#but he really did bewitched my body and soul lmao

[humbuns]

i want him

[ganyuslily]

HOW TO GET A S/O — A GUIDE BY YOURS TRULY.

“i hereby declare that i am opening s/o applications! i can offer a poem, a brownie and my unconditional love. if you’re interested, please fill out this form!”

(platonic/romantic) ayato, albedo, childe, kazuha, an anonymous sender x gn!reader, chiscara cameo lmao

comedy, fluff, modern!au, high school!au (?)

for valentine’s day…. i love valentine’s day i LOVE PEOPLE IN LOVE!!!!!

“this is so dumb,” your best friend xiao mutters under his nose. “i’m not even talking about the fact that you came up with the whole significant other form thing or the fact that it actually worked,” he looks with an indescribable look in his eyes at your phone, “i can’t believe you used google forms to make it. really? google forms?”

“what else was i supposed to use, genius,” you retort while opening the submitted applications. “i’m more impressed that i actually got so many answers. i think my brownie has bewitched them, their body and soul,” you say jokingly while stretching.

xiao looks at you with a blank face and you only shrug. he looks like he’s mere seconds from a breakdown. you wonder why.

“well, i’ve gotta say this is perfect! valentine’s day just around the corner, y’know? would be nice to have a partner even if they would break up with me like two days later. i can’t keep pestering you to be my valentine every single year.” he simply sighs and rubs his eyes. he seems annoyed. you’re not sure why though but you know he’s not annoyed at you. he never is.

“alright, enough talking, let’s get to it! time to see whose application was the best!” you declare enthusiastically and start scrolling.

APPLICATION NR. 1

NAME: KAMISATO AYATO

TELL ME SOMETHING ABOUT YOURSELF: i’m not particularly sure what contents should be placed here.

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR PERFECT DATE: a meeting in the park sounds quite nice. obviously, it would depend on the weather. however, if it would be nice, strolling and talking while walking between trees and flower seems quite lovely. i’ve always wanted to try it.

TELL ME THE REASON FOR YOUR APPLICATION: you seem like a very nice and competent person. we’ve worked on a couple projects before and even if we wouldn’t end up dating, i would still appreciate becoming friends.

TELL ME A FUN FACT: oh my, i’m really bad this. i’m sorry. could i perhaps ask you a question though? do you know if i perhaps did anything to offend your friend? he’s been glaring at me since the time we first teamed up for a project.

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

[…do you think thoma and ayaka put him up to it?] [that is quite possible.]

[aish, that’s too bad. do you think he’d still like to meet up though? i’d like to get closer to him.]

[what? why on earth would you like to do that?]

[why not? it could be fun. also, addressing his concern, do you have anything against him?]

[…no, not in particular.]

[alright, if you say so…]

APPLICATION NR. 2

NAME: ALBEDO

TELL ME SOMETHING ABOUT YOURSELF: oh come on, we’ve known each other for so long. i’m sure you already know it but but when i was a child i accidentally dyed my hair black — my mother was terrified. on the other hand, i was quite thrilled. maybe i should do it again.

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR PERFECT DATE: a study date? perhaps. i’m sorry, this probably sounds quite boring. in my defense, i am quite a boring person. i’m open to anything though.

TELL ME THE REASON FOR YOUR APPLICATION: we’ve been lab partners since the beginning of high school, haven’t we? i’d like to think we get along quite well PLUS i don’t have a valentine this year either and if i’ll have to listen to my mother’s nagging again i will lose it. if you want to, i can give you extra chemistry lessons — an agreement with mutual benefit, if i can put it that way.

TELL ME A FUN FACT: did you know ajax screamed when he saw that you put out the forms? i’m not particularly sure why but i felt as if my eardrums were about to explode. even my noise canceling headphones didn’t work.

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

[can’t believe he’d try to use me again to get rid of his mother’s talking his ear off.]

[if it annoys you, i can take care of it.]

[your definition of taking care of something is quite doubtful, if i’m being honest. and no, you don’t have to. i love helping him anyways. he’s a good friend and he explains chemistry perfectly.]

[i could also give you some extra lessons from it.]

[xiao, you are literally failing the subject.]

[and?]

APPLICATION NR. 3

NAME: AJAX AKA CHILDE

TELL ME SOMETHING ABOUT YOURSELF: i’m good at sports, obviously. i’m also fantastic at learning. i’m also handsome. generally speaking, i’m perfect (and taken).

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR PERFECT DATE: simply spending time with my lovely boyfriend (if he’d hear me call him that he’d slap me in the face).

TELL ME AND THE REASON FOR YOUR APPLICATION: i’m trying to help my friend but i’m not sure if he won’t murder me in exchange if he does please put forget-me-nots at my grave i beg!!

TELL ME A FUN FACT: i once put a lightbulb in my mouth because i didn't believe it when they said you won’t be able to get it out. had to go to the hospital and shit — oh and by the way did you know there is someone close to you that HAS A CRUSH ON YOU PLEASE OPEN YOUR EYES I CAN’T KEEP ON ENDURING IT ANYMORE

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

[a crush? on me, out of all people?]

[why are you so surprised?]

[why would i be not? it’s not like i’m popular or anything. considering you, who has been my friend for the longest time never developed one, how could a completely random person do it?]

[…who knows.]

APPLICATION NR. 4

NAME: KAEDEHARA KAZUHA

TELL ME SOMETHING ABOUT YOURSELF: i think you know everything you should already, considering you’ve seen most of my poetry.

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR PERFECT DATE: finding a place the both of us have never been to before and exploring it together. making memories with a person you like is always pleasant.

TELL ME THE REASON FOR YOUR APPLICATION: i just want to get closer to you. and who knows where it will lead us.

TELL ME A FUN FACT: did you know they opened a new café just around the corner? perhaps that could be our destination.

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

[kazuha is as sweet as ever. straight to the point too.]

[…too straight to the point.]

[did you say something?]

[no?]

[oh.]

[well, you do remember you’re supposed to visit the café with me though, right? we’re supposed to do it tomorrow.]

[of course i do.]

APPLICATION NR. 5

NAME: ANONYMOUS

TELL ME SOMETHING ABOUT YOURSELF: what would be the point of me submitting myself as anonymous if i’d describe myself in great detail here

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR PERFECT DATE: same one as yours

TELL ME REASON FOR YOUR APPLICATION: i’ve liked you since that one time where you reached out my hand to me in kindergarten and asked if we could become friends. i’ve kept on liking you when you went through your first breakup. i’ve kept on liking you when we were spending valentine’s day together every single year. i’ve always liked you. i still do. and i don’t think i’ll stop

TELL ME A FUN FACT: would you believe me if i told you that out of all the possible people ajax was the one that made me do this. i’ve threatened him that if this fails i’ll tell scara that he’s had a crush on him since sixth grade

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

[xiao?]

[…yes?]

[is this you?]

[…]

[silent as ever, huh.]

[what if it is me?]

[because if it is, i like you too. i’ve liked you for a very long time now.]

[…yes, it is me.]

[oh, thank the stars. i can’t believe i had to do this whole thing to see if my feelings were one-sided.]

[huh? what did you say?]

[…nothing! so, how would you like to spend our first valentine’s day together as an official couple?]

[official?]

[what, you don’t want it?]

[…]

[wait, xiao, did you just blush?]

[…we can visit that café.]

[whatever you want, my dear boyfriend.]

[…stop talking.]

[ectoodle]

Hello! I wanted to ask what made you fall in love with bingqiu?

Hey there!

Ah hmm that's an interesting question, I've never thought about it actually. I like bingqiu a lot, but I never considered it as falling in love with the ship? They're a fun ship to play with and they have a wide range that's pretty flexible so I'm always in my comfort zone drawing them.

I suppose most of the art I draw for bingqiu are a love letter to them, though. And I think that's pretty telling of my brain rot for them 😂

I think the food the fandom cooked up really helped a lot. SV fic writers are on a whole other plane of existence when it comes to analyzing binghe's character and filling in on his journey of healing with sqq by his side. I'm the annoying type of audience that gets bored when the main couple gets together at the end...so when scum villain ended the way it did, mxtx may as well have german suplexed me on the concrete. scum villain is a story that subverts its tropes left and right and the ending was no exception! I love that bingqiu getting together at the end was not an automatic happily ever after, but rather, they still are putting in the work and effort to understand and stay in each other's lives. The glimpse of that path we get in the extras really did solidify my desire to see how bingqiu will continue to stay together--bingmei vs bingge extra was probably the finishing blow for me tho lmao. I couldn't stop thinking about what the heck happened to bingge after he left the sv world that I read a bunch of fics about him and needed to soothe the angst with sv bingqiu

on a side tangent, bingqiu parallels another of my all time ship, nozomizo from liz and the blue bird. mild spoilers if you haven't seen liz, but nozomizo had a similar codependent relationship that needed them both to grow apart as individuals in order to stay together. bingqiu separated unwillingly and binghe's growth as an individual was fueled by betrayal, despair, and that dying glimmer of hope that maybe, maybe shizun could accept him now that they're equals. but they don't. because binghe still hasn't emotionally grown to get past his temper tantrums (thanks xin mo) and sqq is still failing binghe by constantly misunderstanding him. but bingqiu still choose each other, choose to love and support each other, and they refuse to be separated again. whereas nozomizo was a healthy separation with a promise of reunion, bingqiu was fighting through the muddy trenches with a vague hope that the other is reaching out their hands too. i thought it was neat how differently both ships handled their codependency that still guarantees a happy ending, no matter how dirty and bruised they got along the way.

I also think sqq's compassionate narration in regards to binghe's suffering got to me lmao. He truly does care for binghe, and even if naysayers argue it's not romantic, it's undeniable that binghe is special to sqq. although not the best choices, most if not all of his choices were for binghe's best interest (thanks system). sqq had so much heart for binghe that it affected me through the screen too. binghe's abandonment issues and fake wet tears have captivated me. his gap moe as a chuuni emo demonic overlord and wife with a maidenly glass heart has bewitched me body and soul. i want luo binghe to be happy so badly!!

i think that's why bingqiu fascinates me. most of the bingqiu arts i draw are like slice of life vignettes, so without the meat and bones of fanfic diving into bingqiu's messiness, i would not have ascended to this level of brain rot for them...

[fetabathwater]

so is amma a changeling/dopplerganger? or is she actually a tiefling? and like how old is she did she study away was she always in the cult like sorry im really interested in her... bewitched me body and soul etc

okay i rambled and took like 4 days to answer this so UNDER THE CUT

she is a tieflingggggg and that's what she's sticking with! if/when she does 'change shape' or w/e its a uhhh . spell. i forgot the name of it. disguise shape spell LMAO. but its only got a handful of variations compared to like. the mask of the shapeshifter yknow. okay so my like concept of amma and the winding water is that when "amity the first" is sent to investigate some like bhaalist pop up, bc its been a while since theyve been active but hey you cant trust a bhaalist. the first however convinces these like weeping devoted weirdo bhaalists that shes one of them, dives into the water and retrieves a babe from the like long dead watery remains of bhaal, but it's not really a child. like just some sort of . ok im losing words i was gonna say jellybean LOL but like equivalent of holding a very warm piece of light in hand. like divinity. and it's the weirdest thing for the first because bhaal literally wrecked personal havoc for a good few hundred years, pre and post death, and he's technically still dead by this point too when like they shouldn't be finding anymore spawn really popping up (or at least ones with enough divinity to warrant watching over in case of death and then resurrection of father dearest). but the divinity is warm and small and sweet, nothing like what the first had experienced with the crisis. and when the first like breaks through the surface of the river with a child pulled from bhaal's remains, it more than anything puts a good amount of fear back into them.

because the gods are Very Real, still, apparently, despite the spellplague and troubles causing all kinds of havoc around them. the first gets to the shore with this child who is not a child but is all at once, just a formation of river remains, bone, blood, weeds.

but this not-child opens its eyes and looks at her and as it grows, the first starts to notice it resembles her. not completely, there are some things that even the weirdness but also lack of magic can't replace when someone is created from their father's bones. yet horns grow, and a tail, and the child is a tiefling, by all accounts. the child is kind of hers.

as for like. how amma gets Educated™ and shizz, raised by the first and primistresses. introduced to maiming biting killing etc. definitely comes into her magic girl moment early as well, divine soul and all that (but evul!). amma is a weird quiet kid, takes well to like. everything outside the bhaalist attempts to foster their perfect little bhaalspawn considering it failed the last few times. attends like idk random ass colleges or like academies for one yr or smth. just randomly appears in the back of a class, learns, leaves. i would think it would be hilarious if she was at blackstaff academy in neverwinter and gale was there too at some point LMAO like lets start that rivalry off early. as far as like 'adopted' by another family goes, that did happen kind of, but she was also introduced to other bhaalist peers like torlin silvershield (who assisted with bringing back bhaal rip to gorions ward ig), thalamra vanthampur (funded the dead three when elturel was pulled into the hells), nysene eomane, rillyn family and other mostly devil worshipping families because its baldurs gate. you can throw a stone and like not 3ft from you hit someone who rly shouldnt worship a dang devil or god like.

granted she's not living this upper city lifestyle - these people are coming to the lower city, her domain. not an assassin for hire, but like, easy to bait and intrigue. is Known™ to some people but like do they want to know about her? probably not. especially when they see her collection of preserved. idk. eyeballs? spleens? choose a body part?

but amma is mostly just idling her and studying and picking up skills around the place, doing some sightseeing, maybe some unfortunate stabbing. the first kind of does try to get her into like. a family or two while amma is a wee child but there are uncontrollable urges and then combined with the blend of a child's emotional reaction and sharp objects and loud noises, it just becomes best for this kid to not be fostered. THERE WERE GOOD TIMES but there were also more bad than good. which is unfortunate and the first adds it to a long list of regrets. but amma pretty much starts going to these places and doing these things in her teens, well until what she remembers as like her late 20s early 30s, before returning to the temple of bhaal in baldurs gate. taking over. you come to me on the day of my daughter's wedding (has no daughter). freshly slaughtered class blood all over her and then like takes control of the bhaalist temple.

fucks around. finds out. in her downtime honestly still finds herself picking up books and whatever - debates attending lectures and the like at public forums. goes to a museum. looks at the sculptures. uses one for a weapon. moves on. culture !

[lovesbitca8]

Reactions to the Final Chapter of The Auction (1/?)

@abitchytrashcan​ said: Thank you so much to the alphabet team and you for creating this beautiful masterpiece, You somehow managed to make me cry while I was reading the ending. You broke my heart into pieces and somehow managed to fix it in record time, A perfect end to a painfully beautiful story, I shall now reread and go back to the canon of TRRTD and ATWT to cope with this empty hole where my heart should be. 👏👏👏

Anonymous said: First of all: Congrats on finishing the wonderful piece of art that is TA!!!! But Juls. How. could. you. do. this. I neeeeeed to know what is going to happen nooooooow?? Are they siblings? Is this magical incest now? Will that stop them? Will Panville happen in this universe? Gaaah! Even if those questions will never be answered - thank you again for sharing this with us. I feel truly blessed.

Anonymous said: I have no words. I really cannot thank you for your brilliance enough. I have been on such a journey with this story for over a year and you have truly ruined me forever in the best ways possible. That said, how could you not give us the reunion sex and Hermione saying I love you!?!??!!!?!?!? (I’m joking but also heartbroken) 💔💔😰😭😭😭😳🤯😠🥺🥺🥺🥺 hoping that appears in all right at some point but still thank you always I will be returning to this fic for years to come 🧡

Anonymous said: You legitimately changed my life with this story. Not me being able to HEAR Draco’s commentary in my head at the very end because you allowed us to know your Draco so personal in all the wrong things. Girl I know he was thinking look at me. 🤭 I am blown away my brain will be repeating this ending for days on end. I will probably reread the entire SERIES this week even though it’s my college finals and I am already suffering. At least let my heart and soul suffer too

Anonymous said: I’ve been reading you’re “Rights and Wrongs” series on ao3 and all I can think about is how much I would love a Hogwarts Era addition. Anything Hogwarts Era—an altered house or an earlier Dramione or even a no Voldemort AU. I’m just so in love with you’re characterization and your dialogue and really just your writing in general! Hope you’re well!!

I’ve written some Hogwarts Era fics (you can find them on my Ao3), but I won’t be doing anything specifically from the Rights and Wrongs universe in a Hogwarts Era AU. <3

Anonymous said: I never want to come across as the demanding or entitled reader forcing you to do anything bc I am genuinely so appreciated that you share any of your writing with us at all. I would literally pay you to write an epilogue or another chapter either in the auction or as part of all right bc I cannot survive without knowing where Draco has been and what he’s been up to, Hermione finally being able to tell him she loves him in person, and that reunion sex BOTH the night before he goes to Azkaban and immediately when he gets out LMAO. I’m sorry as much as I love Draco, YOU, JULES, HAVE BEWITCHED ME BODY AND SOUL AND HEART AND MIND AND I’m permanently incapable of recovering from this 🧡

Anonymous said: Will we get to know what Draco was up to when he was away? Also, I died a little after the grand finale of the auction. Thank you so much for everything and I love you so much.

Lol just kidding. No further stories/epilogues are planned. The story ends there with the intention that the timelines converge with The Right Thing To Do. The HEA is implied. We talked in more depth about where Draco was on the podcast, but essentially he was at an uncharted Malfoy estate with Kreacher. 

Anonymous said: SPOILER WARNING HELLO please..... my soft little heart at the nod to pansy x neville....... i literally teared up i adore them so 😭😭😭 the ending trials were wonderful and sad in all the right ways, you’re brilliant at writing tension! and the bittersweet moment with ron, ugh, perfect. the end of an era!! i almost don’t want it to be so!!!

user062900 said: I’m crying I’m actually crying what a journey wow. I just have no words I’m i just it’s so beautifully written and perfect. Thank you so much for writing the series it gave me an insane amount of joy to look forward to every chapter❤️❤️❤️

Anonymous said: I can't believe that the Auction is over. I started to read it after you updated to chapter 19, first WIP I ever read, and I just finished chapter 41. Your writing is utterly gorgeous and I 'm so happy I competed to reading literally all of your writing. The last chapter was like a punch in the gut, in the best way. There was a happy ending without any sacrifices of plot or character development. But I still really want to know what Draco was up to in his boxers, and where he got his clothes.

Anonymous said: I've finished reading TA (beautiful btw 100/10) & decided to spend the whole night catching up on TRTTD & the pinning - ugh ✨immaculate✨ i love the way you write draco love for hermione & vice versa, to be willing to sacrifice everything for a person without expecting ANYTHING in return nor knowing if the feelings are mutual but that doesn't matter b/c you love them so much.😭😭Sorry for the long ask but TA & TRTTD had me on an emotional rollercoaster that I had to show my love for them. I hope you're doing well!💖

docmartinis said: ahh the final chapter made me cry :( i loved it tho, amazing work !!

mxstyassasxin said: Ahskfhagafskdhshk!!!!!!! I LOVED IT! Thank you so so much for writing such brilliance. The links with TRTTD were perfect 💖 I'm so damn happy right now!!

Anonymous said: I’M CRYING!!!! That ending killed me. This story will haunt me for years

Anonymous said: I love that you had it end at Cornerstone. The dance allusion. Full circle indeed. I am speechless.

puresteph said: Just want to say, I loved the ending! You all did fabulous and although I will miss it, I hope you all have a lovely rest, drink some beverage of your preference, your world has been a big part of my 2020 and has been there when I truly needed it. I will be forever grateful to you for that. I’m totally doing a reread in the New Year! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! 💚

Anonymous said: The ending was beautiful. I was at the edge of my seat waiting for when they would be reunited and it was perfect. The threads and knots that you have woven through the entire universe all met up at a single place. It was fitting in a way of taking a breathe and releasing it! This entire project was filled with soo much noise that the quietness of the ending is truly fitting. It’s like when the background music of a movie quiets out slowly after being loud throughout the whole movie.

[ionlyknow1truth-blog]

Kylo Ren & Rey: The Force, Destiny and their Connection

There's always been a certain passage in Alan Dean Foster's novelization of TFA that has especially peeked my curiosity. I had intended just to talk about that alone, but rereading the passage has excited me once again about other things, so I'm just going to dissect the last half of the passage some. This is the scene I'm referring to:

'Where the strength to defy him came from she did not know, but if anything her voice grew a little stronger. "I'm not giving you anything."

His response reflected his unconcern. "We'll see."

Narrowing his gaze and his focus, he locked eyes with her. She met his gaze without trying to look away. She should have looked away. It would have been the rational thing to do. The sane thing to do. Instead, she just glared, trying not to flinch, to blink.

Ah, he thought to himself. Something there, of interest. Not the image of the map. That would take another moment. But definitely something worth investigating. He shifted his perception toward it, seeking to identify, to analyze, to-

The barrier he encountered stopped him cold. And it was he, Kylo Ren, who blinked. It made no sense. He pushed hard with his mind -and the probe went nowhere.

A look of amazement replaced the fear on Rey's face as she discovered herself inside his mind. Stunned at the realization, she found herself inexorably drawn to -to....

"You," she heard herself saying clearly, "you're afraid. That you will never be as strong as —Darth Vader!"

His hand pulled sharply away from her cheek as if her skin had suddenly turned white-hot. Confused, rattled, he stumbled back from her. Her gaze followed him. Her eyes were the same, but something else had changed —something behind them, in her stare and in her posture. He moved to leave and, at the last moment, gestured powerfully in her direction. The restraints that had held her wrists snapped back into place, once again securing her to the inclined platform. Then he once again donned his mask and was gone.

In the corridor, a stunned Ren found that he was breathing hard. That in itself was unsettling. He did not know what had just transpired in the holding cell and, not knowing, was left uncertain how to proceed. He was spared further bewilderment when a trooper appeared, coming toward him. Straightening, Ren gathered himself.

The trooper halted. His evident discomfort at having to speak to Ren bolstered his superior's shaken persona.

"Sir! The Supreme Leader has requested your presence."

Ren nodded and headed off in the necessary direction, accompanied by the trooper. The latter did not pay attention when the tall figure he was escorting looked back over his shoulder.

In the holding cell, Rey relaxed against the platform. That she could relax at all was significant in itself. Something of great consequence had just taken place. How and what, she did not know. Even in her present situation she felt encouraged, though why that should be she was still uncertain. One thing was clear.

She was going to be given time to contemplate it.'

-The Force Awakens,

Alan Dean Foster

So many yummy tidbits in here, where oh where to begin! How about with the sentence I originally had in mind... like I said, this one has always been a bit of a mystery for me, but when taken in context of what's happening around it, we can perhaps glean exactly what it means. Here's what I'm referring to:

'Ah, he thought to himself. Something there, of interest. Not the image of the map. That would take another moment. But definitely something worth investigating. He shifted his perception toward it, seeking to identify, to analyze, to —

The barrier he encountered stopped him cold.'

I've always wondered what it was in her mind that drew his obvious interest, which he himself didn't understand and wanted to know. I thought at first it had something to do with her past, but from Daisy's comments, (as well as Pablo, JJ, and Rian's) it would seem her past is not really important, or at least, not vital to the storyline. Maz also tells us this, and as our wise old yoda figure, I'm going to take her words at face value: Rey's past is behind her, let's move on from there.

I think it's common knowledge now that there is a connection between Kylo and Rey. We even have a good idea of what that connection is,

-Kylo and Rey are two halves of our protagonist.... They are two halves of the dark and the light. -Rian Johnson

Official LF art by Brandon Kenney Titled, 'Call to the Light'

Two halves equal One whole. One is incomplete without the Other. Fate rests on their shoulders, equally. Their destiny is coming together to fulfill the purpose required of them. They can not fulfill their calling alone. They are equals who will also compliment one another. They quite literally need each other.

Understanding this could maybe help us to understand what it is that's caught Kylo's attention:

'Ah, he thought to himself. Something there, of interest. Not the image of the map. That would take another moment. But definitely something worth investigating. He shifted his perception toward it, seeking to identify, to analyze, to —'

What if it's the connection that's between them that he's sensing at this moment?

Rey tells us there's always been something inside of her -and now it's awake. We learn in our first encounter with Snoke that there's been an awakening. This is evidence that Rey was awakened before the interrogation scene. (Side note: this would explain how Rey could fly the mfalcon so expertly without previous practice; remember her shock about it)? Here is the awakening scene I'm speaking of,

"....There has been an awakening in the Force. Have you felt it?"

Ren nodded. "Yes."

"The elements align, Kylo Ren. You alone are caught in the winds of the storm. Your bond is not just to Vader, but to Skywalker himself. Leia..."

Bond. Connection. Through the Force.

Now let's look at Kylo and Rey's very first meeting on Takodona,

'Having circled her, he moved even closer, peering into her face, her eyes. Then the red lightsaber he held came up: close to her flesh, close enough to cast a red glow on her skin.

"Something." He sounded mystified. "There is something.... Who are you?"

The connection is already there. It's not just the fact that she's a force sensitive. Why would that alone mystify Kylo? It wouldn't. He's been around Force sensitives before. He didn't have a connection with them. There was nothing mysterious there about them. We will see this connection going beyond a normal famile or master/apprentice bond.

Here's Rey's first thought when she sees Kylo,

"It was the nightmare..."

The Force vision comes into focus. A major part of her destiny is standing in front of her. The Force made sure she knew it, or is at least trying to inform her of it. That Kylo is a part of her destiny, and he hers, is certain. The question that immediately follows then is, Why?

The Force is clearly drawing these two together, for a specific purpose: to bring balance. Ah, one of the main themes of Star Wars: Balance. Snoke and his radical ways upset that balance, and Kylo as his apprentice is also a part of that upset. They must be stopped. So here we are, Rey is chosen and called (yes I said chosen). She has a specific purpose: Answer the call to your destiny and Restore the balance. BUT Kylo is the Skywalker of this trilogy. Not Rey. This story is just as much his as it is hers. He has his own destiny to fulfill, and he will meet Rey in the middle, with his other half, in perfect harmony. (And I'm not even getting into the underlying romance all this implies at the moment, I'm merely stating the bare platonic facts).

Now let's go back to the original passage. I love this, because immediately we find that Kylo Ren has met his match.

-"Where the strength came from to defy him she did not know, but if anything, her voice grew a little stronger. "I'm not giving you anything."

-'She met his stare without trying to look away. She should have looked away. It would have been the rational thing to do. The sane thing to do. Instead she just glared, trying not to flinch, to blink.'

-'The barrier he encountered stopped him cold. And it was he, Kylo Ren, who blinked.'

-'His hand pulled away from her cheek as if her skin had suddenly turned white-hot. Confused, rattled, he stumbled back from her. Her gaze followed him.'

-'In the corridor, a stunned Ren found that he was breathing hard. That in itself was unsettling. He did not know what had just transpired in the holding cell and, not knowing, was left uncertain how to proceed. He was spared further bewilderment when a trooper appeared, coming toward him. Straightening, Ren gathered himself.'

Kylo Ren is not just flustered by her. He's completely and utterly thrown off his game. Rey is different from anyone he's ever encountered, including any other person with the Force. She is unique, but not one of a kind. We are looking at two of a kind: Reylo, in its barest form, without going into subtext or parallels. Look at how drawn he is to her:

'The latter (trooper) did not pay attention when the tall figure he was escorting looked back over his shoulder.'

LMAO !!! Guys, that is truly hilarious! He is so unequivocally drawn to her he looks back over his shoulder!! That he's shocked and rattled is clear, but I'd also add curious to that mix. She's completely knocked him for a loop, mystified him from their very first encounter, and possibly even before that. The famous lines "you've bewitched me body and soul" immediately comes to my mind. Or even more dramatically "If I am the phantom, it is because man's hatred has made me so. If I am to be saved it is because your love redeems me." LOL! And though I do realize this isn't about physical attraction to her, but a mystical attraction through the Force, it appears to me only a matter of time before the latter evolves into the former as a natural progression of the story. And you can bet your bubbles Daisy and Adam had a chemistry reading, one LF/Disney is guarding with their life right now - for good reason.

What is extremely important to note in this whole passage is that Rey emerges the victor of their exchange. Yes, she's strapped down. Yes, she's afraid. Yes, she's even shed some tears. But all of that is overridden by the fact that she defies him openly with her words, meets his stare head on with an unblinking glare, succeeds on entering his mind while he fails to enter hers, exposes what must be one of his deepest secrets, leaves him confused, rattled and bewildered -while she herself ends up oddly relaxed and encouraged. Rey is the stronger one in this moment. Another interesting occurrence during their exchange is this line,

'Her eyes were the same, but something else had changed —something behind them, in her stare and in her posture.' Something changed here. She becomes calm now, staring him down. Did she become 'one with the Force' here? Was a Force bond fully tied at this moment? It's too soon to say exactly, but what is sure is he has met his match. Their connection is unlike anyone else, not just because the Force wills it that way, but because she's rising to that calling, even though she doesn't realize it yet.

This connection will not end with Kylo. Rey herself feels something there, but having no real knowledge of the Force it is even more confusing for her. Later during the snow battle, Kylo has an important revelation, coming to the realization that the Force awakening has to do with Rey. He's beginning to understand, at least to some small degree. We've only just glimpsed Rey's turmoil in TLJ trailer. It will be exciting to see how these two disparate pieces finally come together as One Whole.

Official LF art by Matt Busch