video: un; just.rey (set after the Palpatine plot)

[makesrocksfloat]

[Someone has been having a month. technically two. so she looks almost combative when she asks]

Right, apparently I--me--some version of me has been here before.

I'm asking who knew me, what they knew about me, and if they want to keep knowing me.

[private to Kylo Ren]

Did you know?

Comments

[Video] un: QueenCobra

[abornfighter]

Hey. We weren't super close, but we were on friendly terms. My name is Tory Nichols.

[makesrocksfloat]

I'll take friendly. I...think I'm gonna need all of the friends I can get. [part of her aches, knowing Finn isn't here, not knowing what became of her friend after she left] Is this place always so weird?

Video: UN - Runeseeker

[onerthes]

So... I don't think you and I have spoken, not before nor currently? [She was pretty sure that she'd seen Rey around the network before, but been busy at the time.]

I am quite fine continuing to know you. In truth, I've had several friends who did not remember the first time they were here. [Ahem...] Actually, my wife and I dated the first time, and the second time that she was here.

It's not easy, is it? To not know what a "you" that is not you might have gone through before.

[makesrocksfloat]

Several? [she sounds aghast] So this is a thing? A common thing? And was she back a third time?

No, it's not. I feel like eyes are following me everywhere, like I'm gonna explode the second they take their eyes off.

[onerthes]

I would not call it common, but it happens often enough that we get accustomed to the possibility. Sometimes... our relationships are very different the second time around, which can be painful.

[She dragged her fingers through her hair and glanced away. Honestly, she was a little uncomfortable, but she'd brought it up.]

Minako is still gone. And perhaps she will be back, perhaps not.

Try not to think of it that way. We can all feel a bit like people's eyes are always on us, but that is the paranoia that can be bred in Trench naturally. I have not heard your name spoken of ill by any.

[makesrocksfloat]

[not thinking about Ben Kylo Ren, not thinking about Ben Kylo Ren. nope. no siree! not her! at all! ever!

which she knows is bullshit because she is thinking about him and wondering how close he was to the the other her]

Oh. Well, I hope she comes back. You must be lonely.

So I'm safe? Safe as I can get?

[onerthes]

...

[She breathed in slowly and then sighed, a long drawn out one.]

She disappeared six months ago. I am lonely... to an extent, but when I did not see the squids this month, I accepted that I might never see her again. I love her, but I will be able to continue. I know she's safe. That's what matters to me. [Not entirely true, but close enough.] I am not willing to live my life pining for her forever. I just am not as good as the Doorway in this.

Safe? Oh! [She nodded] You are as safe as you can be in this town. Nobody is thinking ill of you, I should think, just because you were here before. You are simply one more of us. And to that point? I am Vira-Lorr. It is nice to meet you, miss.

< ren >

[dyaddyissues]

You're going to need to be more specific than that. I am not aware of what it is that you I assume I know.

[makesrocksfloat]

[no.

no no no no no no no.

if they're going to have this conversation, he needs to face her.

so no text, only video.

her eyes are bloodshot and red-rimmed, as though she hasn't gotten a decent night's sleep in days, her skin pallid beneath its constant tan]

Did you know about my--my--Palpatine? [her voice threatens to break but never does]

[dyaddyissues]

[ Kylo frowns, brow furrowed. Tries to keep the confusion and visible concern under a mask of cool collected confidence but he's probably failing at that. Especially when Palpatine is brought up. Palpatine.

Why does it always go back to him? What was he, and what about him upset her? ]

No. Whatever it is you think I know about the Emperor, I don't.

[makesrocksfloat]

[he is in fact failing at that. and there's a part of her that she doesn't want to acknowledge that appreciates his concern more than she can say.

what about him didn't upset her?

she swallows hard several times as though she's trying to swallow a boulder made up of revelations and guilt.

but she can sense that he's telling the truth. that helps more than she wants to admit]

...he got a girl here killed, did you know that? He'd buried himself so deep in her mind that killing her was the only thing that could be done.

[which she feels intensely guilty about]

Video; UN: Filledwithsunshine

[onebadapple]

Why hello there! I believe I have all your Porgs! Well, most of your porgs, anyway. Did you want them back or is it alright for me to keep them?

[makesrocksfloat]

[guess who feels awkward?

this girl]

The...other me had porgs?

I guess that makes sense. They're cute. Maybe we could, uh, split custody of them? If the other me cared enough about the porgs, I want to too.

[onebadapple]

Quite a few! But don't worry! Kylo made sure they were all taken care of when you left! He's very sweet like that!

And whatever you would like! I don't mind giving them all back or keeping half or keeping all. Whatever makes you the most comfortable!

[makesrocksfloat]

Oh. Well. I'm glad to hear that. [if she had porgs and he took care of making sure they went to a good home, doesn't that mean that he...likes her? the thought is heady and sweet, like drinking the finest wine the Resistance was able to get its hands on] He is. Sweet. [he killed Snoke for her. he couldn't bring himself to kill or hurt her, so he killed Snoke instead]

I--I'd like half back. Porgs are...awfully cute. [and they remind her of Ahch-To, their bond, his bare fingers touching hers through space]

[onebadapple]

Half it is! That won't be a problem at all! When would you like to pick them up? Or I can bring them to you?

Video; UN: Cuddlebunny (you get both)

[lightthedarkness]

[Usagi waves.]

Well, we didn't really know each other very well, but uh, I'm good [Friends? Yeah, friends.] friends with Kylo Ren. [And she is absolutely aware of his massive crush on you, Rey.]

Whoo-hoo! 😁

[makesrocksfloat]

[Rey waves awkwardly back]

You are? He has friends? [part of her is relieved and part of hers is...ridiculously jealous. he's hers. isn't he?]

I don't want him to be alone. [the truth] What is it like, being friends with him?

[lightthedarkness]

Well, I don't know that he would use the word "friend" but I use the word.

He's secretly very sweet and doesn't want people to know it. I don't think he really realizes he is, either. But he's considerate, very blunt.

But I mean, there's nothing stopping you from being his friend HERE, right? So you could also find out. [Usagi is, not so subtlety, trying to play matchmaker.]

[makesrocksfloat]

[that earns a small smile] He's not exactly easy to get to know.

[hello, Force bonds kicking in seemingly at random. like the time he wasn't wearing a shirt.

great, and now she's blushing and she knows exactly why]

He is...both of those things. Caring, but afraid to show it. And, I don't know. It depends on the situation. Then, I think he knows. [and a small laugh] And he's definitely very blunt. [then again, so is she]

No, there's nothing stopping me. [other than an ocean of hopes and fears, regrets and reminisces. the touch of fingertips, unlike anything she'd ever felt before or since.

good, they could use every bit of help in the galaxy to get over themselves and try being happy]

[lightthedarkness]

Then, if there's nothing stopping you, Rey-chan, you can be his friend too. I bet he'd really like that, honestly. [Does Usagi know how Kylo feels about Rey? Yes, she absolutely does. Is she using that to her advantage? Also, yes.]

Why don't the three of us go have lunch together! [And Usagi will be even later than she usually is~]

Video; un: darkness

[survivalthroughhate]

I did. I had planned to tell you– the other version of you– what I knew about your past before she returned to the ocean. It’s not the first time I’ve seen someone return and then have another version of themselves show up quickly.

private

[makesrocksfloat]

How much...did the other me know? Did she know she was [she seems to choke on the words] Palpatine's granddaughter?

[survivalthroughhate]

No. I had only just learned the full truth and planned to tell her right before she went back to the sea.

[makesrocksfloat]

...oh. So I'm the lucky me to find out. I hope any others never do.