much more urgent mood to leave base I march into the hanger only to stop when I find R2 and BB-8 chatting happily by my ship. The younger droid beeps excitedly at the sight of his owner and rolls over, trying to fill Poe in on one of the tales R2's regaled him with before chirping at me in an almost equal excitement. People may dislike me, but at least droids seem to take a liking to me. Aside from Threepio, although he has his reasons.

"Hey buddy, ready to go on a mission?" Poe asks his droid, squatting down to rub the droids stomach, or rather what could be classed as a stomach. 

R2 beeps at me in question at the company, considering in all the missions we've performed we've never done any with another pilot unless it's been running planetary defence drills. 

"Don't get too excited, we're going to Batuu to pick up some ships," I tell R2 and look at Poe. "Ready?"

He gives a nod and follows me onboard my transport along with his droid, and I honestly can't remember the last time I had another person inside this ship. Probably Mom at some point or another in the time before I left base, but other than that my mind's blank. 

"This is the Shiraya," I say as we step inside. "Fastest civilian transport in the galaxy and heavily armoured with laser cannons fitted at the back that you can access via the gunners seat along with automatic laser cannons and concussion missiles above the cockpit."

He's mildly alarmed I'm describing the armaments before anything else. "Expecting trouble?"

"No but it's best to be prepared for it," I say knowing it has a habit of finding me. "The First Order's identified my N-1 but this ship should be off the New Republic and the First Order's radars."

"Should be?"

"With the modified hyperdrive and sublight thrusters It's faster than most ships in the galaxy so I'm not exactly worried," I dismiss as we reach the cockpit. It was technically designed during manufacturing to seat a co-pilot but I've only ever flown it myself. "It's served me well that's for sure."

I find my way to my seat and he sits down beside me in the co-pilots seat, somehow the metre between us not being quite enough. "You know your stuff."

"I do," I state factually an this cockpit with a guy who's face I can't even look at without getting flustered. 

He nods along, looking like he has questions on his mind but keeps them in as he asks "So Batuu, it's Outer Rim's right?"

"Technically," I answer. "It's commonly known as the last stop before the Unknown Regions."

"Ah," he says as it comes to him. "You ever been out there?"

"Batuu?"

"The Unknown Regions," he clarifies and while I'm mildly annoyed this won't be a quiet trip the curiosity in his voice may override it. 

"Not as far as I'd like," I admit, I could leave it there but it is a long enough trip even with the hyperdrive. "I'd gone searching for Jedi temples not too long ago, found some ruins but little else."

"I thought the only temples were on Coruscant and Ossus," he says and I feel his hesitation at treading there which tells me enough about what he's heard. 

"The temple on Coruscant was in use for the last few millennia but before that Jedi were somewhat more scattered, living on planets that had a strong natural connection to the force rather than the core worlds," I explain before sighing "Then the Emperor turned the temple into his own personal palace. Scholars have done some work to restore it along with what survived of the archives but it's not like it will ever be the same."

He nods slowly and asks "So that-" he looks at my saber. "That's your lightsaber?"

"A torch," I answer reflexively, that being the answer I've given to just about anyone who's asked that question in the last four years. It started as a lie to get past security while still armed and out of concern for my own security, but it's turned into a little self satisfying joke since. He seems to miss it by the perplexed look on his face and I clarify. "It's a joke."

"Oh," he says and only then do I realise how purely nervous he seems to be, my presence is the only explanation for it but I'm almost hesitant to know what part of that has him like this. I'm especially hesitant to learn if it's a good or bad kind of anxiousness. "So, how does that work? I mean lightsabers, do you make them yourself?" He must see the confused look I wear from all the questions and he's quickly backtracks. "If it's alright asking?"

His jittery curiosity is almost endearing. It brings me back to when I'd begun school on Naboo and the girls in my classes began to learn about my other education. It's certainly a type of awestruck curiosity I haven't experienced since the galaxy learned truth about where those abilities came from. Back when I was the niece of the beloved Jedi Luke Skywalker and not the spawn of Darth Vader.

"Yeah um- I made it myself," I answer, while people like Snap have asked the odd questions no one's ever gotten technical with them. "It's a right of passage in a Jedi's training to construct your own saber. I suppose like it's a right of passage for a pilot to customise and modify their own ship to their specific requirements."

 "Huh," he says, visibly making the connection between those examples until his train of thought takes him elsewhere. "Speaking of ships, what sort of starfighters do you think you could pick up? I was thinking something along the lines of Z-95's."

"You're looking for starfighters without astromech pods?" I gather and he nods as both the droids immediately begin to voice their objections.

"The plan I've got in mind would mean ditching the ships and anything in it completely," he explains to them, although seems hesitant to elaborate as he looks at me. "It's a crazy plan, so if you have any alternatives feel free to interject."

"Sounds right up my ally then," I decide, wanting to see if his crazy is my sort of crazy. "Go on."

"We'll need EVA suits," he begins and I tilt my head to the side.

"EVA suits? We wouldn't need those unless-" I squint at him now as I begin to realise he might not be exaggerating. "Unless we're in the vacuum of space."

He leans forward with his elbows on his knees, a spark of excitement in his eyes, talking with his hands as he starts explaining. "We'll have to wait in the system for them to come out of hyperspace, and the moment they do we hit them with concussion missiles which is easy enough but it's what comes next that's gonna be crucial. We'll set the ships to autopilot as we get in range of the belly of the yacht since according to schematics our best chance at breaking in through the access port."

"I've got a lightsaber, I can cut through anything within a certain thickness," I add and he looks a bit too excited at that suggestion before dismissing it.

"I like your thinking but we'll need to reseal the access port so nothing goes wrong when we jump to hyperspace," he says as he goes on. "When we get to the right velocity and the right distance we'll eject, the momentum will hurl us towards the yacht so we can make direct contact. We'll have maneuvering jets on the spacesuits to help us get to where we need to be and to decelerate us enough that we aren't crushed by the impact when we collide with the yacht. When we get to the access port I'll use a fusion torch to break the seals, it might be tricky doing that in space while hanging off the side of the ship but between the two of us I'm sure we'll make it work. We break in and reseal the port as we make our way inside. As long as we can get onboard without getting ourselves killed then that's half the work done. After that it's just getting to the cockpit, putting them on the escape pods and rebooting everything to jump to hyperspace before the eight minutes is up."

I find myself slowly blinking at him at the realisation that Snap was actually understating things when he referred to us as the two batshit crazy pilots on base. Having the force I feel quite safe at the thought of pulling it off since I could logically slow myself down enough that a collision wouldn't kill me, but he has more guts than anyone I've ever met to try to pull that off midspace without it and my mouth curls into a grin.

"I'm in." His grin matches mine now and I'll assure him. "I'll take care of getting those starfighters."

"We'll also need disks with the pre-programmed hyperspace coordinates for the jump since we won't have the droids with us," he adds and only then do we pay attention to the beeps of pure alarm from each of them at our plan.

"R2 I know exactly what you were doing in the Clone Wars so don't try to pull that with me," I remind him and he quickly shuts up while Poe looks between us in alarm. "I'll be just fine."

While R2 tries to object to prioritise my safety he knows what to expect of me by now so that's that, but BB-8 is far more upset at the thought of Poe going without him despite his attempts of reassurance.

"Look buddy, I'm going to be alright I swear," he tries to assure his droid until I intervene.

"How about you take him into the main cabin and go over schematics so he feels better while I make a list of what I'll need to get on Batuu," I suggest, genuinely wanting to figure that out but also not wanting this conversation to get any more personal considering we still have a while left until we reach Batuu. "If you think of anything else we need to go over come and get me."

He gives a nod of approval as he stands up, checking off whatever items he's thinking of on his fingers. "EVA suits and timers we can get from the Echo of Hope, they'll have the concussion missiles we can fit to the starfighters along with the disks to preprogram the jumps to lightspeed. So it should just be the ships and whatever else you think you'll need."

I nod back and look up to inadvertently meet his eye, again not sure quite what I see in it, but for some reason the thought to not trust him hasn't once occurred to me. In the Outer Rims all I've done is be on my guard, and perhaps I still am with him, but not because I don't trust him to be my partner for this mission. No, for far less professional reasons. 

I'm clearing my throat more loudly than I'd anticipated before asking "Is that all Commander?"

"Yep, I'll um- I'll let you pilot," he says awkwardly before heading out into the main cabin. My eyes follow him out, finding only conflict when I search my feelings, blockages. He's all but a stranger, a handsome one but still, my instincts tell me to trust him despite experience telling me otherwise. An instinct that's very rare.

But I'm no stranger to ignoring my instincts. 

He might look at me like he does now, he might be curious to know me, but I know better than anyone how quickly wide eyed curiosity and warmth turns to something cold, hurtful. For a person you trusted, a person who'd held you through uncertain nights and laughed with you, to turn around and look at you like a monster, to call you as much while looking you in the eye.

That is something I have no intention of putting myself in a situation to relive. I can't control what people believe, but I can control if I let them close enough for it to hurt me. 

~

Poe Dameron returns to the cockpit as we approach Batuu, a hand on the back of my chair as he peers out at the planet. Murmuring to himself as he tries to piece something together.

"Batuu, Black Spire Outpost is located here isn't it?" he asks and I press my lips together, realising he might be slightly more in tune with the criminal operations in the Outer Rims than I'd gathered by the way he says its name. Being a Naval commander chances are he's run patrols nearby trying to intercept shipments. 

"Yep," I confirm and he tries to hide his mild alarm. "Don't worry, the guy who runs the place is a friend of mine."

I can't quite read the tone of his voice as he repeats "Friend?"

"Friend," I answer a little awkwardly, not knowing if I'd call Hondo that. "Or rather an old friend of the family."

I don't know if that relieves him or makes him more concerned as we enter the atmosphere and I pilot us down to the port at Blackspire Outpost, this time R2 doesn't even complain. I double check my weapons are secure as we step out into the small city that always seems to be growing. It takes its people a second to recognise me when I'm not dressed like a smuggler but they give a nod of respect as we make our way through the streets.

The sun shines down on us, reflecting off my metal armbands but also casting a glow upon his tan chest, exposed from the open collar of his shirt, there's a glint and I notice a silver chain around his neck. Quickly I turn my head before he can catch my eyes lingering and start talking to distract both of us.

"Along with smugglers and explorers passing through people have been coming here from the border regions seeking refuge from the First Order's expansion," I explain to Poe as our droids follow not far behind us. "I've heard their stories and it's nothing good, so they've come to the furthest place possible."

He shakes his head, expression one of disbelief. "I don't get why the Republic won't take in refugees from those regions. Politics isn't my thing, but I just can't understand why."

"Because for them to be classified as refugees the Republic would have the admit the First Order is something people should be running from, instead of continuing to pretend they can co-exist," I answer but upon feeling his barely repressed frustration try to assure him. "I've managed to set up a network for refugees to be able to settle on Naboo, it's off the Republic's radar."

He stills then a little as he turns his head in surprise, pleasant thankfully. "Does Leia know?"

"She hasn't asked what I've done, only criticised me for the things she knows about," I answer bluntly as we find our way to Ohnaka Trade Solutions. 

He tries to be the voice of reason. "If you talked to her-"

"I have, it doesn't end well," I say shortly and cut him off from trying to mediate. "This is it."

We head into Hondo's base and find him as usual, with his feet kicked up on the table, a cup of something in one hand and a cigar in the other.

"Solo!" he calls out, laughing gleefully. "Back already! Tell me, do you have the Falcon?"

"No, the Irving Boys beat me to it," I inform him as he gets to his feet. "Although if you had any tips on their whereabouts it would be welcome."

Poe lingers behind me now and I look back to see him blinking in disbelief as his eyes dart between me and Hondo, clearly aware of the infamous pirate. 

"Unfortunately I do not, but I will ask around so I can beat you to stealing it back," he says as I roll my eyes and he takes me in. "Look at that, you can dress like a lady after all. For a moment I thought the late Senator Amidala had walked in. She was quite the figure to watch, it's no wonder that Skywalker boy abandoned the code."

I make a face as I try to unpack the layers to that and he looks behind me in intrigue. 

"Oooh a friend?" Hondo says and I immediately sigh as he points out. "A male friend."

Poe steps forward then and I make the introduction, keeping details as vague as possible. "Poe this is Hondo Ohanaka, Hondo this is Poe. He's tagging along with me on a job."

I don't know precisely how much I trust Hondo. I've found he isn't as bad as what Dad and Lando would reminisce but I know he does treat me differently in memory of the Jedi that he had been fond of. Still, he doesn't need to know this job is a Resistance mission.

"Fair, fair," he says guiding us over to the table and leans in to whisper to me. "Although I must say I do have concerns about the fact the pretty boy dresses like your father."

Poe's enough out of earshot he looks confused by whatever expression must cross my face and I point a finger at Hondo. "You owe me a drink for that."

"Fine, fine," he agrees and I motion for Poe to sit down beside me. "So this is a business call I take it."

"Considering you run a perfectly legitimate transport company," I begin, getting straight to the point. "I need two Z-95's that can be fitted with concussion missiles and are reliable in a skirmish."

I reach across the table to pour myself a drink, skulling the cup before looking at Poe and finding him rather uncomfortable with this situation, but not as out of place as I would have assumed he would be. He meets my eyes for just a moment and mouths Hondo's name to me in disbelief and I give a shrug in return, smiling to myself behind my cup. 

"I can do that," Hondo finally says and moves to negotiating. "That will cost you-"

"Nothing, considering it a downpayment for those credits you still owe me."

"Oh no, no-" he says. "I am still waiting on a buyer and we settled on fifteen percent-"

"Twenty five remember?" I remind him as Poe shifts beside me. "So, I'll take the Z-95's at no cost and we can bring that number down to five percent." Hondo begins contemplating it. "Or I could just steal the ships and the crystal and find my own buyer?"

Hondo shakes his finger. "It is lucky I like you Solo, I will accept your offer on one term."

"Which is?" Poe asks, wanting to have some hand in the negotiation.

Hondo leans forward now and tells us "Local bartender says he's had officials sniffing around, smelling like Imperial scum."

"First Order?" Poe questions as I tilt my head in intrigue. 

"My guess is as good as yours," Hondo says and that's enough for me.

"Consider it done," I say immediately as I get to my feet and tell Poe. "Organise logistics, I'll be back."

But he follows me out of the building in a panic. "Solo, the General was clear that-"

"I don't care what the General said," I say blunty as R2 follows, knowing the drill by now. "You take care of the mission, let me handle the rest."

But he grabs my wrist and I look back at him with as he tries to order me "No, you are going to organise logistics while I see what I can find out."

"Excuse me?" I question with a laugh. "Are you seriously giving me orders?"

He pushes aside his frustration to try to reason with me. "I've let you handle that part of this mission but you're under my command and it's my responsibility to-"

"Let me?" I repeat back to him and pull me wrist free to point my forefinger at him as I make clear. "You do not let me do anything. The only reason I'm co-operating with you is because I want to. So either you do as I tell you to do or I go and get whatever data is on that ship myself."

He shakes his head now with a clenched jaw and I find myself holding his eyes with no difficulty as he challenges "You want to be difficult? Fine. You can be as difficult as you want princess but I'll be difficult as well."

"Oh really?" I laugh since he doesn't know the half of it.

"Really," he says but just as he takes a step towards me I'm dodging a blaster shot as Poe swears loudly and tries to pull me behind cover but in a split second I've pulled my blaster free and fired blindly at the attacker, hearing a body collide with the side of the cantina and look to find a uniformed man clutching his shoulder.

"Hope!" Poe yells as I storm over, pulling me saber free and igniting it as I pull the man to hit feet by his collar, ignoring his cry of pain as I bring my saber to his neck.

"I surrender!" he yells as if that has any meaning to me as I slam him back against the wall, his head hitting the stone surface as he throws his blaster away and raises his hands. "You cannot kill an unarmed man."

"Hasn't stopped me before," I state as his eyes widen, there's nothing to mark him as First Order but I know the tell-tale signs by now, clearly a newer agent who thought that taking a shot at me would work in his favour. Realise the opportunity I have I know I can't let it slip between my fingers, but there's only one question I want answers to. "So how about this? If you want to live you can tell me where Kylo Ren is stationed."

"Solo!" Poe warns, no doubt remembering the orders regarding interrogations but I ignore him. 

"I- I don't know," he stammers and in response I dig the blaster in my other hand right into the wound in his shoulder until he screams. "Finalizer- Finalizer!"

"Hope!" Poe yells harshly enough I'm almost stunned as he physically rips me off the agent and tosses me to the side, taking a gentler but firm approach as he grasps the man by his uninjured shoulder. He looks back at me with my ignited saber still in hand, shaking his head in disappointed disbelief before asking the man "Why did you shoot at us?"

"Her, I shot at her," he clarifies, looking straight at me as R2 stands in front of me to try to block me from attacking him while Poe looks between him and I in panic but I have the information I've spent years searching for. "If I killed the last Jedi I'd stand higher than Hux."

Ambition.

I use the force to bring his blaster to my hand and both him and Poe watch on in varying states of alarm as I step closer.

"Solo," Poe warns and raises a hand to keep me back while keeping the agent pinned to the wall. 

"So, you're stationed onboard General Hux's flagship, the Finaliser," I put together as he winces. "A low ranking ambitious agent but ultimately pretty damn stupid to take a shot at me and blow your cover."

"You were off guard-" he argues, trying to save his pride.

"People have been taking shots at me since I was sixteen, you should know better," I lecture, disappointed almost that this is what the First Order's putting in the field. "And Kylo Ren is stationed onboard the same ship as you are." He swallows then in fear. "Do you think he's more likely to praise you or kill you for taking a shot at me if we let you go?"

"I-" he stammers in confusion at the question, which means his true identity is still unknown to the First Order. "What?"

Poe wears a similar look of perlexion at my questioning but doesn't intervene as I continue "I can assure you that when you return to that base he will cut you down without mercy after torturing you to find out just what I've said now."

He squirms now with tears in his eyes, his fear only confirming my own theories about what my brother's become. 

"Or," I begin, very aware that Poe will most certainly report this incident. "You can tell me everything you know and I will ensure you are safe from them."

Poe finally begins to ease, but the man doesn't. "I've heard what they call you, Jedi Killer. There is no mercy."

He takes advantage of Poe's loosened grip to reach into his pocket and before either of us can react he's bitten down on a device that's too familiar and we jump back as he hits the ground, convulsing before going cold.

"Fuck," I breathe whilst Poe struggles to even look at the body, pale as he brings shaking hands up behind his head, murmuring similar curses under his breath. 

A crowd's gathered around now and I bend down to examine the body of the blonde haired man, searching his pockets for identification or anything else I could use to gather intelligence until Poe raps out "What are you doing?"

"Looking for anything of value," I state factually but he grabs my wrist to pull me upright and I stare at him in disbelief at the horrified look he wears. "What?"

"Are you serious?" he asks me, shaking his head. "The hell was that?"

Feeling like I'm about to hear my mother's words come out of his mouth I jump to my defence. "He killed himself-"

"Before that!" he yells as I pull my wrist free. "That was an unarmed soldier and you-" He can't even finish and just motions to the blaster wound, but I know the part he's specifically referring to.

"You need to grow a damn backbone if you think what I just did was unjustified," I spit back at him. "He took a shot at me and I had every right to kill him but I didn't!"

"Because you were interrogating him with a lightsaber and-" he looks at my blaster and I see the blood at it's nuzzle from pushing it into the wound, having broken through the cauterised flesh. "You know what, I see exactly what Leia meant now when she warned me against working with you."

I laugh now, a little dangerously. "Are you serious?"

"I am," he says as the droids try and fail to intervene. "You were specifically ordered not to-"

"I don't care what I was ordered to not do!" I yell, wondering when he's going to get that. "If you haven't noticed my mission is very different to yours and I am the only one trying to get the intel we need and actually act on it!"

"Your mission was to acquire ships, not interrogate a surrendering spy who killed himself before you could!"

"I was going to let him go! I was going to help him!" I yell right back. "And if you want to throw blame around then fine since you were the one who gave him the chance to do it because you were too busy trying to play the good guy!"

At that he turns his head, trying to compose himself before looking back at me and I finally see it. The look. Although sooner than I'd anticipated and his voice is hoarse "I'm not arguing while standing over a dead body. Get whatever the hell you need while I sort out those ships and then we're meeting back at the Echo of Hope. I'll find my own way there with the ships."

"Fine by me Commander," I say and he storms off without another word to me and I'm struggling to keep my own composure I look to one of Hondo's men. "Move the body to somewhere I can examine it privately and find the transport he arrived on."

"Yes Princess," he answers, calling me that far more respectfully than Poe did and with that I go to get what I need. The booster cables and a separate disk to make a copy of the intelligence from the yacht before giving the damn thing over to the Resistance. 

I am getting whatever is on that damn yacht with or without him. I know where Ben is stationed, and if I can find what system the Finalizer frequents then I'm one step closer to ending all of this. 

But as I look down at the blood staining the white fabric I wear, my blaster having brushed against it, a heaviness settles over me at the realisation I couldn't even make it one single day without giving into that anger. Even worse, my attempt at being better still ended the same as my last cursed mission.

In violence.

Jedi Killer that agent called me, maybe I haven't killed any Jedi, but I've sure as hell butchered their legacy. 

Tags: @arrthurpendragon

[kylowritten]

If the Slipper Fits

Pairings: Kylo Ren x ForceSensitive!Reader

Summary: Nobody wants to be the woman whose foot fits that slipper.

Warnings: none that I can think of, but please let me know if you notice one

Word Count: 1.7k

A/N: Kylo is back next chapter👀

Part Seven

Morning comes quicker than you would’ve liked.

With the lack of windows and sunlight, you could’ve slept forever, and you probably would’ve if not for the stream of admirers coming to congratulate you on escaping the castle and surviving the stonebadger attack. Word travels fast in the caves, apparently.

You’re not entirely sure that it didn’t have to do with Rey, though, who repeatedly retold the story of finding you cornered in the hot springs with gusto. The first few times you listened good-naturedly, but grew tired of reliving the moment after hearing it so many times. Especially because your thoughts focused rather traitorously on the moments preceding the one in her story, the ones that, gratefully, no one else was around to witness.

“I hope you’re not too tired for one more visitor,” came a voice, breaking you from your memories.

“Never,” you say, although you watch the former queen approach with an increasing sense of dread. Leia settles on the empty bed beside you.

In all honesty, she might’ve been the last person you wanted to speak with, besides maybe her son. If only she knew what transpired the night before. And if that wasn’t bad enough, you also were weary about following out her request to return to the castle and rescue Kylo, who you were mostly certain was incapable of being saved.

“How are you feeling?” Leia asks. “Rey is outside regaling a crowd with your heroics.”

You smile sheepishly. “I hardly did anything worth noting. Her and Poe were the ones to stop it, not me.”

“Either way, it’s clear that she thinks highly of you,” Leia says. A mask slips over her face then, replacing the expression of motherly concern to one of a diplomatic queen. “I’m not going to pretend that my motives for visiting you aren’t partially because I was hoping for your answer.”

“I know,” you reply. Frankly, you would be insulted if she believed you thought anything else.

“I realize you haven’t been able to give much thought to, with everything,” she says, waving her hand to encompass the events over the past day.

You wince. “No, not really.”

It’s a lie. In your waking moments, all you’ve thought about was your current situation.

“I sent a message to Luke on the off chance that you accept,” Leia says. “He hasn’t taught anyone…well, in a very long time. In fact, his last student was Ben.”

“Really? What happened?”

Leia’s lips purse. “It’s really not my place to say. Let’s just leave it that Ben and my brother do not get along.”

You frown but know not to press. This made you curious about the royal family, and about Kylo Ren himself. He killed his own father, banished his mother, and now you’ve been told that he had a poor relationship with his uncle. And you thought that your family life was messy.

“Do you think he’s even willing to help?” You ask.

“It’s hard to say,” Leia admits. “But he’s always had a tendency to do whatever I tell him.”

You think back to the stonebadger attack and, annoyingly enough, Kylo’s tough love training tactic. You hated to admit he was right. It wouldn’t have been a problem if you knew magic, if you could bend the Force to your will. You needed someone to teach you. And to have Luke Skywalker, one of the greatest magic-users of all time partake in that? You would be ridiculous to decline such an offer.

But you’re not sure you’re ready to accept yet.

Leia opens her mouth, but then closes it. Finally, she says, “I’m also not going to pretend that the information I’m about to present to you isn’t only for your benefit but also the benefit of my agenda.”

“I’m listening.”

At least she was being truthful. You could handle the truth, not hidden and distorted in lies like shadows in a mirror.

“The fourth district is…rebelling, I suppose, for lack of a word.” She pauses as if to let you process this information. You don’t tell her that you already know. “They aren’t letting anyone in, including us. I believe our ambitions are the same but…well, nevermind. What I’m trying to say is, it’s not happening peacefully. And I’m not sure how they plan to survive without anyone in, not even shipments.”

Leia referred to the rations that the First Order sent weekly to each district in a bid to share resources while also ensuring that one district never became too powerful. The First Order controlled food supplies, clothing, and other essentials.

You frown. You know that your district isn’t self sustainable, and that denying the shipments will be detrimental to its survival.

“Why would they do that?” You ask.

Leia shakes her head. “I’m not sure. Rumor has it that they’re rebelling for you, though.”

“For me?” Your frown deepens, brows pulling downwards. “I don’t understand.”

"Word caught about your stepmother hiding away your stepsisters, and how unfair your treatment was. I believe that, in combination with taking girls from each district, incited quite a bit of rage. They're angry about the whole system, calling for the First Order to step down."

“Isn't that what you want, too?"

"It is," Leia sighs. "But they seem to think that, since I'm leading, I would just perpetuate the system and no real changes would be made." Her face twists. "It's my own fault. I sat back and allowed too much to happen without interfering. But that's why I want to do better."

"But you need me," you add, giving voice to the words she left unsaid.

"I believe the first step is saving Ben from Palpatine, and then perhaps we can start to dismantle this terrible system." She looks at you in earnest. "But I didn't just tell you about your district for my own gain. If you go back to the castle and separate yourself from me, you might be able to reason with your district."

You pull the covers up tighter around you, as if they could protect you from your troubles. "But wouldn't I just be aligning myself with Kylo?"

"Yes, but you would be more sympathetic that way. Part of the reason they're rebelling is because he took you. I think you might have a shot," she says, lifting a shoulder. "At least more than you do here. They won't even listen to me."

"How long do I have to think on it?"

"I'm sending another patrol tomorrow afternoon to the castle to investigate how they're rebuilding after the surprise we gave them," Leia says. "I'll leave you until then."

You’re discharged later in the afternoon with instructions on how to properly care for your wound. Equipped with directions from the medic, you head to the barracks. It’s along the way that you overhear snippets of conversation from passing rebels, enough bits and pieces to form a singular focal point.

“—my sister lives in the fifth district, and she told me that nobody came for them today.”

“No more brides?”

“I heard that girl from the fourth district —”

You scurry away. Based on the tone of the last person, you didn’t want to hear what they had to say. Finally you hit the barracks, which is a series of connected rooms featuring several bunk beds. A familiar set of buns falls into your view, and you rush to Rey’s side.

“Is it true what they’re saying?”

Rey startles, then exclaims your name. “It’s you! I didn’t think they would let you out so early. With all of the blood —”

“Is it true? There hasn’t been another bride today?” You ask, slightly hysteric.

Rey frowns. “It’s true.” She studies you skeptically. “Are you sure you’re okay? Did the medics give you a psych eval? Because I can bring you back and —”

You shake your head. “No, no, I’m fine. Really. I just can’t believe it.”

“Crazy, huh?” Rey asks. “It’s the first time in over a year. I don’t think people know what to do with themselves.”

The thought elicits a myriad of emotions within you — delight, surprise, relief. You hadn’t thought about Kylo picking a new bride, but discover you’re glad he didn’t. Would you have been jealous? It’s not an avenue you particularly want to explore.

“Has he said why?”

“Kylo? No. He just hasn’t sent out any troopers with the slipper.” She shrugs. “We probably won’t ever figure out why, but I think I know why.”

When you look at her, bewildered, she laughs and adds, “C’mon, it’s because of you! Obviously he’s found whatever he’s looking for.”

“Why isn’t he coming looking for me then?” You ask in a hushed tone. This has bothered you. His words — you’ll be back — haunt you.

“Maybe he is and we just don’t know it. Whatever the reason, I just know that he wouldn’t let you go unless he had something planned. You saw how he is, he obviously just doesn’t let something go that he thinks is his.” She curses. “Bastard.”

His words strike you again. The smugness, the all-knowing tilt of his head. It makes your blood boil, relighting the flame inside you.

“He knows I’ll come back to him,” you mumble. Stiffening your spine, you tell Rey, “I don’t know if I have a choice not to. But the least I can do is make sure I do it on my own terms.”

Leia glances up at you from her desk. “I’ve been expecting you,” she says.

What was with this family and anticipating your movements?

You left Rey alone and rather confused, fleeing to hunt down the room that Leia used as her own personal office. Thankfully she was there, because your side was splitting with pain and you weren’t sure you could’ve traveled farther.

Resisting the urge to lean over with your hands on your knees and breathe in through your mouth, you plop down in one of the chairs across from the former queen.

“I want to do it.”

Leia perks up. “Really?”

“Yes.” You do your best to look confident. “But I’m going to do it on my terms. Not yours or Kylo’s. Mine.”

“Of course. Anything,” Leia says.

Emboldened, you make your first request: “I’m tired of always doing what I’m told. If I’m going to save Kylo, I’m going to do it independently of you or anyone else. I’m going to operate alone.”

Part Eight

[superfanficnatural]

The Son: Chapter 16

Pairing: Poe Dameron x Male!Reader (The Son)

Summary: You’ve finally broken free of the forces controlling you at a great cost, though the cost of doing so was even greater than you thought. Now, you fight for the antithesis of what you had been representing, and have to grapple with finding your own place in the galaxy while grappling with the person trying to find their way into your heart. Will The Son choose the light? Or the dark? Whatever the answer may be, may the force be with us.

A/N: Something gets revealedddd hehehe. As always, I hope you enjoy!

Warnings: None.

Word Count: 4,209

Italics are your thoughts

Masterpost

Poe’s POV

“Just give it to me one more time, simpler,” I said to Finn and Rose, after they had just sat me down and tried to spit some plan at me.

“So, the First Order’s only tracking us from one destroyer, the lead one,” Finn explained.

I tried to see where he was going with it, “So we blow that one up?”

“I like where your head’s at, but no. They’d only start tracking us from another destroyer,” he came up to me. 

“But if we can-” Rose started.

Finn got in my face, “If we sneak on board the lead destroyer and disable the tracker without them realizing, then we can-”

“They won’t realize it’s off for one system cycle. About six minutes,” Rose completed the sentence. 

“Sneak on board,” Finn said as Rose projected the hologram of the lead destroyer. “Disable the tracker. Our fleet escapes before they realize.”

I stood and began walking, “Hm... how did you two meet?”

They both shared a look before Rose said, “Just luck.”

“Yeah?” I walked over towards Leia. “Good luck?”

I couldn’t really hear her response but Finn pressed me, “Poe, we gotta do this. It’ll save the fleet and it’ll save Y/N and Rey.”

I looked down at Leia as the mention of Y/N made my heart beat just slightly faster, reaching down to take her hand as I hoped my warmth could help wake her up. Y/N would be devastated to find out what happened to her, if he hadn’t felt it already. 

“If I must be the sole voice of reason, Admiral Holdo will never agree to this plan,” C-3PO decided to give his opinion without being asked as usual.

“Yeah, but you’re right 3PO. It’s a “need-to-know” plan, and she doesn’t,” I was solidified in this as Finn seemed sure of it and if it meant increasing the chances of seeing Y/N again, and helping to make sure that he’s safe, I knew I was going to do whatever I could to help. 

“T-that wasn’t exactly my-” 3PO started blubbering.

I crossed the room, “All right, you guys shut down that tracker. I’ll be here to jump us to lightspeed.” I started tinkering with the console to pull up the schematics of the destroyer, “The question is, how do we sneak the two of you onto Snoke’s destroyer.”

“We steal clearance codes,” Rose recommended.

“No, they’re bio-hexacrypt and rescrambled every hour,” Finn shot the idea down. “We can’t get through their security shields undetected. Nobody can.” I thought for a moment and immediately knew who we needed to ask and pointed at Finn, “Maz!”

Your POV

You and Rey had been given your own small houses in the village as well and you were in yours when there was a knock at the door. 

“Come in,” you announced, standing from your seat.

The door opened and revealed Luke, a look on his face you couldn’t quite understand as he closed the door behind him.

“Is something wrong?” you asked, curious as you tried to place his intentions.

“You know more about the force than Rey does, and those are your own sabers, isn’t that right?” he inquisitively interviewed. 

“You are correct. The only kind of training I have received has been from your sister, Leia. I know more about the force than... most though,” you replied.

“The colors of your sabers, the blades are the same right? I’ve never heard of someone having both white and black colored sabers before, not even in the old Jedi texts.”

Your heart rate suddenly leaped and began to beat rapidly... he knew more than he was letting on, and was... goading you?

He looked deeply into your eyes with suspicion, “Where did you say you had come from again?”

You swallowed as your throat suddenly became dry, “Why do you ask?”

He looked at you for a moment, unwavering before responding, “The place you said before, Mortis. It’s interesting you would say that as only nine people in the entire galaxy have ever known about it.”

Your eyes widened as you knew the reaction he had when you mentioned it earlier was indeed recognition. How is it possible that he knows about Mortis?

“Four of those people being the ones that actually lived there, three of which are dead, one of which isn’t here and the other of which is me,” he continued. “And I know you’re not the one other than me so that means if you truly are from this place you couldn’t possibly know about, you’re one of the ones who lived there.”

The door opened once more and Rey took a step in before seeing the two of you and stepped back with a surprised look on her face, “Oh, sorry. Am I interrupting something?”

Luke was quick to respond, “Nothing at all. Both of you, with me.” He moved past her outside, “Training starts now.”

Your heart was beating out of your chest and Rey saw it and concern flooded her features, “Are you alright?”

You nodded a bit too quickly and pushed past her to follow Luke as you tried to get your heart rate under control. You hadn't lost your composure like that since... before everything. How does he know about... I can’t think about that. As you walked outside, the villagers that lived there were piled around a house where a few rocks had broken off and Luke was looking back behind you at Rey.

She replied, “I was cleaning my blaster, it went off. Sorry.” As the three of you continued and climbed the mountain, Rey asked, “Who were those things?”

You were curious as well so you listened as Luke responded, “Caretakers. Island natives. They’ve kept up the Jedi structures since they were built.”

“That’s quite the generational commitment,” you commented.

“I don’t think they like me,” Rey admitted as she turned back to look down at the village. 

“Can’t imagine why,” Luke sarcastically responded.

You chuckled as your group continued up the stairs that lead towards the top of the mountain and inwards where there was most likely a large cavity carved out. As you reached the top of the stairs, your assumption was found to be correct as you entered hallways with more stairs within the mountain that led towards a room with an opening and cliff at the peak. There was a large runic circle protruding from the center of the room that had a small level of water on the surface with a small anvil-like stone chair at the edge of the peak. 

“Master Skywalker,” Rey said to Luke as you left the room and stood on the peak overlooking the water. “We need you to bring the Jedi back because Kylo Ren is strong with the dark side of the force. Without the Jedi, we won’t stand a chance against him.”

You slightly disagreed but also knew with how small the Resistance had become after your battles, and how you weren’t able to use your full power, the odds of winning were indeed not very certain. 

“What do you know about the force?” Luke asked, mostly towards Rey.

“It’s a power Jedi and Sith have that lets them control people and make things float,” she begrudgingly responded. 

“Impressive. Every word in that sentence was wrong,” Luke plainly said.

You couldn’t help the burst of laughter you let out as you coughed and quickly adjusted yourself.

“Lesson one, both of you, sit here legs crossed,” he slapped the leaf he was carrying on the stone slab that was at the edge and you wondered if the two of you could fit.

After sharing a look, the both of you managed to fit with a few inches of space between the two of you so it wasn’t so bad.

“The force is not a power you have,” Luke began to explain, next to Rey. “It’s not about lifting rocks. It’s the energy between all things, a tension, a balance, that binds the universe together.”

“Ok, that sounds similar to what Y/N had told me,” Rey responded.

Luke eyed you for a moment and you thought back to your previous conversation temporarily before throwing it from your mind as Rey continued.

“But what is it?”

“Close your eyes, both of you.”

You and Rey closed your eyes together.

“Breathe,” Luke instructed.

You had already mastered meditation so this was extremely simple for you but you didn’t object as he helped Rey with the basics. 

“Now, reach out.”

You could feel and hear a bit of movement and a smile threatened to creep onto your face as you suspected Rey took his words literally. 

Rey gasped and you flinched slightly, “I feel something!”

Your eyebrow raised in suspicion and you actually peaked your eye open to take a look and saw her arm out with Luke tickling her fingers with the leaf he was holding. 

“You feel it?” he pressed with sudden vigor.

“I do!”

“That’s the force.”

“Really?”

“Wow! It must be really strong with you.”

You started bursting out laughing right as he raised his hand.

“Oh I’ve never felt any-” Rey began before she was about to open her eyes to your laughter and got slapped by the leaf. “Ow!” She shook her hand and looked at him defeatedly, “You mean reach out like...” 

He widened his eyes at her as confirmation and she nodded, “I’ll try again.”

Luke didn’t even look at you as you suspected he knew that you knew what you were doing. 

He tossed the leaf behind him and grabbed Rey’s hand to place it on the rock, “Breathe.” She closed her eyes once more and you did the same, “Just breathe. Reach out with your feelings. What do you see?”

You reached out with your feelings and finally realized that the extension of your force was incredibly muddled from the rest of the galaxy from this planet. Realizing that, you tried to feel out for Leia and couldn’t feel her at all and confirmed your fears. 

“I can’t see anything past this island,” you whispered.

“That’s the reason that I came here, to be cut off from the rest so no one could find me, but you should be able to reach from here,” Luke responded softly. 

You were mildly concerned that you were incapable of doing such a thing as you were relatively on the same level than Luke at his prime. Though the lesson needed to continue so it was something you decided to keep on the back burner to figure out later.

“The island,” Rey began to explain what she was seeing through the force. “Life. Death and decay, that feeds new life. Warmth. Cold. Peace.”

As she was listing off the things that she felt, you allowed her feelings to overtake you as well as you joined the journey she was taking through the island for yourself.

“Violence,” her demeanor was slightly thrown. 

“And between it all?” Luke attempted to clarify her vision.

“Balance. An energy. A force.”

You smiled as you felt the very same, glad she was able to come to that conclusion on her first try at pure connection. The area had amplified force energy as you knew so Rey probably had a much easier time as a result. 

“And inside you?”

“Inside me... that same force.”

“And this is the lesson. That force does not belong to the Jedi. To say that if the Jedi die, the light dies, is vanity. Can you feel that?”

Luke’s desperation concerned you as you felt Rey’s connection begin to grow darker. The ease of how it occurred reminded you frighteningly of yourself and you questioned Rey’s capabilities. However, your concern for her was greater as her vision began to lead her towards the darker corner of the island you had felt previously. 

“There’s something else... beneath the island. A place. A dark place.”

You could feel the curiosity and the pull within her and your concern began to reach levels of... well concern, “Rey, be careful.”

“Balance,” Luke affirmed. “Powerful light, powerful darkness.”

You winced internally as you hated that ideology. While it had truth, you wanted to change that truth. If happiness and salvation came at the cost of death and suffering at the fates of others, was that true salvation? It wasn’t... not to you. You would carry that darkness within you but you would ensure that the light wins and governs over the dark as long as you had lived: as long as you win the war and control the nexus event, regardless of how the world might make you try to believe otherwise.

The ground suddenly cracked and your eyes snapped open as you got up out of your seat, “Rey, you are not prepared to enter such a place.”

“It’s calling me,” the rocks began to fall around you.

“Resist it, Rey,” Luke stressed behind her. “Rey?” He got in front of her and shouted in her face, “Rey!”

Her eyes stayed shut for a few more moments before she suddenly burst forward and fell to the ground further ahead of the peak near the edge. 

“You went straight to the dark,” Luke said, the fear in his voice evident.

You had run forward and grabbed Rey to make sure that she was alright as she took deep gasps, falling onto the rock you were previously sitting on with her arms with your help.

“That place was trying to show me something,” she gasped.

“It offered something you needed. And you didn’t even try to stop yourself,” he responded.

“Go easy on her, she has many questions and little answers, not to mention she has never trained like this before. Of course the allure of the dark would be hard for her to resist,” you defended her.

He shook his head and turned to leave before Rey spoke, “But I didn’t see you. Nothing from you. You’ve closed yourself off from the force.”

Luke had paused in his place and slowly turned back.

“Of course you have,” Rey continued. 

“I’ve seen this raw strength only once before, in Ben Solo. It didn’t scare me enough then. It does now,” Luke finished with a terrified look on his face before walking away.

You weren’t exactly surprised to come to the conclusion of how Rey and Ben were so connected. Let alone they both existed at the same point in time as new force sensitives on both sides, they were also both now affiliated with training under Luke Skywalker. Perhaps it was fate for the two of you to find Luke and for Rey to train under him as it further accentuated the duality between Rey and Ben. 

“Did you know? About Luke?” Rey asked you.

You nodded, “I suspected as much ever since I joined the Resistance. It was confirmed after we arrived.”

She looked back down at the rock and shook her head slightly, “That place...”

“The dark will always be alluring, Rey. It will always seemingly have the answers you seek but they always exact a price. It is much too early for you to face such a darkness with control over yourself,” you explained, trying to protect her from herself. “If anyone would know, it’s me.”

She considered your words carefully as the two of you stayed there for a while longer, Rey trying to gather herself before the two of you left.

------------------------------------------------

“Still can’t reach the Resistance?” Rey had walked into the cockpit where you and Chewie were.

“No,” you commented, annoyed as Chewie growled the same.

“We have to keep trying, if we can get through, ask about Finn,” she commented with desperation.

You turned back, “We know, Rey. We’ll do what we can.”

She had an apologetic look on her face as she nodded and you smiled in return. She walked away and you asked Chewie to keep trying as you took off your headset and followed her. You could hear Chewie grow frustrated with all of the small bird-like creatures that had made themselves at home on the ship and couldn’t help but smile. Just as you had reached the ramp of the ship, you felt... a presence. It stopped you in your tracks and you looked down to just barely catch Rey standing a few feet away just under the belly of the ship. It was like a chill than ran up the right side of your body as you noticed it, like the space in front of you was warping but... not in a way that your eyes could comprehend. 

“Why... connecting us,” you could just barely make out Kylo’s voice as you tried to hone in on whatever was going on in front of you.

“Murderous snake,” Rey spat with venom as she stared into what seemed like empty space but was most likely Kylo. “You’re too late. You lost. I found Skywalker.”

You slowly descended from the ramp as the conversation continued, and you could now make out Kylo yourself even. 

“Did he tell you what happened?” he responded, this time clearly in your ears.

You paused midway down the ramp, allowing them to continue the conversation at least for now.

“The night I destroyed his temple, did he tell you why?” he asked as he approached her.

Your hand came to rest on your saber which you found to be slightly fruitless as he wasn’t truly there but kept your hand there regardless.

“I know everything I need to know about you,” Rey retorted. 

“You do?” he gazed at her. “Ah, you do. You have that look in your eyes. From the forest. When you called me a monster.”

It hit you that their relationship was a bit stronger than you had realized.

“You are a monster,” Rey confirmed.

“Yes I am,” he approached her even closer. You began walking closer and you actually caught the attention of Kylo, who took a step back and looked directly at you, “You.”

Rey turned to look back at you, “You see him?”

You nodded without breaking eye contact with him as you approached and Kylo continued, “The supreme leader spoke of you.”

You narrowed your eyes, “Hope it was all good things.”

He shot air out of his nose, “I can feel the darkness within you... strange.” 

Rey glanced at you slightly as she took in his information but you were quick to respond, “Yet I still choose the light, makes you wonder how good of a job you’re doing.”

He ignored your words, “You were there, when it happened.”

You set your jaw as you knew exactly what he was referring to, “Don’t.”

You could tell he was amused as he continued, “You let him die.”

You took a menacing step forward, “Say another word I swear I’ll kill you myself.”

You could see the spark of fear in his eyes and wondered just how much he and Snoke knew about you but he concealed it well, “He died, for nothing, and you stood there doing not-”

“Enough!” you finally snapped, waving your hand in a severing motion.

Rey flinched and so did Kylo, hard, as the menacing aura that you released pulsed so heavily that it completely cut whatever connection was going on between them. You heaved a heavy breath as you tried to regain control of your body, shutting your mouth and taking another deep breath through your nose. 

You closed your eyes but opened them after a moment after remembering Rey was there and you looked over at her to notice her suspension, “I’m sorry about that, I shouldn’t have lost control.”

Your aura was back to the pureness it normally radiated and the apologetic look on your face relaxed her shoulders some, but not completely, “It’s ok.”

“By the way,” you cleared your throat. “Have you been having connections like these with Kylo before?”

She nodded hesitantly as she confirmed. The connection indeed was stronger than you had thought. For them to be able to have a conversation in two separate spaces while somehow existing in the same one... to think such a high application of the force could be instituted. There was no way that either Rey or Kylo were the ones to create it as it was a feat very few could accomplish. It made sense that as a result of their stories, the force established the connection for them but it couldn’t have been that easy. The force doesn’t meddle with the galaxy, at least not in ways as obvious as that.

“That is slightly concerning, let me know if they continue, ok?” you said softly.

“Ok... do you think there’s a reason why he mentioned what happened the night he destroyed the temple?” Rey hesitantly asked you, considering things in her mind.

You sighed as you didn’t exactly want to answer that question, “I’m... not sure. It’s possible there is more to the story than Luke told us, but... I doubt there would be anything to make us understand Kylo more.”

She nodded her head before turning and walking back into the ship.

The next day, you woke Rey to advise her to practice with her staff on the mountain as you meditated. You allowed her to take her saber if she felt comfortable enough to use it. You had training with Luke once again for your second lesson in a few hours so you decided to pass it by connecting with the force. After a few hours, you left one of the rooms on the ship to head towards the village. As you did, you saw Rey on one of the peaks and met up with her before seeing Luke walking up the stairs that led to the place you trained at last. You made eye contact and knew that he was calling the two of you over.

“Lesson two,” Luke said as you arrived at the room where he was. “Now that they’re extinct, the Jedi are romanticized, deified. But if you strip away the myth and look at their deeds, the legacy of the Jedi is failure.” He had sat down near the circle with the water surface in the middle of the room. “Hypocrisy, hubris.”

“That’s not true,” Rey surged forward, which surprised you.

“At the height of their powers, they allowed Darth Sidious to rise, create the empire, and wipe them out. It was a Jedi master who was responsible for the training and creation of Darth Vader.”

You actually couldn’t argue with him there as you were shocked to find out the Jedi Order had fallen when you had come out of your slumber. 

“And a Jedi who saved him,” Rey pressed on.

You looked at her with shock and admiration on your features, she wasn’t wrong either. 

“Yes, the most hated man in the galaxy. But you saw there was conflict inside him,” she sat down next to him. “You believed that he wasn’t gone. That he could be turned.”

“And I became a legend,” Luke finished. “For many years, there was balance, and then I saw... Ben. My nephew, with that mighty Skywalker blood. And in my hubris, I thought I could train him, I could pass on my strengths. Han was... Han about it but... Leia. Trusted me with her son. I took him, and a dozen students, and began a training temple.”

You knew about this from Leia’s memories but you wanted to see if there was anything she hadn’t known about.

He stood from his spot and began to pace, “By the time I realized, I was no match for the darkness rising in him, it was too late.”

“What happened?” Rey asked.

You had sat down comfortably on the floor as you listened.

His back was turned to the two of you as he stood there, most likely recalling the events of the night, “I went to confront him. And he turned on me. He must have thought I was dead. When I came to, the temple was burning. He had vanished with a handful of my students... and slaughtered the rest. Leia blamed Snoke, but it was me. I failed. Because I was Luke Skywalker. Jedi master. A legend.”

You could practically smell the carnage as he took you back through the events that occurred and felt the disgust he carried when he announced his name. 

“The galaxy may need a legend,” Rey started. “I need someone to show me my place in all of this.”

You quirked an eyebrow as you didn’t know she had felt as lost as she did.

“And you didn’t fail Kylo. Kylo failed you. We won’t, I won’t,” she said with determination. 

There was silence in the room before Luke ultimately left, walking past the two of you and outside. You shared a look with Rey as you gave her a supportive smile before she turned to leave as well. You weighed following her and talking to her about what she said but didn’t want to force her to talk when she didn’t want to. Instead, you allowed her to go off and do her own thing as you left and intended to go back to the village and meditate.

Next Chapter

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