Knights Of Damn-Ren

For Darkpilot and general Star Wars positivity.

[caledoniamission68]

bruce springsteen father figure edit? well, yes!

[albiclalepsza]

Bruce pulling a guy on stage for Dancing In The Dark

Here is the full performance, really cool rendition of the song

[ladyofidril]

It was a strange sensation, not knowing whether you’d won or lost a battle.

It wasn’t something Kylo expected; even in his battle with the scavenger (and it was a pity that things had ultimately ended like that; in another life, perhaps, he would have considered her a friend), it was a clearly concrete example of who had won and who had lost. She’d won. He’d lost.

The scar on his cheek twinged uncomfortably at the very memory of that. It should have been a triumphant moment of him choosing the Dark Side. Instead, it had only made him more lost and confused than ever.

It seemed to be a pattern, didn’t it? Han Solo’s death, the Battle of Crait...even Poe’s interrogation —

He froze at the very memory of it. (Poe’s face, contorted in pain that drew a fine, fine line between that and ecstasy, and the fact that Kylo remembered it so vividly repulsed him) Poe, his best friend from childhood, wasn’t supposed to be there, on that rack. He wasn’t supposed to be in that village.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/32374177/chapters/80296717#workskin

[ladyofidril]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Poe could have sworn his blood turned to ice just then. "I'm...Force Sensitive," he said. "And the Force didn't even kick in to save me for...what?" His voice sounded softer, number than he expected it to be. He expected to be shouting, screaming -- but shouting at Leia Organa seemed to be like beating on someone who couldn't fight back. "Was I just not worthy?"

"Poe, don't say that," Leia said. "Don't ever say that. You are worthy. You are always so very, very worthy. The Force...it can be callous sometimes. There's been debates over how callous it can be, maybe one instance where a Sith Lord tried to destroy it. It can be callous sometimes, and sometimes I wonder why it is so callous. Why we were brought into the galaxy in order to be its pawns."

[ladyofidril]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

How he was going to sort out his tattered, fragmented memories was, truly, something Ben hadn’t really considered yet. He only knew that Kijimi had a certain significance. The Force didn’t just give you straight answers; it wasn’t that kind of entity. But it would lead you where you needed to be led. Ben knew that much. Besides, he had a job to do in terms of going to Kijimi with Voe, Tai and Hennix. A job, just by the virtue of actually getting things done.

[ladyofidril]

I can see through you, see to the real you...

(Note that the lyrics set is not my opinion on Poe; I was mostly highlighting the duality between Poe and Kylo)

[ladyofidril]

If there were Darkpilot moments in TROS, part two.

Only two GIFs, I know. Hopefully, that still works.

[ladyofidril]

If there were Darkpilot moments in TROS, part one.

I had to search for the right images, of course, but it was more than worth it. These two have some awesome chemistry for constructed GIFs on my part. /bragging

The black and white GIFs are supposed to be moments set pre-TROS, BTW. Given the time jump...yeah.

[ladyofidril]

https://archiveofourown.org/works/31627433/chapters/78266822

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

[ladyofidril]

https://archiveofourown.org/works/29925447/chapters/74106003

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Hyperspace. Even being in hyperspace, Poe couldn’t help but feel a strange sort of peace looking out at the blue swirls that surrounded him. Blue swirls, things that had been all too familiar when he and Ben had gone out on family trips.

He missed Ben. He couldn’t say that he could miss Ben any more than he already did. This man, who had had so much faith in him after his spice runner stint. Even looking out at the vivid blue of hyperspace, Poe wondered if he would ever see Ben again.

[ladyofidril]

https://archiveofourown.org/works/29925447/chapters/73656345

He boarded his X-wing. His new one, complete with that one code. Naboo Endor Ben Three Four Two. He knew, logically, that he should just get rid of it. Change it. And yet he couldn’t. Somehow, it was too painful to even do. BB-8 came with him, after he had told Leia to tell Rey (the girl) thank you for looking after BB-8 and not selling him to a sadistic junk boss. (“You can tell her yourself,” Leia said, smiling)

Black One lifted into the air in that moment, to the sounds of applause that seemed like it raised the stakes for Poe, at least in that moment.

He wondered, really, if he would even succeed.

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

[ladyofidril]

Darkpilot Headcanons:

-As far as Ben Solo’s concerned, Poe Dameron is one of the first faces he remembers, especially after Poe met baby Ben for the first time.

-Ben absolutely thought the galaxy of Poe. Even after his fall to the Dark Side, he never really stopped thinking the galaxy of him.

-When they were kids, one of the things Ben would do with Poe was act out scenarios with him, mostly centered around Ben’s character “Kylo”. Kylo was smart, strong, brave, scary — everything Ben wanted to be. Poe hoped, when he first heard the name “Kylo Ren”, that it was just a coincidence.

-Ben’s investigations into Force Healing first started out as leftover trauma from the death of Shara Bey. The children were traumatized in different ways: Poe losing a mother, Ben losing a second mother.

-Even when Poe temporarily became a spice runner, Ben never stopped loving and believing in him.

-As angry as Poe was at Kylo, in some ways, he couldn’t be completely angry at him because he saw a shadow of what he could have been if he had joined Zorii on Kijimi.

[ladyofidril]

”I can’t believe you’re here.”

The way Ben sounded, it seemed like Poe’s very presence was a miracle. Poe wondered, absently, if Ben would feel the same way if he knew exactly why Kes was in medbay.

“I know.” Poe’s voice trembled a bit, like it was on the edge of a vibroblade. Then, “It’s my fault. Papa,” and it struck him that he was regressing back to what he called Kes as a child, “Got hurt because of me. Because he wanted me to come back.”

”Don’t say that,” Ben said. “Don’t you dare say that. He chose to go after you. He loved you and believed in you.” A beat, like he wanted to say more. “Anyone would."

Poe swallowed. Of course Ben would say that. He of so much faith in Poe, even when Poe blatantly didn’t deserve it.

”Hey.” Ben squeezed his shoulder, and Poe wondered when exactly Ben’s hands had gotten so big. So strong. "I’m here for you. You’re not alone.”

Poe nodded. He didn’t deserve it. He could believe, though, that Ben believed it.

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

[ladyofidril]

When Kylo finds himself unable to kill Han Solo on Starkiller Base, he comes back to the Resistance. Poe doesn’t know that his old friend and old love and the man who tortured him are one and the same.

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

[ladyofidril]

The Millennium Falcon. Even as Poe sat at the cockpit, feeling how tired he was, he couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like, possibly seeing Kylo face to face again. They had met last time on that one planet, forced to work together to survive. Poe had all but poured out his soul to Kylo —

Poe froze. He hadn’t given out confidential information, obviously, and that was good, but...he had given out so much to the man who was the Supreme Leader of the First Order. Who had tortured him — of course, Kylo hadn’t done it willingly —

He was giving himself away, bits and pieces, to Kylo. And in a true piece of irony, it was Kylo who seemed to understand him the most.

The man who had broken his heart, managing to understand him more than others could...

Poe rubbed his forehead. He couldn’t be thinking like this. Not really. Not when they were on opposite sides of a war, with the fate of the galaxy in the balance.

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

[ladyofidril]

Ben reached out. He had always been able to read thoughts. Now — he wondered if there was a way to use his ability to talk telepathically to Snoke to his advantage.

Hello, he tried, reaching out towards the prisoner.

The prisoner didn’t speak. Ben could feel his suspicion, his tension — anticipating more pain.

I’m Ben. I’m not actually with the Knights of Ren.

Thought so, naive-Ben, the prisoner said, in his mind. It felt, Ben thought, almost chirpy. You walk like one that doesn’t belong here. Your clothes look like they were taken off a corpse.

Um...thanks?

Thailus. Name Thailus. Ours is a peaceful planet, but these mean men came in and dragged me from my home! I just want to see my family.

Ben had a feeling, at least, that Thailus’ family was already dead or imprisoned. The Knights weren’t the merciful type.

I just need an artifact, Ben said, I’m taking down the Knights from the inside — but they won’t believe me unless I actually get something for them...

[ladyofidril]

Poe,

I shouldn’t stay. I really shouldn’t. But because you need it, because I need it — I will. We’ll have to keep this a secret, of course. I mean...no one will be happy seeing the leader of the First Order and the leader of the Resistance communicating with each other.

Incidentally, I can’t help but wonder, Poe — are you happy here, in the Resistance? I haven’t seen your face for a while except on Resistance recruitment posters. (By the way, Poe, I do quite like the scarf. It adds a nice touch)

I can’t imagine that you’re happy. I never fancied you to be the sort who’d be content playing politician. And General Organa seems to think little of you from the little I gathered.

You could be happy in the First Order. I do find you important.

-K.R.

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works