riverviewlogs | after the rain, comes the rainbow [open]

Entry tags:

after the rain, comes the rainbow [open]

who: Kylo Ren and OPENNN
what: Catch-all, featuring some open prompts from the TDM.
when: The month of April.
where: Here and there
warnings: Nothing yet

i. disaster relief
[ If it weren't for the lingering complications from his gunshot wound to the shoulder, Kylo Ren would be going on river expeditions and fighting giant reptiles and amphibians.

He would be, except Dr. Whale already lectured him and refused to budge the last time he'd demanded medical clearance. Apparently, pushing through pain in an attempt to force his body into recovery had only been making things worse for his arm and shoulder, in the long run.

So he has to take it relatively easy and stick to the prescribed physical therapy exercises until the doctor says otherwise. And that means staying behind as the city floods and tales of giant creatures lurking in the waters spread.

He's never been one to find contentment in sitting around and doing nothing. (Even if the action he tends to take is... you know, the wrong action, at least he's usually doing something.) So, in an attempt to curb feelings of restless agitation, Kylo... actually volunteers for the citywide relief effort. His arm may need time to heal, but he's still strong enough to assist in evacuation efforts, or in the setting up of temporary shelters, or doing any odd task where he can rely on the Force and worry less about hindering his arm's recovery.

Just don't expect him to cook or serve food. He's not feeling that helpful. ]

ii. routines
[ And since he's still stuck on the dreaded Desk Duty at work, Ren's mood-- as he goes about his daily routine-- is even more sour and gloomy than usual. Which is pretty impressive, considering his usual state is miserable enough.

So here's that catch-all prompt for seeing the scowling, overgrown emo kid at the gym (where he's still going to work out and spar as best he can, or go through his physical therapy exercises, if nothing else), or sulking around a coffee shop (don't judge his latte order) with his nose stuck in a journal as he jots notes down. Or at a library. He spends time at libraries, too. And just about anywhere, really. Outside, when it's not raining, because he's taken to communing with the Force out in the park. ]

iii. choose your own adventure
[ And if that last prompt wasn't broad enough, here's the wildcard choose your own adventure option. ]

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[ This morning. Similar enough timing to Ren's, it seems, though he became aware of his own predicament in the middle of the night, when it woke him from his sleep. Which, if Ren seems even less put-together than usual, that would be why. Not that it's easy to tell sometimes.

Hux's questions have him bristling anew, because really! It shouldn't be this complicated-- it wouldn't be this complicated with anyone other than General kriffing Hux. ]

BECAUSE I LIKE THEM
OBVIOUSLY
WHY ELSE WOULD I WANT TO?

[ As if his words weren't unconvincing enough, Ren's too-expressive face surely gives away the fact that there's something deeply troubling him. All he's banking on right now is for Hux to be distracted enough with his own deafness to let it slide. ]

I DON'T HAVE ANYWHERE TO BE.

[ Look, it's not like he works a typical 9-5. His time is his own when he's not traipsing around on a mission! ]

Edited 2018-04-23 14:57 (UTC)

You don't have to be aggressive about it.

[ Scooping the kittens up, he eyes Ren dubiously (something weird is going on, why else would he demand comfort from the cats?) but offers them over. ]

Take them on the floor, I have work to do.

[ At least Ren can feel some small relief when the kittens are deposited into his arms, mewling and squeaking happily. They don't seem to be missing pieces of themselves, at least. But it's still so strange, to touch another creature and... well. That's it. Just touch. No quiet, peaceful connection.

He gives Hux a curt nod, all the same, setting the datapad aside so that he can take this fuzzy bounty down to the floor. He doesn't mind pulling his long legs in a cross-legged position, as the kittens gambol around as if he were a giant playground. Hux can go about his business, and they can ignore each other in peace.

Removing his gloves, Ren starts to dangle one at the kittens, giving them a chance to hone their predatory instincts and kill the glove. He may not feel anything more than his five most basic senses right now, but at least the kittens are some small distraction. Cute and playful, innocent, soft. In time, it's enough to make him relax a bit.

The only problem with relaxation is it makes it harder to ignore just how exhausted he is. Don't fall asleep, don't fall asleep, don't fall asleep... ]

[ It's so odd to share space with Ren after not having been assaulted in some way, the lack of the Force being used puts Hux on edge somehow. As does Ren's foul mood.

What really surprises him is how Snoke's former assassin who slaughtered a ridiculously high number of "problem factors" now sits like a child and teases two harmless kittens when he could be striding around wreaking terror on anyone he pleases, doing anything he wants. Instead he's here, ignoring Hux who pretends to work on schematics and isn't called out for it, immersed in dozily playing tag. He used to seek Snoke's counsel (approval) when he was moody in years gone by, now he isn't appealing to anyone, not even Pierce. Not from what Hux can see right now on his workshop floor, at any rate. Ren looks like shit. He's directionless. Vulnerable? Moreover, why didn't he just look inside Hux's head and glean the reason for his confusion earlier? He never shows the slightest hesitation when it comes to rudely stomping around in another's head.

He lacks an anchor. ]

Stay there. [ It's a murmur as Hux gets up to leave, not bothering with his coat or satchel. ] I'll be back shortly.

[ He's got layers, Hux. He can enjoy animals and slaughter people in droves.

But... it is true, he's directionless. Though he still regards Pierce in a respectful, almost fatherly light, Hux's words did have some lasting effect. He's more cautious now, unable to unsee the similarities between his boss and his former master. And the feelings of having been used by Snoke-- not just for his strengths, but his weaknesses, using what softness remaining in Ren's heart as bait, making a fool, a mockery of him...-- are still fresh enough on his mind that it's left a bitter taste in his mouth.

There's no mentor he can appeal to now, when he's feeling more lost than ever.

Though his body wants him to close his eyes and rest, Ren snaps his head up attentively when Hux speaks. He gives the barest nod, but doesn't bother saying anything in response. What's the point? Hux can't hear him, anyway.

He stretches his legs out, leaning his back against the wall, head tipped back against it, tilted to look down at the kittens. They're wrestling with each other for the glove now. He could almost smile. Still, he tries to keep his attention split, somewhat, on the workshop door. Just in case.

Though it's tough to remain vigilant when his eyes keep trying to drift shut. ]

Edited 2018-04-23 15:56 (UTC)

[ Ren wants to stay in the Quarantine and then, what, fly off elsewhere? Far, far away from their galaxy? Good. Hux needn't pander to him as his Supreme Leader in that case but he isn't comfortable letting him lounge around in his personal space as if he belongs; at least, not to mope or sleep. Hux may not want Ren around but neither does he want him around at less than his usual horrendous self because at least then there's some rhyme and rhythm to his madness. He's predictable when angry. Hux doesn't know what's going on with him right now but he's an engineer, a fixer. He's the only person at the head of the First Order with a sensible head on his shoulders, and he won't stand for this.

When he returns, Ren looks to have dozed off. A sense of deja vu comes over Hux as he looks down at him, his blaster not far away on the desk ...

(When you're emperor, I could use the Force to help you.)

A paper bag is tossed at Ren's thigh: it contains, from the nearest coffee shop that arguably keeps Hux alive these days, a cheesy chicken toastie with extra meat. Hux holds two take-out cups of coffee and Ren had frankly better be grateful he didn't get one of those thrown his way too. ]

Eat something. You look like you forgot to today.

[ He drifted off. And this time, it's the impact of something getting tossed at him that wakes him, rather than the Force alerting him to anything. Ren startles, jerking out of reflex and straightening his back, looking up at Hux with momentary bewilderment. He hates this, he hates this, feeling half-dumb, half-deaf, and half-blind without the Force. Vulnerable.

If Hux had wanted to shoot him just now, he could have. The thought sends a chill through his core.

He looks down at the bag, and cautiously reaches for it. The contents smell good enough to make his stomach rumble, but one thing gives him pause: he has no way of knowing if it's safe. He can't read Hux's mind, see his intent, feel for the little warnings in the Force. Bag in hand, Ren stands, a little stiff from having fallen asleep against the wall. The kittens, at least, are napping contentedly on a nest of his gloves. ]

I'm. Fine.

[ He makes sure to carefully enunciate his declaration. ]

You're a hot mess, as my lieutenants would say.

[ Able to lipread that simple snotty response, he lifts a coffee cup to indicate it's also for Ren and sets it down on a corner of his desk, returning to his stool with his own. After a moment, he flattens a pointed look at the other man. ]

Give the cats some of the fowl-meat, if you're not hungry. Don't waste it.

[ If it was poisoned would he suggest such a thing? ]

[ He keeps a dubious look directed at Hux, but seems somewhat mollified by the suggestion. Hux wouldn't poison the little animals. For his many, many faults, he clearly has some compassion for the kittens; otherwise, he wouldn't have brought them home with him in the first place.

(Unless he's playing a long con. Unless he expects Kylo to think that way and EAT THE POISONED FOOD without testing it.)

With a huff and a muttered thanks (offered knowing FULL WELL that Hux can't hear him), Ren accepts the coffee and retreats to sit at the edge of the nearby bed. As soon as he's got the toastie out, the kittens are right up there with him, mewing for a treat. Little beggars... As he munches on a bite of sandwich, he picks a little bit of meat from the toastie to offer to the cats.

Of course Ren's the type to EAT ON A BED, THE ANIMAL. ]

[ CAN'T BELIEVE HE'S SITTING ON HUX'S BED. CAN'T BELIEVE HE'S EATING ON HUX'S BED. What an absolute trashheap of a human being!!

With an annoyed look that he pointedly directs at his work, Hux finishes calibrating a sim of the kyberbike and sets it to play, the holovid silently veering and driving itself to the settings laid down. ]

[ He's trying to ignore Hux just as much as Hux ignores him. After all, he's only here for the kittens. But... once that holovid starts to play, Ren looks over, curiosity piqued, watching the sim as he polishes off the toastie. (With how hungry he was, and the volume of food he tends to eat to fuel himself, it really didn't stand a chance.) He opens his mouth to ask a question, but then, remembering Hux is inconveniently deaf, for the time being, stands from the bed to approach the general at his desk.

His gaze shifts from the holo to Hux, brows lifted curiously, in a silent entreaty to talk about the project.

After all, he did say, before, that he wanted to know about them. There's genuine interest, even if Ren's being annoying and crowding Hux's space in the process. ]

[ A short-lived jolt shakes him when he notices a dark shape looming close to the desk and he swallows as he calms himself a moment later. The holovid? Ah, yes, Ren wants to know about the bike Hux made for a Supreme Leader in exchange for protection (or to buy Ren's loyalty) which he will never be gifted now. Not that he knows that. ]

I designed this to run on kyber or an equivalent source material. That way no refuelling would be needed, it could be taken out into the jungle without fear of it breaking down.

[ He glances over at the half-covered bike by the far wall, the tarp drawn over it in resignation. It no longer bears the wounds from being toppled over. ]

I thought about making a range of ten for the Guard but the ingrates here don't deserve them.

[ Having no idea it was ever intended for him-- however briefly-- Ren just listens with interest, watching the holo as it plays out. Oh. He could go on so many missions, and have so much fun with that kyberbike. (Fun being a relatively new concept for Kylo these days. It's only recently that he's even started to think about what he might enjoy.) In the absence of a ship to pilot, this could do so much...

Ren frowns a little when Hux mentions the Guard. ]

So, what? You're going to keep--

[ Ren stops himself mid-sentence, exhaling in agitation, and reaches to grab his network device (phone, whatever), typing out: ]

then what are you going to do with it?

[ Look ma, no caps! ]

Use it to go to the shops and buy milk. It's going to stay here with every other failed prototype, of course.

[ Huffing, he chins a hand and looks away from Ren, glad for the first time to be deaf so he can't hear any protests and simply has to look away. It's depressing to see how the bike and gun are obsolete now, though, so he just goes back to morosely tweaking calibrations for different sized crystals, losing himself in pointless theories. ]

[ Ren scowls. Don't you look away when he's trying to text at you! He just types up another comment and shoves it in Hux's face. ]

youre giving up
why
thats not like you

[ Who cares about punctuation. He's typing too quickly to bother. ]

[ Rude, Ren. ]

Why should you care what I do or don't do? You're not the Supreme Leader anymore, are you? It's not your business to be interested in your men.

[ It comes out acidly, a little aside from the point Ren is making but in line with the moping dejection Hux feels after having lost a bargaining chip (or what felt like one) and gained a disability. ]

These aren't your toys anymore.

[ He can't help the growl that escapes his throat-- not that Hux can hear it. He just clumsily types his retort and tosses the phone down on the desk, in front of the other man. ]

ITS NOT ABOUT THE DAMN RFIRST ORDER
i couldve helped you find a power sourdce
idiot

You're the idiot, Ben. [ Fuck - ] Ren! Shit.

[ Scraping his stool back in order to hurry toward the office that has, importantly, a door he can hopefully close on Ren and wallow behind. ]

[ Ben?

His eyes widen a little, surprise plain on his face. It deflates the frustrated anger pretty quickly, leaving Ren stunned for a beat-- at least until Hux gets up to retreat. Without thinking, he reaches for the other man, to stop him and... talk to him? Look at him? He doesn't know-- he has no idea what Hux is even thinking, or why he'd say that name, and the fact that he can't glean even an inkling is maddening. ]

Wait--

[ It's stupid to say it, when Hux can't even hear him. And as he reaches for the general's sleeve, his hand misses just enough that his fingers brush the other man's hand. ]

[ The touch is as surprising as the return of sound as Ren brushes onto his hand and Hux holds his ears, reeling from the sudden influx of what feels like white noise: the quiet of the workshop and Ren's footsteps sounds like a landslide after absolute silence. He gasps, taking a step back. His voice pitches higher in shock. ]

What was that! I could ... I can't hear anymore, [ shitfuckkriff ] for a moment it all came back!

[ And for Ren, he's nearly bowled over by... everything when his fingers touch Hux's. In that brief moment, all is right. The Force is there, wrapping him in a warmth that reaches to his bones. It's blissful, and light, and just as he feels the Dark, encroaching at the edges, the contact is broken.

He's blinking, reeling, barely registering that Hux is speaking, though his words eventually penetrate. ]

Me too...

[ It slips out without a thought. He doesn't mean to let on that he'd lost something, but if Hux's hearing came and went, then it's possible he doesn't even catch Ren's meaning right here.

The Force came back when they touched hands. Likewise, Hux's hearing returned. Sucking in a gulping, shaking breath, he looks at his hand-- his fingertips-- then back at the other man. And, slowly, he extends his hand to Hux, eyes wide and pleading.

Take his hand. Please. Bring the Force back. ]

[ Staring at Ren's subsequent reaction, Hux catches the murmur and suddenly it makes sense: Ren's misery, his pathetic desire for the company of beasts (instead of Hux, fucking hilarious that he's less interesting than a cat) and the look on his face now. ]

You ... The only reason you haven't strangled me today is this, isn't it? Everyone lost something and you've lost the Force. [ Taking another step back, he tries to keep his balled-up fists steady and snaps, ] Why should I help you get it back? All you ever do is attack me with it!

[ That moment of vulnerability passes with Hux's reaction. There we go. He's not Ben to the general, and it was stupid to assign any meaning to that slip. There's no Ben and no Armitage, just Kylo Ren and General Hux. And there he is, looking at Ren like he's something monstrous and repulsive.

He clenches his offered hand into a fist and drops it, snarling in frustration: ]

You'd rather be deaf?! We could figure this out together!

[ He can just about parse those shouts, they're so in line with what he expects to hear. ]

Look around you! I did all of this to support you and you don't care about any of it! The second you lose the Force you're a wreck, all you care about is getting it back. You don't give the slightest damn about me when I'm supposed to be your confidant! Every weapon I designed was for you, you ungrateful brat! It's you and me on this moon, we could have been a team from the beginning!

You're the one who refused me, Ren, I've held my hand out for months.

[ ...well, okay, for somebody with the powers of the Force, Ren can be a completely oblivious idiot. He's aware, yes, that Hux had offered to build him a gun after he'd gotten shot. And he'd agreed to listen to Hux's counsel, too. But that was when he was still feigning interest in being Supreme Leader-- a stalling tactic, while he was trying to figure out how to extricate himself from... everything to do with their galaxy.

But he'd just assumed Hux was doing it out of some sycophantic attempt at ingratiating himself to a 'leader' he had every intention of overthrowing. Not that he'd actually felt left behind while Ren was off trying to find himself and cavorting with scoundrels and replacement Snokes.

He'd been alone, without allies, for months before Hux ever showed up. He'd grown accustomed to his new life, enough that he'd almost resented the general for arriving at all. But he hadn't taken a single moment to stop and think about what the other man might be feeling. All he did was make demands and throw him around and...

Ren's brow furrows, and even as he tries to hold on to his anger, it settles down in his stomach, replaced with... shame. Shame? Over how he treated somebody he'd regarded as little more than a rival and a pest for years?

This place really has ruined him. ]

But you hate me.

[ That's about all he can think to say, which only serves to make him feel stupid. ]

Edited 2018-04-23 19:50 (UTC)

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