You'd be surprised. [ Not that that would have stopped him from trying anyway, probably. ]
Thought about it. [ Water this clear, this blue, was always welcoming, but especially in this heat. But it's a new planet which means new and exciting things lying in wait to kill him, probably. ]
But I figured there's always next time. Maybe I'll come back when the beach isn't so crowded.
I'm not quite used to the large crowds, either. Where I — [ grew up, she means to say, but instead chooses to word it differently ] — came from, I'm more used to being alone. I like being surrounded by so many, but it takes some getting used to.
Sounds rough. [ There's a sorrow to her, he notes, when she speaks of her previous home. The kind of sadness that hangs with a weight — sharp and briny like unshed tears. ]
Well, we've just met. I'm sure this will turn into an awesome friendship.
[ But that's enough for words. The Exile channels the Force, imbuing herself with it before darting at Rey. Literally whoosing towards her opponent, delivering a singular overhead strike. It's a bit obvious, but very, very fast. ]
[ rey brings up her staff almost immediately, catching the downward strike of the woman's blade — but just barely. she can feel the impact of the force behind the attack. ]
— You have a strange way of making friends! [ and she swings the quarterstaff around afterward, aiming for a strike of her own. ]
[ In her hands, the stick is a blur that comes from every direction. Sticking to Form II allows the Exile to easily attack and block, the length of Rey's quarterstaff making it so she can see the attack coming with relative ease. She does note the girl hits hard.
Still, the Exile gives her no respite. She attacks relentlessly, but also with far less vice than she generally would.
[ even as the attack comes hard and fast, she can't help but wonder if this woman is holding back, somehow. the force radiates off of her in waves; she has to be more powerful than this.
even so, rey returns the blows, maneuvering out of the exile's way to give herself a moment of respite. ]
If you're a Force-user, and you know of the Jedi, you must have been one of his trainees, long ago. [ a brief pause, as she catches her breath. ] Luke Skywalker's.
[ flying is definitely something rey will not only take him up on — not only that, but she'll probably end up wheedling him into flying on her own.
at his rationale, that they can return later to observe the sleepers waking from their pods if they do, she nods, placated. even so, she fidgets somewhat distractedly with her hands as they stand together on the transporter pad. ] I suppose part of our responsibility here is to work and generate income, as they've instructed us to do. Have you found means to do that?
[ if she wheedles, he'll probably let her fly. he loves flying, but it's a love that isn't limited or greedy. so long as he still gets to fly, he's happy to share. worst case scenario, they'll just need to take out two suits in the future. ]
Yeah, I found a job. Bartender at a place called Shades Darker.
[ he's not ashamed of working at a brothel, so a moment later, he shrugs. ] It's in the red light district.
[ poe may not be ashamed of his line of work, but rey's eyes go wide and her voice lowers to a conspiratorial whisper. ]
The red light district? [ she knows enough about what that is from her years at niima outpost; the hutts ran a few cantinas and brothels to serve the scavengers and off-world traders who could afford them. ] Is it safe?
Yeah. [ poe grins a little at her wide-eyed look, but the answer (to both of her questions, really) is still serious. ] I think sometimes there's shady stuff going down, but so far, no one's ever bothered anyone who didn't want to be bothered as far as I can see.
[ his grin softens a little. ] I could show you?
[ it is safe, he figures, but — she's young and she hasn't really seen a lot of worlds and he's only just found her again. maybe he doesn't want to let her out of his sights just yet. ]
[ that's not a bad thing. that's the opposite of a bad thing. ]
I have a small place near the bar. [ "bar". near the brothel, at the edge of the red light district. ] Do you have a place yet? No, of course you don't, you haven't been on the planet yet.
[ she looks at him in wonder, mouth gaping in surprise before she carefully closes it and composes herself, somewhat. rey wears all of her emotions on her bare shoulders, and her eyes are still wide and full of heartfelt gratitude when she answers him. ]
I'd like that. Very much. But...are you sure I wouldn't be a hindrance to you?
[ he doesn't know her well, but finn knows her. finn likes her a great deal, and poe trusts finn's judgment, even though he hasn't known finn for very long, either.
besides, she's a link to the galaxy they've both lost.
and when she looks at him like that, there's really only one thing to do: move in for another hug. ]
[ she has a hesitant smile this time over his shoulder, as he embraces her again. suddenly every tense, suspicion-laden moment here in this place is forgotten, in the wake of poe's kindness — she's no longer alone. he most likely has no idea how much that means to her. ]
We'll be there when the rest of them wake up, but...until then, at least we have one another, here.
[ talking about her feelings is not quite her strong point, but she manages to turn her head to murmur it against his neck: ] Thank you.
[ it means a lot to him, too. not the same thing, of course — poe hasn't been alone in the same way rey has been. it's different for him: he's used to being surrounded by people he knows, that he trusts. poe has always been part of communities. that's been ripped from him here, and rey's presence goes some way to regaining it.
it's not the same, but he thinks he understands at least some of it. ]
[ rey pulls back from his embrace after a long moment, reining herself in somewhat sheepishly — this is a demonstration she doesn't often make, letting herself be hugged and coddled like this. it's only happened to her once or twice before, but it's both heartening and disconcerting how much easier it is each time to do so.
she gives poe another tentative smile, still holding onto one of his hands as she blinks up at the transporter light above them, before back to him. ] So how does this work? It's like a bright light, and then when we open our eyes we're down on the planet?
I don't really know the technology behind it. But minus the bright light, yeah. It's instant. In the beginning it can be a bit disorienting. Or make you nauseous.
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for david.
I'm thankful you were in the boat and not diving with the rest of them. [ come to think of it — ]
Why were you? Not diving?
no subject
Thought about it. [ Water this clear, this blue, was always welcoming, but especially in this heat. But it's a new planet which means new and exciting things lying in wait to kill him, probably. ]
But I figured there's always next time. Maybe I'll come back when the beach isn't so crowded.
no subject
I'm not quite used to the large crowds, either. Where I — [ grew up, she means to say, but instead chooses to word it differently ] — came from, I'm more used to being alone. I like being surrounded by so many, but it takes some getting used to.
no subject
I guess we've both got some adjusting to do.
for exile.
[ now she does bristle at the comment that she knows less than expected. ]
— I don't know you. I certainly don't answer to you, either, and I have nothing to prove where you are concerned. [ the quarterstaff comes up again. ]
So if you want me to swing my stick at you, come at me.
no subject
[ But that's enough for words. The Exile channels the Force, imbuing herself with it before darting at Rey. Literally whoosing towards her opponent, delivering a singular overhead strike. It's a bit obvious, but very, very fast. ]
no subject
— You have a strange way of making friends! [ and she swings the quarterstaff around afterward, aiming for a strike of her own. ]
no subject
[ In her hands, the stick is a blur that comes from every direction. Sticking to Form II allows the Exile to easily attack and block, the length of Rey's quarterstaff making it so she can see the attack coming with relative ease. She does note the girl hits hard.
Still, the Exile gives her no respite. She attacks relentlessly, but also with far less vice than she generally would.
She is testing her, and Rey might realize that. ]
no subject
even so, rey returns the blows, maneuvering out of the exile's way to give herself a moment of respite. ]
If you're a Force-user, and you know of the Jedi, you must have been one of his trainees, long ago. [ a brief pause, as she catches her breath. ] Luke Skywalker's.
for poe.
[ flying is definitely something rey will not only take him up on — not only that, but she'll probably end up wheedling him into flying on her own.
at his rationale, that they can return later to observe the sleepers waking from their pods if they do, she nods, placated. even so, she fidgets somewhat distractedly with her hands as they stand together on the transporter pad. ] I suppose part of our responsibility here is to work and generate income, as they've instructed us to do. Have you found means to do that?
no subject
Yeah, I found a job. Bartender at a place called Shades Darker.
[ he's not ashamed of working at a brothel, so a moment later, he shrugs. ] It's in the red light district.
no subject
The red light district? [ she knows enough about what that is from her years at niima outpost; the hutts ran a few cantinas and brothels to serve the scavengers and off-world traders who could afford them. ] Is it safe?
[ and for her next question: ]
— Can I see it?
no subject
[ his grin softens a little. ] I could show you?
[ it is safe, he figures, but — she's young and she hasn't really seen a lot of worlds and he's only just found her again. maybe he doesn't want to let her out of his sights just yet. ]
no subject
I promise not to get in your way if you take me there to watch you tend the bar. Do I get to try one of your drinks?
no subject
[ which is an invitation to come by as often as she likes, really. ]
no subject
Where are you staying? — Permanent residence, I mean.
no subject
I have a small place near the bar. [ "bar". near the brothel, at the edge of the red light district. ] Do you have a place yet? No, of course you don't, you haven't been on the planet yet.
[ which— ] You can crash with me, if you want.
no subject
I'd like that. Very much. But...are you sure I wouldn't be a hindrance to you?
no subject
[ he doesn't know her well, but finn knows her. finn likes her a great deal, and poe trusts finn's judgment, even though he hasn't known finn for very long, either.
besides, she's a link to the galaxy they've both lost.
and when she looks at him like that, there's really only one thing to do: move in for another hug. ]
no subject
We'll be there when the rest of them wake up, but...until then, at least we have one another, here.
[ talking about her feelings is not quite her strong point, but she manages to turn her head to murmur it against his neck: ] Thank you.
no subject
it's not the same, but he thinks he understands at least some of it. ]
Hey. Of course.
no subject
she gives poe another tentative smile, still holding onto one of his hands as she blinks up at the transporter light above them, before back to him. ] So how does this work? It's like a bright light, and then when we open our eyes we're down on the planet?
[ a shuttle seems much safer, tbh. ]
no subject
[ fair warning. ]