Continue to grow and change [open]

[talentedscavenger]

who: Rey and YOU, and various peoples.
what: Catch all thread for January
when: Throughout January
where: Around various places
warnings: None, will update as needed.



A) Studying and no play makes Jill a dull girl: OTA

Ever since Rey was given a small book on the Force by Ren, she had been pouring over its pages. To anyone else, being given a book by an enemy (could he really be called that at this point?) would scream 'trap.' Ren had only done this because he was trying to get on her good side, but he wasn't. From how he acted when he visited her at the hospital, he came with neutral (or dare she say good?) intentions. She had been pouring over the book itself, a simple notebook with no title or name of an author to give away who wrote it or what it was about. She handled each page with care, reading and rereading what she could about the Force; what it was, and how it was used. This had been more information than she could've expected from him...and he didn't once ask her to join his side, or let him be her teacher.

To put into practice what Rey was learning, some people might find her meditating out in the park. She was trying to connect to the Force, to feel its presence and open herself more to it. Maybe even try to use the Force in a subtle way to make small pebbles move across the dirt. Rey wasn't ready to let others know what she was doing, or what she could do. There's something of a peaceful look on her face as she meditates. Her stuff is nearby and the notebook is settled on her lap in case she needs it.

B) Sleepover: For Marco and those who live in Marco's place before the glow ball.

Rey had come to Marco's place to hang out with him to see if they could actually sleep with the new incense she purchased. Maybe a peaceful night's sleep would be within reach. It would be needed as tomorrow they would be shopping for a dress for her and the stupid ball. It would be a big step outside of her comfort zone, but it was good to try new things, right? Besides, Rey had been wanting to spend more time with Marco since they became friends, especially after learning how much common they had.

She came with over a small bag, the strap hung over her shoulder. A change of clothes for tomorrow, her pajamas, Luke's lightsaber safely tucked at the bottom of her bag, the incense itself, and her comm device in case anyone needed to get a hold of her. She was used to sleeping in the same room as Poe and Finn, so this would be an interesting change of pace.

C) Shop till you drop: Lola.

"Is this really necessary?" Rey asked as she waited for Lola to finish getting ready. They had agreed to meet at Marco's place before Lola took Rey out to look for new clothes for her--really, she continued to insist that she needed more than one outfit, which sounded so weird to Rey. However, during the ball Lola had a few points: such as needing more pairs of shoes for different things and having spares wouldn't be bad. They had bonded during the night where they had make up one their faces and pretty gowns. And Lola convinced Rey to expand her wardrobe.

Well...hopefully it wouldn't take long. Rey wasn't a picky person. Her clothing tastes were more on the simple side, and if it was comfortable, then all the better. Surely, this wouldn't take too long...and surely, this wouldn't be a bad experience, right?

D) Was it really a dream: Kylo Ren

Laughter. Smiles. Jokes and teasings that made her heart race. Bubbles that tickled her nose, dark eyes that she couldn't look away from, and a kiss to soft skin. The images and memories of the night after were all a blur in Rey's mind. Her head was aching, a side effect from drinking too much and not taking in enough water. She was in a bed that didn't feel like her own, and a body that was too tall to be Finn...or Marco's. There was the faint scent of cologne that made her feel warm, and made her hug the body next to her. She shifted slightly and heard the faint rustle of material, her dress. Yes, she was still in her dress, but her hair was down now, fanned out over the pillow and brushed over her shoulders.

Opening her eyes, she could faintly make out the person who she was holding. It came back to her then, the jokes and quips she exchanged with him. How he looked at her and didn't automatically tell her how different she looked. Surprise nor shock came over his face, and he spoke to her...like they were friends. Rey should be retreating from him, pulling away and making her way back to the floor and room she shared with Poe and Finn...but instead she closed her eyes again and murmured, "Go back to sleep, Ben."

E) Wild Card: OTA

Want to do something else? GO FOR IT! Want to plot for something else? Feel free to PM me, or use plurk: riamix.

Comments

[threatenwithcuteness]

"Oh hush. Yes, it is." Lola was not busy on her look as one might expect, she was checking her research on shops. Looking at what they advertised to try and select what she could try to talk Rey into trying on, and what was a little too far for the desert born scavenger to handle. Remarkably, Lola's fairly... tame, color wise, her hair is a much darker blue than normal and her overall outfit is lacking her usual brightness to it. Something sedate, by her terms anyway.

"Now, while we walk to the first store tell me what you like and I'll use that to figure out what you need in the way of clothes." She's very polite about her strongarming Rey into a new wardrobe.

[talentedscavenger]

"I have the clothes I need, and you already said I couldn't double up on what I already have." One of the terms in their little outing. Rey was trying to keep an open mind about things, however, for someone who wasn't used to clothing that could be worn to express one's self, it was still such a foreign concept for her.

"I like something light weight. Something that's either white or beige, or green or blue--not bright just darker tones. And...no heels."

There, was that better?

[threatenwithcuteness]

"You have the barest minimum of what someone needs. You can do better here," Lola's pretty sure that she'd have better luck getting Keith to wear yellow. But she's never backed from a challenge. She nods at the notes, they do help.

"I'm going to guess if I asked if you liked floral prints you're going to make a face at me?" Lola picks up her purse and heads toward the door, "And I figured boots or sneakers would be more you. Sneakers are practical, and boots can look really good but you'll be happy with how good they are for kicking people really hard."

Lola tries to play to her audience.

[talentedscavenger]

"I'm doing just fine--no need for better." Except when it came to maybe battle armor, but she didn't need any of that stuff. At least that's what Rey thinks.

And too late, Rey was already making a face at Lola when she mentioned floral patterns.

"Nothing with a pattern. I don't want to look like some overgrown flower or...tree." She quieted down for a moment, recalling her...behavior with Ren when they left the ball. How she called him a tree and that his arms were branches...

But back to the topic at hand.

"I know what boots are, and yes they're good for kicking someone. Sneakers? I've never heard of them, but you said they're practical so I'll give it a shot."

[threatenwithcuteness]

"There is always a need for better!" Lola is horrified at the idea of settling. Stop making Lola horrified. She noticed there was something to do with that call out against patterns, but Lola isn't sure what and doesn't really need to get into it. "Right, no patterns, so I picked the right place to start. Simple clothes, good quality, good for layering and mixing together. We can try out patterns once you've gotten used to the idea of a wardrobe."

Lola's pace is brisk, she wants to get things going before Rey tries to escape. "Oh, sneakers are meant for running, less support and less durable than boots but really comfortable for wandering around town."

[talentedscavenger]

Rey can't help it! A lot of the things she's used to would make anyone horrified or upset. Rey is just numb to it. It doesn't bother her. And really, the idea of 'better' is subjective. The bruentte couldn't help but roll her eyes a little hearing they would try patterns later...whatever, this was better than having Lola just shove clothes at her and demand she try them on. At least the blue haired girl was listening--or at least Rey hoped shew as listening to her.

"Fine..." she huffed, continuing to follow the petite girl.

"Oh...okay, then I might try sneakers." Being comfortable was fine, and if they were great for running even better..but boots would probably be the best out of the two.

A

[angelic_archer]

His outings to the park had become a habit. Sometimes he went to one of the quiet areas near Lux, but other times he went to the one that Rey seemed to prefer. Noticing her meditating, Alec almost headed the other direction, but he sat down across from her, far enough away that he hoped he wouldn't disturb her. He was about to close his eyes to practice his own meditations when he thought he saw something move. Living with a sneaky cat and neakier warlock and siblings made him more aware of things that were slightly off compared to normal. Mentally shrugging it off as something Rey would tell him when she was ready, he closed his eyes and let out a slow breath the way he'd been taught during his childhood lessons. She would notice him when she was finished with her meditation. There was no reason to interrupt her when she had found her focus.

[talentedscavenger]

Rey felt a shift in the area, feeling someone come close to her, but didn't exactly disturb her meditation. However, she had to stop what she was doing. The rocks suddenly stopped moving and Rey slowly brought herself out of her meditative state. Opening her eyes, she wasn't too surprised to see it was Alec. It seemed like whenever she was out here, she'd run into him. Though, now she was concerned about what he may or may not have seen. There were very few people who knew about her abilities.

"Hey," she greeted, uncrossing her legs and moved to put away the lesson book away in her bag.

"Out to clear your head?"

[angelic_archer]

He wasn't sure how much time had passed since he'd sat down or since he'd seen something happen with the rocks, but it had been long enough to clear his mind of the confining thoughts that had drawn him outside. Blinking as he focused on Rey, he stretched his arms over his head, trying to get the some of the stiffness out of his back.

"Hi." He ignored his curiosity about the book, knowing Rey would tell him about it if she wanted him to know. "Yeah. Sometimes it's too busy at the apartment to meditate. You have the same problem at your place?"

[talentedscavenger]

There weren't too many people who knew about her abilities. Finn, and Poe knew, and so did Cisco. As much as Alec had told her about his world and what his family could do, she didn't want to share just yet. Not when she was finally improving a little. She felt it; the Force, life growing, and decaying. Death gives way for new life and the cycle continued to go on and on. It was a step in the right direction, and more than what she was expecting.

And meditation, it did help clear her mind. It helped to bring things into perspective.

"Sort of? It's easier to be outside to meditate rather than staying indoors." Especially after staying inside for so many days because of her illness. She was happy to get out whenever she could.

option A

[protectingthelight]

One day in the park, Rey might find one of the nicer meditation spots already occupied when she arrives. Amilyn Holdo is trying some meditation exercises she learned as a girl on Gatalenta—calming, centering rituals that she used to scoff at, but now wishes she'd paid more attention to.

It's not really working. It's always been hard for her to settle her active mind, and now there is so much more crowding at it. She opens her eyes with a frustrated sigh, and pinches the bridge of her nose.

[talentedscavenger]

It was surprising to see someone in the same spot Rey usually went to, but it didn't bother her. The park was a nice area to walk through, sit by, and meditate. Rey was going to sit somewhere else when she heard that sigh and found herself peering at the other woman.

"Something wrong?" she asked, her staff on one shoulder, a small bag slung on the other, and in her arms a small notebook that Ben gave her.

[protectingthelight]

Amilyn rubbed the back of her neck and looked up at the girl. "An overly busy mind," she said dryly. She rolled her shoulders and sat back. "I'm not in your way, am I?"

[talentedscavenger]

"No, you're not. I wasn't expecting to find anyone here." Because most people were working or just passing by. Not too many actually stopped to meditate, or at least from what she noticed. Rey moved to sit across from the woman, placing her staff and other bag down.

"If meditation doesn't work, you could try running, something physical can help quite the mind."

[protectingthelight]

"Running's never been to my taste. When I was a girl, I learned 'skyfaring'—it's an art on my home planet. I suppose you could call it acrobatics—traditionally done with long pieces of fabric hung from the ceiling." A sad little smile. "I'm out of practice. And I'm not sure I can find the supplies here."

D

[killthepast]

Well.

At least he'd managed to get one boot off before falling asleep. But just one. Other than that, Kylo's still fully dressed, lying on his side, with another body warm against his back, arms wrapped around his middle.

That's right, Kylo Ren is currently the little spoon.

It had been a night of the unexpected. No explosive arguments or fighting, just conversation, drinks, and laughter, leading to a walk home and a press of lips together under the stars... followed by him lifting Rey up, carrying her to his room (stumbling) for more kisses in the dark. And then they fell asleep in each other's arms. Nothing more. He'd kissed others before, before he was Kylo Ren, and like those past experiences, this didn't go anywhere below the collarbone.

It was all rather innocent, all things considered. And now here they are, the morning after, with reality pending just outside his door. For once, he wouldn't mind staying inside and just being Ben Solo for a little bit longer.

He opens his mouth to retort, then groans and buries his face in his pillow with a groan.

"Mmph."

The dreaded hangover.

[talentedscavenger]

Rey managed to get both of her shoes off. They were somewhere around his room, and later, she could find them. Right now, Rey wanted to sleep away the headache that was pounding behind her eyes. She was comfortable. She was content. She was...happy? Was that the word that could really describe it? When she slept over at Marco's, she didn't wake up feeling this way (excluding the hangover), but she felt safe...warm.

The kisses they shared don't immediately enter her mind, rather, she was more focused on keep her arms wrapped around Ben and pressed her forehead into his shoulder. If she could recall more of those kisses, she would remember how exciting it had been, how her heart sped up, and how she was unsure if she should have another. Her lips were pressed against his for a brief moment, and then on his cheek...but it's all a mess in her mind thanks to the hangover.

Rey shifted a little, readjusting her hold on him, but not daring to let go. Her head tipped up a little, his hair tickling her nose.

"...go back to sleep, Ben.." Rey murmured against his back, her hand moving slightly to intertwine her fingers with his. Later, they could deal with the reality of their situation. Later, their hangover won't be so bad. Later...they could pretend those kisses didn't happen, or recall what felt so right about them.

[killthepast]

For once, he feels... at peace. Not that this has in any way resolved the conflict within him. His problems are still present, will still need to be faced one day, but for now, they're quiet. Instead, he can feel Rey against his body, and around him, and in the Force, and that's actually got him smiling a little into his pillow.

"You go back to sleep," is his retort, delivered without any bite as he looks back over his shoulder at Rey. He gives her hand a little squeeze, relaxed, because it's somewhat difficult to go back to being physically distant after making out and falling asleep while cuddling...

[talentedscavenger]

If Rey could see him smiling, it might melt her heart. It might make her think he's coming away from the dark and able to meet her in the middle. Or maybe he has, considering their night last night. How he picked her up, how they continued to tease and joke around with one another...and the number of times they kissed.

There's a soft huff of a laugh from Rey, seeing Ben's face as he looks over at her. She pulls back a little, giving him more room if he wanted to fully roll over or not. Her eyes take in his face and wondered why the words 'handsome' and 'cute' seem to pop into her head.

"I'm trying to," she softly huffs back at him, leaning forward a little to press a light kiss to his forehead before curling up against him again. "..Stop moving."

[killthepast]

Oh no, his commitment to the Dark Side is the same as ever. If anything, Ren's probably thinking about how great it will be when Rey joins him in the darkness, and then they have little Dark Side babies, and--

Okay, he hasn't gone that far yet. But he is rolling over to face her, and there's that smile again, brought out by Rey's laughter. He lets out a huff of a laugh, himself, stopping only when Rey's kiss startles him into silence. He stares at her, from her eyes, down to her nose, and her lips, and then he goes for it, pressing his lips to hers.

"Okay. I'll stop moving." A little ghost of a smile lingers at the corner of his mouth.

[brightline]

[Marco has always been a bit of a night owl - what can he say, he likes to sleep in and stay up late, and after how many times he lost sleep during his teen years because of the war, he likes to avoid alarm clocks as often as possible. All those times he'd collapsed into bed after a night of terrifying, brutal battle only to have his alarm go of half an hour later have permanently scarred him.

So at around 10pm, he's just deciding to watch a movie, something funny he hasn't seen before from an alien world he's never heard of, and he's in the kitchen popping popcorn in the microwave, a carton of ice cream in his hand and a spoon hanging out of his mouth. Barefoot and in his pajamas, he punches the button on the microwave as the last few kernels of corn pop, and it's then that he hears the doorbell ring. Furrowing his brows, he pads over to the front door, padding along barefoot, and pulls the door open.

When he sees who's standing there, he raises his brows in surprise.]

Oh. Wow, Rey. What're you doing here? Are you okay?

[talentedscavenger]

[It was impulsive of Rey to simply get up and go to Marco's place. It was also impulsive of her to move out of the shared apartment she had with Finn and Poe...but considering how things had gone, she really wasn't making the best decisions. After years of living by herself, when she moved in with her friends, she had gotten used to having someone else in the room.

She missed Finn. She missed Poe...and in trying to bring them together for a plan that she thought would work, it tore them apart. She still hadn't figured out a way to put things back together. How she should apologize. How she should approach either of them. Rey wasn't about to go and tell Ben any of it, or Cisco. She didn't want to bring him in and cause him to choose a side, or risk losing him.

And now, she found herself standing outside of Marco's home, feeling like crap from lack of sleep, and some anxiety over why she was there. If anyone understood lack of sleep, it was him.]

Hey. [There's a weak smile on her face, trying to assure him and herself, that she's fine.]

Yeah, I'm okay. I...[Ruined two great friendships, haven't slept well in days.] I moved, I'm by the river now... [Like he really needed to know that.
There was a pause from her, briefly looking down and then calming herself enough to look back up at her friend.] ...And I find that I can't sleep by myself right now.

[brightline]

[The surprise isn't really that Rey would think to show up here - truth is, Marco had offered for her to crash whenever she wanted, and after they slept in his room before the Glow Ball, he'd made the offer again. It's mostly because he hadn't ever really expected her to take him up on the offer. She's always seemed so self-sufficient, independent, he just hadn't expected something like this.

She looks upset, smiling or not. Shifting to the side, he gestures for her to come inside, closes the door behind her and then leans on it, brows furrowed a little.]

You moved? When?

[He trails off for a moment when she says that she can't sleep by herself. Closing his mouth, Marco smiles a little bit, though it's more of a sympathetic smile than amused.]

Well. I was just about to watch a movie. Want to join me?

[talentedscavenger]

[Rey was self sufficient. She had to be at a young age. But she had come to enjoy the company of other people around her. She had gotten used to crashing on the couch with Finn, or hearing the door open and close when Poe or Finn came home. And even with Ben...she fell asleep to the sound of his heart beating. After years of being isolated, of crying at night for her family, being around others...she was starved for the companionship.

If she was inconveniencing Marco in any way, she would understand if he told her to leave. She had come over unannounced anyway. Instead, he invites her in. She walks into his home, her arms loosely crossed over her chest.]

About a week or two ago.

[It's easy to read the smile as sympathetic. He wouldn't be amused by her situation.]

Yes, I would.

[Being alone with her thoughts isn't the best idea right now. There's a murmur of thanks as she follows him to grab his popcorn and head to his room.]

[brightline]

[Tilting his head, he raises his brows - it's not really a big surprise that she hadn't told him sooner, but at the same time, he's a little surprised. Last he'd heard, she'd been living with her friends from home, and hadn't wanted to crash at his place when he'd offered because of it. Between that and the way she's saying she's not used to sleeping alone, he's kind of wondering about what might've happened.

But he doesn't ask. She'll probably talk about it if she really wants to.]

You should show me your new place sometime if you want.

[Together, they gather up his popcorn and he puts the ice cream back into the freezer. Marco offers her any of the other treats he has tucked into the cupboards in the kitchen, and then they head up to his room together.

It's awkward and nice, at the same time, companionable. It's sort of nice, with Rey he never really feels like he has to keep a constant line of chatter going, like he has to be funny. Most of his jokes go over her head anyway. When they get back to his room, he sits down heavily on the end of his oversized bed, crosses his legs, and looks over at her with a little half-smile.]

What kind of movie do you wanna watch? Action? Adventure? Romance? Comedy?