DOMHNALL GLEESON // have you met ARMITAGE HUX yet? HE is now a 36 year old HUMAN CIS MAN, originally from ARKANIS but typically resides on IMPERIAL I-CLASS STAR DESTROYER REDACTOR. after everything he’s gone through, he shows loyalty to THE FIRST ORDER. he is best known for being a GENERAL, and i hear he’s grown pretty CUNNING yet also MEGALOMANIACAL at times; i hope he survives the galactic war. (FRIDAY, 31, CST, THEY/XE)
After coming through the Emperor’s Rift, in 7ABY Hux plots with Aiya Ren to bring Ben Solo back to the First Order, seeks funding from wealthy socialite Stassam Char, and attempts to undermine his father Brendol by leaking First Order intel to rebel Iden Versio.
Hux attends the New Republic fundraiser on Iziz to gather intel. He is drugged by Seventh Sister, has a humiliating encounter with Aiya Ren, and connects with broadcaster Alton Kastle (both professionally and otherwise).
Hux, Aiya Ren, and Seventh Sister kidnap and torture Senator Padmé Amidala. Devices of Hux’s design will now kill Amidala if any of the three of them die. They successfully lure Kylo Ren back to the dark side.
Hux provides Alton Kastle with exclusive footage of Padmé Amidala being tortured by an off-screen, unidentified force user, to be broadcast with anti-New Republic spin.
When Sernpidal is destroyed, Hux reluctantly travels with Kylo Ren to investigate the ruined planet. They find no answers.
Several rebels blackmail Hux. Sabine Wren uncovers Hux’s affair with Alton Kastle, and Poe Dameron uses Hux’s future betrayal of the First Order to get information about Finn, who at this time remains in the First Order.
Impersonating Brendol, Hux contacts Alexsandr Kallus and claims he wants to spy for the Resistance to undermine Rae Sloane.
His working relationship with Aiya having soured, Hux plots with Kylo to murder them. He amplifies his own transmitter to Amidala’s kill switch so that she won’t die when Aiya does. They succeed. Aiya dies.
At the Hapan Life Day gala, Hux unexpectedly meets Grand Admiral Rae Sloane and states his intent to usurp Brendol. When alien invaders attack, he must ally with former enemies Sabine Wren, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Poe Dameron to escape. He loses his left leg.
Hux continues to visit Alton Kastle and (despite his best efforts) seems to develop some kind of... feelings? Ew.
The Yuuzhan Vong declaration of war and live broadcast of Alton’s painful death sends Hux into a fury.
obi-wan could think of a dozen places he would rather be —a cave full of gundarks for example— than across from armitage hux, a man with an ability to show nothing but disdain on his face despite what might be happening around them. obi-wan should’ve known better than to bring up such a topic, because no matter how much he disliked hux, the general had a point. ❝i don’t believe there are enough words in basic for the apology i owe the galaxy❞ whether hux knew what obi-wan was talking about, it didn’t matter, obi-wan knew his faults and regrets, mistakes he could never take back but could try to amend.
❝the jedi do not have enemies, not really, we protect life, and that includes yours and that of the members of your organization, politics aside, we need each other to fight this threat, if we cannot fight together, we are going to die alone…❞
“I see. An apology for your contributions to building the Empire, or for betraying it?” Hux scrutinized Kenobi. That sweeping admission of guilt told him nothing substantial. Presumably Kenobi had turned against the Republic as it became the Empire, along with the rest of the Jedi. A pity, no doubt borne of stubborn Jedi idealism, but Hux reserved some professional admiration for the man’s military career prior to that point. (He was hardly in a position to criticize a turncoat. Not that Kenobi knew that.)
“How noble.” No wonder they’d all been killed so easily. “But your point is well taken. I would not be here if I disagreed.” That was not the whole story, of course. The moment they eliminated the immediate threat of the Yuuzhan Vong, Hux would turn his sights on the New Republic. “I regret that I have little information to share about our mutual enemy. Our increased patrols have reported no sign of them or their unnatural technology. Perhaps the Jedi have learned something that has escaped our Force-wielders’ notice?”
“Yes, it would seem that way for quite a few higher ups within the Empire. All those grey hairs running around, it’s as if they wanted the galaxy to think they were old, and out of touch, butI mean with you, finally some youth in the big leagues. I mean Sloane is younger, but for how much longer can she claim the moniker younger, look at the New Republic leadership, so youthful compared to the Empire. I have to ask, since you are the new kid on the block, do you find some of the older, stiffer officers insufferable? And be honest, we’re friends here.”
Vantir ran their tongue over their bottom lip as Hux spoke, taking the datapad and looking more closely at what Hux was talking about, after a few seconds of silence once the other stopped talking. “You aren’t a businessman, I get that, so you wouldn’t understand the fact you’re using a very dirty business word, tariff. The CSA is made up of of dozens of companies, some are yes, much larger than others, but some of our smaller members would loathe the idea of any sort of tariff. You see, usually once one tariff comes into play, there is rebuttal and those can lead into full blown trade wars, and right now, no one wants a trade war.” Sighing, “What the CSA can offer is lower prices to the First Order, on the merit that you are not as established as the New Republic, but we would expect something in return obviously.”
“The First Order is in capable hands with Grand Admiral Sloane. And despite my youth, I enjoy rather a good deal of latitude due to my rank.” A shrewd, plastic smile crossed his face. Hux was too well-versed with the backstabbing world of Imperial politics to take the bait and smear his older colleagues. (No matter how much they deserved it.) “I expect your position affords you similar freedom within the Corporate Sector Authority, no? After all, you’re young to have risen to such prominence so quickly.”
“Surely your constituent members would prefer a trade war to an actual war.” Hux’s eyes gleamed. But the ambassador’s next words prompted a scoff. “Not as established? The First Order stands on the foundation of the Empire, which endured over two decades. The New Republic has barely existed for more than two years. But please do share your terms.”
rey could feel eyes on her as she practiced some more of her jedi training. she was considered good but she was still self conscious about some of it and didn’t want to let the ones who trained her down. she stayed silent for a few moments as she thought about turning around. she had her light saber with her but it wasn’t drawn.. ‘’is there something you need?’’ she finally asked quietly not yet facing them.
Hux could only imagine what had brought the scavenger girl to such a remote location — some Jedi nonsense, no doubt. Even on her own, approaching her was dangerous bordering on suicidal. (Hux saw what she did to Ren on Starkiller, and — allegedly — to Snoke and the Praetorian guard.) But sooner or later her presence in this time would threaten the First Order... including the precarious cooperation he had worked so hard to secure from Kylo Ren. Hux was prepared to eliminate the threat once and for all, reaching for his blaster, when she spoke. His hand retreated as if burned. (Kriffing Force users.)
“That depends, are you offering to scavenge something for me?” The hostility was a misstep; he was woefully outmatched without the element of surprise. He lightened his tone. “No, when I heard the Resistance’s infamous last Jedi reappeared, curiosity got the better of me. I had to see for myself the girl who not once, but twice put Kylo Ren in his place. I admit I was impressed.”
“Always remember that the crowd that applauds your coronation is the same crowd that will applaud your beheading. People like a show.“
"I know. I am typically the man in the front row seat." His stiff expression unmoved, ice flashed in his eyes when the rebel appeared. "What do you want? Your little blackmail operation is useless now. Or have you come to gloat?"
Once Hux got to his knees and started talking about knowing what Asmodeus wanted the Sith Lord rose an eyebrow, the hand on their knee only confirmed what they suspected Hux thought that they wanted, which only prompted Darth Asmodeus to laugh in his face.
“Oh General, I am flatter that you would be so willing to deliver such services, you must be in such awe, being in the presence of an actual Sith Lord for once in your life, and not whatever that child is. However, unless you actually wish to give me oral pleasure, I have absolutely no desire to use you like that.”
Leaning back in their seat in the sauna, Asmodeus casually reached to pull their own towel off, throwing it to the side of the bench. “It is your choice, you can go ahead and pleasure me as I tell you what my plans are going forward, or you can take the seat next to me, but know this, it is entirely your choice to make. I am not going to force you into anything you don’t want to do, beyond not suffering heat stroke in my presence of course.”
Hux shrunk back at Asmodeus’s laughter, so disarmed that he failed to mask his wounded confusion. “But you—what? I— wish to? No, of course not, I— I thought you—” Despite his stuttering, Hux could not stop his gaze from taking in all of Darth Asmodeus, and... for an instant he saw himself doing exactly as they suggested, taking them in his mouth, unraveling this mighty Sith Lord with his lips and tongue while they spoke of galactic domination above him. But it seemed that Asmodeus had spared him for other reasons, and the tactician in Hux refused to give them this for free no matter how much he wanted to.
Hux sat beside them, carefully covering himself with his hands. “I... apologize for the misunderstanding. I would like that towel now.” He didn’t dare look at Asmodeus, for fear that they would ridicule him again or he would change his mind. “Tell me about these plans of yours... my lord.” Heat gathered in his stomach that had nothing at all to do with the sauna.
Hux scanned the box seats for important people to make alliances with or spy on. The high-stakes race had brought a veritable who’s who of galactic society to Canto Bight. (He had foregone his uniform to maintain a low profile, opting for a sharp, understated civilian suit. All black, of course.) He locked in on an influential businessperson at the bar and strode briskly to meet them—but collided instead with some broad-shouldered lout who was not paying nearly enough attention. “Ex—cuse me! Watch your step.”
“Why don’t you make yourself useful and predict the winner with the Force?” Hux glanced around for any threats among the crowd of spectators, instinctively taking an awkward half-step closer. (But not too close.) “Perhaps the winnings will cover repairs for that equipment you destroyed the other day.”
ARMITAGE HUX ASKED: “Despite everything, it’s still you.”
rey’s skin prickled at the sight of him, and her fingers twitched, wanting to wrap around the hilt of her lightsaber. hux wasn’t exactly the most dangerous of enemies – she felt confident that the force made her quicker on the draw than him with his blaster – but she’d heard… rumors about him. she wasn’t yet confident enough to believe them, but it stilled her hand. “it’s still me,” she repeated, and laughed humorlessly. “you’re so sure?” after all, she wasn’t so sure about everyone else surrounding her. especially the ones she’d known in her old timeline. she was keeping her distance, thinking how strange it was they’d interacted so little but seemed to know so much about each other. was he once a nobody like her? one small person lost in an endless galaxy, somehow thrust into infamy? “so what exactly is it that you want with me, general? to talk? to fight? reminisce about old times?”
Though he didn’t show it, fear dropped through Hux’s stomach when the scavenger’s fingers twitched toward her saber. He’d seen what she’d done to Ren, to his face. His nose wrinkled at her humorless question. “Spare me the mind tricks.” Stated as an order, but he knew his request would only be granted at her mercy. It was a risk to engage her at all. The girl (as Ren called her, as if she were somehow the only one — ridiculous) was both a danger and an unknown. Hux had only ever seen the destruction she left behind. What damage would she inflict now that they’d found themselves in this foreign time? Would he once again have to recover Ren’s bleeding mess of a body from the battlefield — or worse, would she turn Kylo Ren back into Ben Solo and steal Hux’s most powerful weapon right back from under his nose? What crimes against the First Order had she already set into motion with that insufferable pilot Dameron and the twice-treacherous FN-2187? “Oh, I’m not here to fight you, scavenger. That’s Ren’s job. As for reminiscing, that all depends on how much you remember. Starkiller? Crait? Kijimi?” He reached for a further battle than even he could recall. “Exegol?”
hux was the kind of man who wanted to ensure that his voice was heard. how severely often had it been ignored? yet he had to know rationally that now was the time to say less, not more. still, he opened up with far more than he should have. zarafet withheld their own smirk. “no, we’re not, but i’m sure you can imagine how your opinion on him might be relevant.” it wasn’t exactly a box to check off on the form in front of her so much as it was her own personal desire. but hopefully that was not an issue that he would press upon.
“why is that?” the question comes out after another note is written down, looking back up at him with a slight raise of her brow. inquisitive, but no real emotion behind it. the brow stayed raised up as he denied any trouble with sleeping and dreaming, even if he backtracked it after a beat. it nearly seemed honest, if she was willing to give him credit. “choking on something, or by another?” another note is jotted down after a moment, drawing in a deep breath through their nose and letting it release as a soft sigh. “and how is your memory about what happened at the hapes consortium?”
Zarafet’s suggestion irked him. His jaw stiffened for only an instant before he enforced his practiced stoic mask. “To my routine psychiatric evaluation? No, I’m afraid I can’t. Unless you mean to suggest that my co-commander’s behavior has some kind of effect on my mental health, which I can assure you it does not.” Stars, it was almost physically painful to hold back the snide remarks about Ren and his stress level, but that was not the sort of thing he wanted on the official record.
“For practical reasons. I am sure you can imagine how it’s more difficult to get around without it.” Perfectly true, if incomplete. Zarafet is certainly trying to determine if there’s a psychological aspect to his dependence on his prosthetic. (There is. But that’s not the correct answer.) Hux grew queasy when they pressed for details on his choking dreams. “No— nothing!” Too quick, a bizarre denial. He backtracked. “On the air. It’s as if an invisible hand is doing it.” (Kriff! That was worse.) Eager to change the topic, he turned to Hapes. “My memory is perfectly clear, though events progressed quickly and chaotically, as I am sure you recall.”
from obi-wan ❝i hope you heal from the things no one ever apologized for❞
A rare glimpse of vulnerability flashes in his eyes before Hux banishes it behind his usual stiff expression. (He's hard pressed to recall an injury, physical or otherwise, that anyone has apologized for.) Life debt or no, this sanctimonious Jedi has hit far too close to the mark. He turns the non-sequitur over in his head, studying the man's irritatingly sincere face, and lashes out in the dark. "Save your platitudes, General Kenobi. Ah, but they aren't for me, are they? I wonder what you're so desperate to apologize for that you would try to comfort your enemy."
You know how I roll... And I’m not talking about that time I fell into a pile of dung at the foot of a hill.
Hux rolls his eyes. This kind of nonsense is exactly why he hates passing through civilian ports, but unfortunately he must do so to liaise with certain informants. This chatty girl is most certainly not his contact. "You've mistaken me for someone else," he all but snaps. He pulls the brim of his cap low over his face to avoid drawing any more unnecessary attention.
“Good, I have very few regrets in my life, and I would hate making meeting you one of them.” They grinned, bringing their own drink to their lips, Vantir winked at that First Order General. “I do so rarely get to entertain red headed humans after all. Though before we get into business, I have to ask, is it natural?” He ran a hand through his own pink hair, “Simply because this is not.” Once he was done with his little interrogation he sat in silence, listening to what the First Order General listed as their little demands of the CSA, a smirk on their face at a few points. “The First Order is slow, the New Republic and the Corporate Sector Authority have already had several back and forth on repairing communications, as for a fleet, that is a very vague demand, we will obviously need specifics, and finally tariffs, what exactly are you talking? The First Order must have some grand number they want, don’t play coy, just say it.”
—
A faint crease appeared in Hux’s brow at Cessin’s words, but when they winked his jaw actually dropped. The sheer lack of professionalism—! Hux’s cheeks turned a shade of red that rivaled his hair. “Of course it is natural! I do not have time—” for that kind of frivolity. But it would not do for him to tank these negotiations before they had even begun, so instead he continued, “—for salon appointments in my line of work. Regrettably.” Hux forced a stiff smile.
“If only I could have met with you sooner, but I am sure you understand that caution and discretion are necessary to avoid entanglements with the New Republic.” That was putting it mildly. When Cessin at last turned to business, Hux tapped his datapad to bring up the projected cost estimate he’d calculated (within the First Order’s budget, of course) for an ambitious order of battleships. “I am more than happy to provide all the specifics you would like, Ambassador, as I designed a few of these blueprints myself. As for tariffs, we are proficient producers of the following ores.” He swiped to another set of data which included the desired tariff numbers. “For obvious reasons, the First Order does not sell directly to the New Republic. The CSA stands to profit substantially from positioning itself as a neutral middleman, and I am confident you will quickly recover any losses from reducing tariffs on our materials.”
As he listens to Hux speak of his plans, there’s a part of Kylo that’s being a little bit judgmental towards himself. Hux was smart, putting together these plans a step ahead of anyone else, including himself. He can understand why Snoke had kept him around and in the inner circle of the three, as much as Kylo hated it and wanted to see the General bleeding out on the floor, he had to give the other props. His plans sounded useful. They would grant them the answers they both seemed hellbent on desiring, just, they both had different ways of going about them. Hux used others to get what he wanted. Kylo tortured it out of them then killed them so they wouldn’t be able to blabber to others about what happened or send out a warning about who was coming. Tie up loose ends no matter the cost and no matter what it meant to do. Still, he wouldn’t never admit aloud that he admired this side of Hux more than other other side that he’s seen, the smart, methodical thinking side that Kylo felt could be a well sought alley as this war continues forward. Perhaps Hux wasn’t all that bad as to what Kylo had once assumed when he was consumed by jealousy.
“You’re right, for once and I’m happy to see you so far ahead of the game in this, Hux.” He starts, choosing his words carefully. He knows when praise needs to be given and when it needs to be taken away. “Perhaps I underestimated you all those years working side by side.” He wants to say years ago. Wants to make a joke about how long it felt to be away from their own time. This was their time now, now the future in which they had come from, but the past that they were not meant to be a part of. This was now their home and they couldn’t change that, no matter how hard either of them tried or wanted to change it. “Are you suggesting that I use severed connections with my grandmother to gain information?” He spits the words as if he’s offended by them, but the old Kylo would have been all for it the instant it was mentioned. “It appears you and I will be making a trip to visit her then. I hope you come prepared for it.”
Hux blinks in visible confusion at the compliment. He narrows his eyes, waiting for the sucker punch. (Ren can’t possibly be sincere.) (Can he?) (No.) And yet Ren continues. He speaks deliberately — Ren never has been able to keep his emotions off his face — and his caution persuades Hux that there may be some inkling of truth in his words. Without realizing it he leans closer, instinctively drawn towards the recognition he could never admit he so desperately craves. “Careful, Ren. You almost sound like you’re admitting your mistake.” His voice sounds uncharacteristically buoyant to his ears — especially for conversations with Ren. He pauses, sobering as he continues. “But I’ve never underestimated you. It is because I see your potential that I so loathe to watch you squander it. But, perhaps... with your power, and my discipline....”
He falters, at a rare loss for words. What exactly is he proposing? They are already allies, at least in name. Hux recalls the lies he spun to manipulate Ben Solo — the claims that, in a distant future that Ren conveniently does not remember, he and Hux had become true allies. That there had been some measure of trust between them. Collaboration not out of necessity, but of choice. (Is that what Hux wants? To make that lie a reality?) But the uncomfortable camaraderie vanishes the moment Ren brings up Amidala. (Ah. That would be a sore spot.) “You and I? Don’t be absurd. You may have the privilege of returning to your grandmother’s open arms, but the only embrace that awaits me in the New Republic will be a pair of stun cuffs. I’m quite certain that any conversations with your rebel family will be more productive without my presence.”
brows raised at that but she did not disagree with him. brendol hux’s misadventures had not ENTIRELY ESCAPED her notice. nonetheless she did not doubt that junior here had had a hand in things. she knew that she could beat brendol into submission. she had no doubt in that. what of this one ? he was an UNKNOWN. a gamble. she had to weigh her chances carefully.
she could not deny that she wanted to be the supreme leader. she had been promised EMPRESS once and the thought of it was still bittersweet on her tongue. but to her the order came before any personal ambition. it always had. no matter who took the highest seat in the end she had shaped the first order from the very beginning and she would damn well CONTINUE to until someone managed to take her out. rae was not a backstabber. tactical, yes, but always straightforward in her personal dealings. she had skill but NO PASSION for politics and NO RESPECT for those who fucked over the aims of the order in their pathetic scrabble for further power. all this to say – if she took out brendol hux it would be blunt and brutal and STRATEGIC.
his son was making a fairly convincing case. she narrowed her eyes, careful and considering. he was certainly too bold and he sounded FAR too good to be true. but if he had half the sway he claimed to she could still use it. ❛ you’ve adapted to this time admirably, ❜ she said finally, tone hard enough that it did not sound TOO MUCH like a compliment. too wary for that. ❛ the first order will always require strong officers. come to my star destroyer tomorrow. i will send you the coordinates, and we will speak in more detail. ❜ this was an order and half a DISMISSAL too. she needed time to think without him attempting to coax her any further.
—
Hux watched the calculus in the tilt of her brows. By necessity he had become astute at reading taciturn Imperials, but even as long as he had known her personally, Rae Sloane had always been a difficult woman to read. The Sloane he had known was far too practical and disdainful of power politics to dispense with Brendol. (Perhaps her only flaw, as far as young Armitage had been concerned, but a relevant one.) So he remained at attention and awaited her judgment, repeating to himself that failure to secure her alliance meant nothing more than a tactical pivot. (Unconvincingly.)
Even couched in a hard tone, words of praise from the Grand Admiral sparked unfettered hope and elation that made Hux feel like a child again. He schooled his features back into an acceptably impassive expression and inclined his head. “Yes, sir. You won’t regret it. Do enjoy the rest of your evening.” Hesitating an instant before he moved on, some irrational impulse made him add, with a sincerity he would later attempt to wash from his mouth with a glass of Corellian brandy: “Thank you.”
Hux scoffed. "And what exactly does that say for your confidence, considering that this is coming from the single most loud-mouthed man in the galaxy?" His voice had risen to a shout. Catching a few pointed glances exchanged among his bridge officers, he snapped, "Get back to your duties and FIRE AT WILL!"
Of course, Adni was only further elated at her success in getting under the general’s skin. They started to walk away as they were told to relay yet another message, this one back to the sender, but stopped their steps as soon as they were told to wait. She had no intention on giving Hux the answer he wanted easily, but at the mention of Aiya, she turrned slowly again to face him.
—”What a cheap move, General. Betting on silly rumors to intimidate subordinates. Hoping that the shock and awe of good gossip will be enough to make them fear authority.” They scoffed. Of course Adni had heard the stories of Aiya’s demise. They’d been the one to pass them along herself too, adding sensational new details when it suited them.
“Do you think I’m laserbrained enough to believe Kylo killed Aiya?” she pushed him, eyes narrowing as she retaliated, “Kylo might be the dark side’s prodigal son, but one to one? I find it near impossible to believe Aiya couldn’t have defended himself. If Kylo did it, he didn’t do it alone.” Of course this comment was anchored in nothing but Adni’s desire to stir up new trouble. Perhaps the idea of another person in the order cold-blooded enough, or blind enough to follow Kylo over anything else, would strike some fear into Hux’s soulless heart. In reality, her tactic was just as cheap as what she was claiming his to be.
—
Her accusation that he had resorted to a cheap move prompted a tiny smirk. Not because the insults didn’t rankle him—they did—no, it was because they called themself his subordinate, a fact that Ren’s other knights had not seemed to appreciate. The smirk became a nasty sneer when Adni dared to question the success of his and Kylo’s schemes against Aiya. “I think you’re laserbrained if you don’t,” he snapped back.
Had Adni pushed him on any other day, Hux might have kept his composure (and his secret) but that Sith-damned broadcast had him on his last nerve. So when she insinuated that Kylo didn’t do it alone, Hux leaned closer and lowered his voice. “No,” he hissed. “He didn’t.” He gave them an icy glare, waiting until he was sure they had absorbed his implicit confession. “So, if I were you, I would be a little more concerned about my job performance. Now do not waste my time. Give me the message or get off my bridge.”
