riverviewlogs | let us sacrifice today...

Entry tags:

let us sacrifice today...

who: ~~kylo ren~~ bitty!ben solo and you!
what: au event; apparently de-aging is catching. he's a six year old with burgeoning psychic powers etc etc.
when: 14-24th june
where: various parts of the quarantine
warnings: ornery boychild and general disobedience.

i. communal building, private floor - waking up; open

[ Waking confused and bleary-eyed, Ben hadn’t dwelt too long on the sense of being misplaced; it wasn’t that he wasn’t concerned but was at least old enough to know that curling into a ball and crying was unlikely to yield any beneficial results. A quick inspection of the room (décor bland enough that it could belong to any of a number of military bases or low-budget hotels) reveals clothes roughly in his size and something to eat.

Shoving several pieces of hard fruit into the pockets of his trousers, Ben tackles the door, getting it open with surprisingly little difficulty, and heading outside, down the hall and to the elevator. ]

ii. outside – trees; open

[ Exploring the Quarantine yields mixed results, and a panic has slowly begun to stir in his chest the longer time passes without a familiar face or any sort of clue as to where he is.

It’s ironic then that the thing that distracts him from a panic attack are trees: he’d never been to Kashyyk but had heard enough of the stories from both his father and uncle to recognize what looks alarmingly like a Wroshyr tree.

Enormous, it towers over the immediate area and would be more than high enough for him to get a decent view of his surroundings (far better than just meandering around, hoping luck or one of his parents will find him) and also afford him some safety should whoever brought him here prove to have less than benign intentions.

Glancing left then right then left again, Ben rushes over, fingers digging immediately into the wild whorls of the bough and forcing himself up and up and up. ]

iii. wildcard

[ choose your own adventure! feel free to come at me bros or you can pp/pm me to discuss things. ]

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[If he hasn't had one overbearing adult trying to look after him, it's been another. Somehow or another, Hux managed to escape both Ren and Cassian, much to his relief. They're not as bad as they could be, as far as adults are concerned, but Hux also just wants to do things by himself.

It's what brings him to this part of the river. There's a soft grassy area near the riverbank, some trees, and absolutely no one around. His father would have a fit if he ever found out that he was wasting time by laying in the grass, watching the clouds, and listening to the gentle flow of the water.

But when is he ever going to get a chance like this again? It seems like a waste.

So imagine his frustration when it turns out another boy apparently has the exact same idea as him. Or at the very least, has chosen to exist in the vicinity. He rolls over in the grass and his eyes narrow as he appraises Ben.] What are you doing here? This is my spot.

Edited 2017-06-13 03:06 (UTC)

Don't see your name on it. [ It's said with all the obstinacy of youth, chin raised and feet set. He wasn't budging, especially not after the lengths he had gone to in order to make it this far.

Turns out nothing wakens the latent parental instinct in people than seeing a six year old trying to make a break for the perimeter. ]

You probably can't even read. [It's said with all the condescension he can muster as he sits up and and leans against his heels.]

You can have the spot on the other side of the river.

[ ㅡwell, this has the makings of a beautiful friendship already. And here he was even considering sharing what food he'd managed to scrounge for himself (admittedly not the most appetizing but beggars, choosers etc) but now this kid's lucky he doesn't just shove him right into the river. ]

No. [ Now he's going to linger, if only to annoy him. Fishing an apple out of his pocket he bites into it, chewing loudly. ] Don't think I will.

[Now it's going to be an old-fashioned standoff. Hux can't leave either; that would be letting this walking baby win, though Ben certainly gets under his skin with the apple. He's always hungry, feeling like he never quite gets enough to eat.

He considers his options for a moment before speaking.]

Then be quiet. You don't want to get on my bad side. [It's not a lie; it's just a matter of whether Ben picks up on it.]

[ More chewing, loud and obnoxious, pausing only to swipe away some of the juice with the back of his mouth. ] I'm not scared of you.

So we can tack on stupid on the list of your defining traits in addition to illiterate.

[Look at him using a big word. Betcha don't know what it means.]

[ He doesn't, as it happens, but that's hardly the point. Huffing loudly, it's evident that the insult has hit homeㅡand in the grand tradition of both sides of his family he's now gearing up to do something stupid and ill-advised in response.

You brought this on yourself, Armitage Hux. ] You take that back.

[He supposes he shouldn't be surprised that getting under his skin was so easy. It's like taking candy from a baby.

As it is, it's tempting to take that apple from Ben.]

Or what?

Or I'll make you. [ Trying to sound threatening, failing rather spectacularly. He knows he could, can feel the prickle of power under his skin, gathering like a static build-up the more agitated he becomes, but he doesn't really know how.

It would be a hollow victory, besides, when mashing his face into the dirt is bound to be that much more satisfying. ]

[This is what causes Hux to get to his feet. For a nine-year-old, he's still on the short and frail side, but he's taller than Ben.]

Doubt it. Save yourself the embarrassment and go back to your parents, kid.

[ There's something in the way Hux says it, the sneer of disdain in his voice, that sours Ben's appetite. The apple (only half-eaten) falls to the ground, rolling lazily a few inches from his feet as he swipes at his mouth for a second and final time before snapping his fingers out like he'd seen his uncle do before: ] You first.

[And then it happens. Hux can't explain it. One moment he's grounded, the next he feels a shove, a sharp one that sends him backwards into the river, except no one actually touched him.

That's the least of his worries, as he immediately realizes he can't touch the bottom where he landed, and the current starts to carry him away. He doesn't know how to swim (when would he have learned, and why? most of his time has been spent in space), so the best he can do is flail, trying to keep his head above the water and hope he can find a way to get to shore.

In another circumstance, it would be easier than it is. But right now, all he can do is panic.]

[ The power has always been with him, supposedly. Like his mother, like his uncleㅡlike the grandfather nobody really talks about, except in hushed voices when they think he isn't listening. Ben understands a little of what it is, of what it means; knowing has helped a little with not feeling quite so out of place (even if he knows now that he's different, will never be like other boys and that everyone around him seems to know it) but then you get things like this.

For a moment he's standing, mouth agape. Hux hasn't surfaced yet and when he does his panic is spiking so high that it slams into Ben like a wall.

Oh. Oh no. ] I didn'tㅡ

[ ㅡexcept that that's a lie. He'd meant to make Hux sorry for being mean, had gotten angry. Bad things tended to happen when he got angry.

Still, no time to dwell on this. Ben's not the best swimmer (he can swim, of course; his mother had seen to it because why live near an ocean if you weren't going to get the benefit of it) but it's better than nothing. Kicking off his shoes, he runs toward the river, intending to dive in after Hux. ]

[Never in his life has he felt so helpless. Well--maybe that's not true, thinking back to that brief amount of time spent on Jakku. This is different; this isn't a mass of murder orphans ready to tear him apart. This is a different sort of wild, he can't predict, he can't attempt to defend himself in any way he's ever learned how to before.

He flails, trying to keep the water from getting into his eyes more, from into his nose and mouth. If he can get to closer to shore, or even just a spot where he can reach the bottom, he could wade back over.

So far he's not been so lucky. He doesn't even register that Ben's come in after him until he's in range, and despite his panic he tries to reach for him for help or something. If this kid can shove him into the water without touching him, surely he can get him out of this alive.]

[ Grabbing onto Hux takes a few attempts but he succeeds eventually, getting an arm around his waist. ] It's okay.

[ Shouted, desperate; he doesn't really know how they're getting out of this yet but they will. He'll make sure that they will. ] It's going to be okay.

[Maybe later when the shock and anger subsides, he'll be mortified by having to rely on someone younger to save him.

But for now he's gripping onto Ben's shirt with one hand and trying to mimic the other kid's movements instead of flailing. Whether it's actually effective remains to be seen but it's better than what he was doing before.]

[ The current carries them further downriver, Ben doing his best to keep them both afloat—eventually the ground beneath their feet is more compact, easier to find their footing. ]

[Once they find their footing, they're able to wade to shore, much to Hux's relief. He doesn't drop to the ground once he's on dry land, but he does hold onto his knees as he bends over, trying to catch his breath.

And finally:]

You nearly killed me.

[ Only nearly should count for a lot more than it sounds, but then Ben is more than willing to give him this one.

He's still more than a little wide-eyed over it, honestly; the power had always come easier when he was angry (later he would learn what this meant, that darker emotions came quick to hand and offered alluring and quick solutions to problems that could otherwise prove tediously slow) but the desire had been to startle Hux, to prove that he wasn't a weakling.

...well, he'd done that hadn't he?

Scrubbing at his face, he could feel the tell-tale prick of tears and he had to force air past his teeth and into his lungs. Willing himself not to sob as the reality suddenly came collapsing down on too of him. ]

I'm sorry.

[ Sorry, sorry, sorry. ]

I didn't -- that's not what I wanted.

Well, you did. I don't know how, but that's what you did.

[Even at this age, he doesn't quite know how to be forgiving. It's never been something allowed for him, so it's hard to allow for someone else. Besides, this kid needs to stop being such a baby if he's going to make it.

Not that Hux really cares about that. He's too upset and shaken up to concern himself with Ben's ability to survive.] You've got to own your actions.

[Once he's in decent enough shape to move, he's walking away. Ben can have the kriffing riverbank. Hux just wants dry clothes.]

[he watches ben scale the tree, a little bit like "oh no not another one" but mostly like "that looks really fun tbh." lbr poe is kind of a big kid without any help from a magical chalice, okay.]

Think there's enough room for both of us up there?

[there ... obviously is, it's a big ass tree, but he's trying not to intrude.]

Maybe. [ See Ben. See Ben hanging from his branch like an Asyrriak, seemingly oblivious of the possibility of a fall. ]

It's a big tree. [ Hoisting himself up, he seats himself as comfortably as he can manage. If Poe can make it up he's free to find himself a branch, Ben isn't about to be greedy. ]

[he's a pretty spry dude, so he makes it up the tree in no time. it's like the ~good old days~ on yavin 4. he perches on a branch near ben, keeping an eye on him just in case ... well, you know, in case he has to do any heroics or anything. could he catch a kid falling out of a tree in mid-air? it's a strong maybe.]

It is a big tree, huh? I like it. It's nice. My name's Poe, what's yours?

[ Poe. It feels like it should be familiar, but that doesn't really mean much. Between his mother and his father, they all know a lot of people and it's reasonably sure at least one of those people is a Poe. ]

Ben. [ He looks out at the view of the city before looking back at Poe: ] My uncle would say he's seen bigger but I think he might be lying. [ In the way all adults lie to children, with mostly good-intentions. Chewbacca is better about than most, though. ]

[ben ... so probably the ben he already knows, judging from 1. kids he's already run into and 2. the network post about it he's read at this point. he will watch out for smol ben. because that's what being a bro is all about.]

Maybe he has, but who cares if there's a bigger tree somewhere else? This one is plenty big. I used to climb trees all the time, on my family's ranch. But none of them were this big.

[ The hair'll darken with age, and his complexion will gradually bleach due to the lack of sunlight but the resemblance is nonetheless there, albeit in miniature. ]

We live near the sea. [ Lived, maybe; he'd like to think his parents would have warned him if they'd be moving but he's only a child and children's opinions aren't often sought on these matters. ] Not lots of trees there. [ Not that it stopped him from scrambling up this one, something about the need to seek greater height for security. ]

You're good at climbing though. [ He can allow Poe this much. He hasn't really met many adults that can climb this well. ]

Thanks. Did you like living near the sea? We're near a river here, we could go to the beach if you want. When you don't feel like climbing anymore.

Yeah. [ He can't remember the last time he'd been to the beach. The memory, like many of the recent ones, are fuzzy with time and a vague sense of displacement and wrongness. Still, it's an enticing offer: ]

D'you think they'll have shells?

Probably. I guess we'll just have to find out for sure when we go.

[ Nodding slowly, because this makes sense. ] I used to collect pearlshells with my Mom, when she was home.

[ They'd amassed quite a collection at one point, actually. ]

Really? Did you have a lot? I don't know if we'll find any pearlshells, but we can try to make a new collection here.

[ Jyn finds the tree a bit like Ben: rushing towards it a while after he's already climbed up into it and beginning her own climb with a bit of effort. She's out of breath by the time she gets up to the first branch and then up another. She stops long enough to pull up the leash part of her child harness so Cassian can't tug her back down if he happens to find her before she's up high enough. She bunches it all together with her small hands and shoves it into the front of her harness before pulling her way up to another branch.

Three branches up and she finally stops and takes a look around. She flinches slightly when she spots the young boy, not knowing anyone else was in this tree, too. ]

Hi.

[ Resting, he'd been considering going for something to eat (his supplies are running low, however) but Jyn's arrival has him pausing, head canting as he watches her careful ascent. ]

Hi. [ Then, after a moment: ] You want some help?

[ She shakes her head almost too vigorously. ]

I just--

[ She pauses and looks down for a moment just to check before continuing, ]

wanted to get up here.

[ There's a beat. ]

I'm Jyn.

[ ㅡwell, he'd offered. That counts, right? Still, he stays on his current branch while he waits for her to pull herself up. ]

Ben.

[ She prides herself on being able to make her own way up. Plus, not enough trees to climb on back home. As she climbs, she grunts out, ]

Hi, Ben.

[ When she's more along the same level as him in the tree, once again out of breath, ]

Are you here alone, too?

[ Admirable, really. It's important to be able to do things for yourself.

Adults, in particular, like to think that they're being helpful when they keep children from doing important things that need to be done because they're too small. ] Dunno. [ It's said with a shrug that seems to use his entire body, a casualness that he doesn't really feel.

It's important not to let people see how frightened you actually are. ] I think so. Maybe.

[Little Ben isn't the only one who's reminded of the wroshyr trees of Kashyyyk, although to Han, these seem more reminiscent of the smaller coastal variety, the deep forest specimens being so gigantic as to be able to support large cities in their several-kilometer-high branches. But still, there's enough of a resemblance that Han's drawn closer, his thoughts absently revisiting the events culminating in the long overdue liberation of Chewie's home planet from under the yoke of the Empire, just a few months back. Hopefully his pal was enjoying his time with his family; a thought which only emphasizes his own desire to be back home.

His eyes more on the branches above than where he's walking, a movement catches his eye and he squints, placing a cautious hand on his blaster while he tries to determine whether or not the animal above him is likely to be a threat.]

[ There's a rustle of leaves, the soft sound of something moving along the branches and thenㅡ

ㅡa head poking out from the foliage, hanging at an angle precarious enough to suggest that the child is hanging from the branch like a sloth. ]

ㅡhi.

[He blinks for a moment, then relaxes. A kid, great. Or maybe part-kid, part-monkey considering the position.]

Hey, be careful!

[...did that come out of his mouth? When did he become an adult?]

[ It's such a typically adult response, really. Not all that different from the people that had tried to herd him back into a safe corner as soon as he'd exited the communal housing building.

They hadn't had much success either, clearly.

Still. After an owlish blink, Ben pulls himself back onto the sturdy branch, swinging his legs (no tail in sight, not that that makes any real sort of difference; small children are very like tiny wild animals just without the prehensile appendages) over the side. Kicking his feet idly: ] Like this?

Yeah... good.

[He nods in uncertain approval. Should he tell him to get down altogether? Nah, all kids climb trees, right? That's what kids do. Besides, it's not his kid, so what difference does it make? Let him do what he wants. It's none of his business, right? If it was his kid, that'd be different. Maybe. Let's face it, he's probably not going to be the most responsible parent the kid has.]

Uh. What're you doing up there anyway?

Hiding. [ ...which is a perfectly acceptable answer, really. Really. If they're not swinging from light-fixtures or being otherwise too hyperactive for their own good, children have a tendency to find themselves in places like this.

It has absolutely nothing at all to do with the vague sense that there is someone here, somewhere, that wants him dead. ]

Oh yeah?

[He thinks he gets it—playing games. Another thing kids do. And considering all the kids around here lately, he's not surprised it's turned into a big game of hide and seek.]

Well, it's okay, you don't have to worry. I won't give you away. [Putting on his best co-conspirator face, here.]

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let us sacrifice today...

iii; by the river

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ii

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ii. trees

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