I am one with the force

Rey. Jedi knight.

[rey-thescavenger]

But you're a King and I a Lionheart

[rey-thescavenger]

knight-ofrens:

Having finished with his boots, Ben put them beside the bed in perfect position and then proceeded to make himself comfortable on top of the bed. It was then when he realized what Rey had become aware of as she had laid on her side of the mattress. It sure was a bed for couples. Very loving couples. It wasn’t very long either: Ben had to remain quite shrunken if he didn’t want his feet to dangle from the edge of the bed. Moving slightly and making the whole structure moan a wooden complaint, his naked back brushed against her dressed one. He clicked his tongue.

“You can’t move any more towards the edge of your side, can you?” he whispered in the darkness without even turning to face her.

Rey grit her teeth and arched her back away from his, but didn’t move further than that. “Maybe you should have thought of that before you said we were /married/.” She would move. She would have done it by now. If only there was a place for her to go. Rey couldn’t just up and leave, find a new hostel and come back for him in the morning. Her job was to protect him which meant staying by his side until this was all over. Oh, what had she agreed to?

[rey-thescavenger]

But you're a King and I a Lionheart

[knight-ofrens]

rey-thescavenger:

“How very noble of you,” she mumbled, folding her arms over her chest. She wasn’t about to sleep on the floor. Not out of need for comfort. If anything it looked too soft for her taste despite how old it appeared to be. Her bed on Jakku was hard and not a bed at all. Constructed out of old pilot seats, it was made to accomodate a person for only so long, and sleeping wasn’t one of its purposes.

Maybe it was pride, or stubborness, or maybe she simply didn’t like the way he spoke to her, that prompted her next words. “We’re sharing the bed.” Maybe she ought to have thought it through, she thought a moment later, but it was already too late.

Ben shrugged slightly. He wasn’t quite sure she would choose the bed over the floor, since he knew the jedi were used to few or very little commodities and trained in humility. But this was no common jedi girl. This was Luke’s favourite, the apple of his eye. The daughter he’d never had. That carried something of weight: the burden of legacy. And probably a hint of pride.

“The bed it is, then” he replied as he started to take off his vest. A massive yawn made him stop in the middle of getting rid of the white undershirt that covered his chest. He was very tired. It had been a long day, and it had taken its toll on him, not used to this kind of field work. And the next day promised to be just as much of a bumpy ride as this one. 

“We should probably get some rest now while we can” Ben added as he sat down on the bed and bent down to untie the boots he was wearing. “Who knows what kind of noises might wake us in the middle of the night in this place…”

[rey-thescavenger]

Rey didn’t like the implication, if there was such. She didn’t remove any article of clothing except her boots. She hastily took her place on the other end of the bed, only realizing how small it was when she lied down and took up half the space of the mattress. The bed creeked under her weight and Rey could only surpress a grunt as she adjusted. She scooted towards the edge as much as she was able, back turned to him. Rey wrapped her arms around herself, closing her eyes, stubbornly determined to fall asleep and ignore him.

[rey-thescavenger]

But you're a King and I a Lionheart

[rey-thescavenger]

knight-ofrens:

Ben looked again at the bed, which he had seen as he had entered the room but of which he had not understood the consequences. For a double sized bed, this one was quite small, though it really did fit the overall quality of the entire establishment. Ben let out a low huff of disappointment. He turned around and examined the rest of the room, but he already knew there was no couch or sofa for anyone to crash on. 

“I do not mind sharing the bed” he finally said and then hesitated for a moment before adding “but if you do, you could sleep on the floor. With all due respect.”

“After all, I am the Senator” he reassured to himself. 

“How very noble of you,” she mumbled, folding her arms over her chest. She wasn’t about to sleep on the floor. Not out of need for comfort. If anything it looked too soft for her taste despite how old it appeared to be. Her bed on Jakku was hard and not a bed at all. Constructed out of old pilot seats, it was made to accomodate a person for only so long, and sleeping wasn’t one of its purposes.

Maybe it was pride, or stubborness, or maybe she simply didn’t like the way he spoke to her, that prompted her next words. “We’re sharing the bed.” Maybe she ought to have thought it through, she thought a moment later, but it was already too late.

[rey-thescavenger]

But you're a King and I a Lionheart

[rey-thescavenger]

knight-ofrens:

Ben could not help but giving a quick glance at Rey as the walked behind the alien towards their future room. Her face remained straight and neutral, but he was sure she had not seen that one coming. He felt a spark of pride at that thought, for some reason, even though it was not something to be particularly proud of.

It hurt him more than he expected it would when he dropped what was almost the entirety of his remaining credits on the hostel’s owner’s webbed palm. Flashing an in-character pedantic smile, they proceeded to enter the room. 

Just like the entrance hall, the room was just as he had expected it would be: old, ugly and smelling of something rancid. Barely furnished, the only things that could be found inside the little chamber where a bedside table and its matching bed, which featured mysteriously yellow-colored sheets. Ben couldn’t hide a grimace of disgust. 

“You’re full of surprises” he heard Rey say behind him some seconds after the door of the room had closed and the steps of the alien had been heard, walking away towards his cheap desk.

Ben turned around and bowed his head slightly, this time smiling his real smile. “What can I say? You married a silver-tongued devil” he made a pause before adding “Improvising is what I do for a living.”

Rey pursed her lips and diverted her gaze. She glanced around and fixated on the large and notably only bed in the room. Were they expected to share? Rey had silently agreed to keep the marrieds sharade up in front of others so long as it got them what and where they wanted, but she saw no reason to continue doing so while they were alone. Somehow, though, she didn’t feel comfortable sharing a bed with anyone. “There’s only one bed.” She pointed out rather dully.

[rey-thescavenger]

But you're a King and I a Lionheart

[rey-thescavenger]

knight-ofrens:

The inside of the building Rey led them both in was just as welcoming as the outside. The green tones of the badly painted walls made it look like an asylum. From above their heads, little shards of debris fell from the chipped ceiling, where a fan that seemed to have never been used in its entire existence remained silent and unmoved. 

Ben was absorbed in contemplation of the hall when he heard the aggressive retort of the alien in charge of the reception, which caught his attention. Approaching the front desk, he looked alternatively at the alien and at Rey as an idea began to form in the back of his mind.

“This is quite outrageous, mate” Ben said, doing his best to make an annoyed furrow overshadow his face. “You won’t allow a husband and a wife to share a room? What kind of hostel is this?”

Rey stilled in place as did the owner. Both looked equally as shocked by Ben’s statement, but luckily for her the alien was looking directly at Ben and didn’t notice Rey’s expression shift.

The alien’s lips twisted into a sly grin as he opened his arms as if to greet an old friend. “Well, why didn’t you say so? I have a special price for the two of you.” He rummaged the desk for something and indicated for Ben and Rey to follow him down the hall.

The owner stopped at a door and unlocked it, handing Ben the key. “Same rule goes: don’t wreck anything.” He glanced between Ben and Rey. “I’ve had couples wreck beds before.” The alien winked at Rey which only made her clench a fist in turn. “Price is double what it says on the board,” the alien continued, extending a hand in a demand for payment.

After they sorted everything, Rey closed the door behind her and waited a few moments before speaking. “You’re full of surprises.”

[rey-thescavenger]

But you're a King and I a Lionheart

[rey-thescavenger]

knight-ofrens:

Ben reached for his vest’s pocket and felt the inside of it. The shadow of a grimace appeared in his face. “Not as many as it would be desirable” he stated before sighing and showing her his palm, where five credits from different sizes and shapes sparkled when a beam of light from a nearby, solitary lamppost grazed them. 

“I should probably have hold back slightly when offering that Duros a bounty…” he thought bitterly.

Rey glanced at the credits and pursed her lips. “I hope these will be enough.” 

They rounded a few more corners before they found what they were looking for. A seemingly abandoned building marked as a hostel. It would serve them well, especially when they were trying to keep a low profile. Rey entered the establishment first. It was barely lit, a light flickering in the back where a rather small alien sat at a makeshift desk. “We’re full.” It grumbled.

Wonderful, Rey thought, more hostility.

“We just need a place to stay the night. We have credits, we can pay you.”

The alien considered for a moment. “There’s only one room left.”

“We can share. We don’t nee--”

“Not a chance,” the alien cut her off. “I’m not giving my rooms up like that. Last time I let two Mandalorians cram into a room, they blasted half the building.” The alien pointed at Ben and then at Rey. “One of you can stay. Or both of you can just leave.”

[rey-thescavenger]

But you're a King and I a Lionheart

[rey-thescavenger]

knight-ofrens:

Ben caught up with her and was now walking by her side through the dark alleyways of the town. She seemed to be ready to jump at the slightest sign of threat. Her whole body was in visible tension and her eyes more attentive than they usually were already. 

“We should try to find some place safe to stay the night” he suggested, his eyes moving away from her to focus on the path ahead of them, squinting into the distance, for the streets were not well lit up and he could barely spot the differences between the constructions that rose at both sides of their path. It felt as if they had travelled back in time to a place where electricity was a scarce resource. Since the planet was at war, curfew was probably still a thing in Tatooine.

Rey pursed her lips as she considered. There were hostels that would take them in in return for the right amount of credits, no questions asked. No holodocs needed and that’s what they were going after. BB-8 rolled beside them quietly. The little droid seemed to catch onto the tension that hung in the air. “Do we have any credits left? There are some hostels that might take us.”

[rey-thescavenger]

But you're a King and I a Lionheart

[rey-thescavenger]

knight-ofrens:

Ben could not believe it. That had certainly been easier than he had thought. Judging by the tales his father had always told him, he had expected the male duros had opposed some more resistance. Probably the clinking sound of credits falling against the table had helped make up his mind quickly. 

Standing up right after Rey, Ben followed her outside. She walked quite fast and he was grateful for that: his throat felt slightly sore from all the smoke and human and alien stench from the cantina. He almost didn’t hear her compliment. “…Well, thank you” he said, smiling proudly. “Words are what put food in my plate so I have to be creative with them…”. 

“It probably also helps that my father was one of the most wanted smugglers in the entire galaxy one” he thought.

“By the way…. I do not think I have expressed my gratitude to you. For saving me back there in Drujjalb’s palace…” he added, his face serious this time.

“You don’t need to thank me. It’s my job to after all.”

And so far I’m not doing very well at it, she wanted to add, but instead focused on the road ahead. The streets were dark and not as crowded as before. There were all sorts of life forms lurking in alleyways, in the shadows, waiting to pounce and no one would stop them. It was a war zone, after all. In the event they were ambushed, Rey couldn’t risk igniting her lightsaber. All they could do was rely on their wits and the senator’s blaster. Rey only hoped that would be enough.

[rey-thescavenger]

But you're a King and I a Lionheart

[rey-thescavenger]

knight-ofrens:

Ben followed Rey - feeling more and more like a droid than the senator he was as time went by - and he was about to sit next to her when the Duros barked a menacing reply. He doubted for a second but seeing the jedi girl did not back off, he sat right beside her and remained silent, watching her in action, his fingers tangled together and his hands resting on the table. 

“Do you think” he cut in as the Duros inquired about their identity “a Senator of the Republic would dress like this? Like hell he would! Besides, I am sure you would smell his perfumed ass as soon as he landed in this planet” he said as he laughed loudly. “Look we are just two respectable scavengers who need a lift to Mos Espa and no questions asked” he added before he reached for his vest’s pocket, making the Duros go for the grip of his blaster. Raising the other hand pacifyingly to make the alien understand his intentions were not violent and moving very slowly, Ben threw a generous amount of credits on the table. “We’ll pay you.”

Rey looked just as surprised by Ben’s response as the smuggler was, maybe even more. She tried to hide the look on her face by looking down at her hands. Quickly she collected herself and turned to the Duros male, waiting for his response. The man took his time before answering. “I leave tomorrow at dawn. I don’t wait for anyone.”

Rey nodded and stood and walked out of the cantina. Impatient to put distance between herself and that place. They walked in silence before she spoke again. “That was a good save. What you did back there.”

[rey-thescavenger]

But you're a King and I a Lionheart

[rey-thescavenger]

knight-ofrens:

Ben looked around too, checking out the seats on the far right of the cantina, half-covered by darkness. Some of the individuals that were seated there moved from time to time, allowing some light to be shed on their faces. What Ben could see wasn’t quite uplifting: scarred gamorreans, suspiciously looking rodians, humans and aqualish were some of the specimens the dark corners of the cantina could offer. “I…. am not very optimistic” he finally replied “But I guess it’s not time to be picky…”

Rey nodded silently in agreement. She scanned the room one last time before settling on a lone Duros seated at the far off corner of the establishment. “There’s one,” she mumbled and took her drink as she stood to walk over to his table.

The Duros male sized them up and down, but didn’t move or speak until Rey sat opposite him. “That’s taken,” he grumbled.

“I don’t see anyone here.”

“I said,” he leaned forward slightly, “it’s taken.”

“We just want to talk. A business transaction that could benefit all of us.” The Duros grumbled again, but didn’t respond. Rey took it as a sign to continue speaking. “We need to get to Mos Espa.”

“Then get a ship.”

“We tried, but they wouldn’t let us near one. They’re looking for a droid just like ours--”

“I heard. A jedi girl and a senator blew up Drujjalb’s place, got the entire city looking for them. How do I know you ain’t them?”

[rey-thescavenger]

But you're a King and I a Lionheart

[rey-thescavenger]

knight-ofrens:

As the two suns started to set, the jedi girl stood up and walked outside of the building as she gestured for him to follow. Ben walked behind her, turning his head around from time to time, worried about being followed. 

They had to walk around for some time before they finally found the cantina - which wasn’t difficult to spot, since nighttime had drawn many of the village’s inhabitants to its doors. By the time Rey and Ben stepped into the picturesque establishment, it was fully dark, one of the moons of the system shinning brightly in the sky, while the other two showed their halves. 

Inside the cantina, there was a cloud of smoke, almost like a strange mist. Ben narrowed his eyes and coughed softly and discreetly as he kept behind the jedi girl, that advanced determinedly towards the counter.

Rey ordered drinks for them. Nothing strong as they had to keep their minds sharp. Thrutfully she only knew one alcoholic drink by name as she hated the taste of them and didn’t fancy the effects. But they had to blend in and what better way than with a drink in hand. Rey glanced over her shoulder to observe the seated pilots and smugglers all around them. BB-8 kept quiet. No one minded him which was a good sign. “Do you spot anyone who could help us?” She asked Ben.

[rey-thescavenger]

But you're a King and I a Lionheart

[rey-thescavenger]

knight-ofrens:

Ben didn’t realize how hungry he was until he saw the jedi girl take out the two pieces of bread. The rush of adrenaline from the fight, the excitement and the sense of danger had drowned the fact it had been quite some time since they last ate. 

His stomach grumbled in a very unrefined way at the sight of the meal and he could feel his cheeks burn as he reached out for the food she was offering. “Thank you” he managed to utter, his gaze avoiding hers. It was clear that after that mission she would not be able to see him as the Respectful Senator Ben Solo Organa, who could talk his way out of any situation. 

Rey nodded and lifted the flask towards him in case he was thirsty. She set it down between them as they both ate in silence. The building they were in served to shelter them until twilight. Rey kept her scarf over her head, grip tight on her weapon which she concealed under layers of clothes. She indicated for the senator to follow her as they both made their way down the streets in search of a cantina.

[rey-thescavenger]

But you're a King and I a Lionheart

[rey-thescavenger]

knight-ofrens:

Ben listened to her, his arms crossed over his chest. He had long ago dropped the studied, regal movements he used when he was playing his diplomatic character. “Sure” he just replied shaking his head softly “I will leave you to handle it. You probably know what you are doing better than me. But… it is not true that we have no credits left.”

As he said this, he bent down and took off his boot and turned it upside down. There was a clinking sound and credits of different shapes and sizes rolled on the floor. “Not many” he added, looking up at her “but better than nothing, I guess.”

Rey looked at him, clearly impressed. She nodded. “That’ll be enough.“ For food at least. They didn’t need anything more. What they needed right now was to get to a ship and out of the city. Away from Drujjalb and his thugs. Rey glanced at BB-8 who turned its head towards her in turn. They could try to contact New Republic forces, but there was no guarantee they’ll make it in time. Drujjalb’s men were at the landing bays. The landing of Republic forces could endanger their mission of ending the war. Relying on a smuggler was much quieter and safer. For the galaxy, maybe not for them.

Rey took her sack and took out two small pieces of bread, a flask which would serve both of them and the meat she bought. She glanced at the senator and offered him his portion of the food.

[ronfaureart-deactivated20250720]

REY

[rey-thescavenger]

But you're a King and I a Lionheart

[rey-thescavenger]

knight-ofrens:

Ben scoffed, a little smirk appearing in his lips. “I am a Senator, but I am human. Not some kind of demigod that never comes out of his hiding place because he thinks the world is unworthy of his presence” he made a pause as he shook off some sand dust from his vest “Of course I have been to a cantina. Maybe not a Tatooine cantina, which I expect to be more… picturesque than Republic City’s ones, but I certainly know the kind of alien life that can be found in one.”

If only the jedi girl knew those cantinas used to be almost like a home for his father… Han had not always been the well considered and fearless hero he was now. 

“I have no problem going to a cantina. As I told you in the ship, before everything went wrong, I am not defenceless. I, too, can be dangerous.”

Rey was taken aback. “I don’t doubt that,” she said and glanced down at the blaster she gave him which was now hanging from his belt. Rey didn’t mean to offend him. She cleared her throat and continued. “The kinds of people who go there have a particular way of doing things. If we want them to help us, we’ll have to be careful about what we say or do. Epsecially since we have no credits left to offer them.”

[rey-thescavenger]

But you're a King and I a Lionheart

[rey-thescavenger]

knight-ofrens:

Drujjalb had been quite fast to react to their escap. He probably had already planned this attack as soon as he found out he was coming on a diplomatic mission to Tatooine. Ben should have know this was his strategy all along, to corner him and then take him out, assuring this way that the Republic would not interfere in this war and his business affairs anymore. He should have brought more men, he should have been less of a pacifier and more stern, demanding and threatening. 

“Well, the only place we can go to find shelter” he said. “Across the desert and towards the other Hutt’s operations base. This war has two sides. If we’ve found a foe in Drujjalb, maybe we find a friend in Plud.”

Rey chewed on her lower lip as she considered his proposition and tried to think of a plan. “We’ll need a ship, then.” They couldn’t use the one they came in or Drujjalb’s men would know. It was like painting a huge target on the side of the ship and hoping the Hutt’s thugs wouldn’t notice it until the ship was well in the air. Impossible and silly to even consider. “We could get a smuggler to get us out and where we need to be.” Rey paused and tilted her head slightly to the side. “Have you ever been in a cantina, Senator?”

[rey-thescavenger]

But you're a King and I a Lionheart

[rey-thescavenger]

knight-ofrens:

As he adjusted the belt around his pants, Ben mused about how strange it was to be treated as an equal and not a superior outside the Senate. Since his mother and father had left to travel around the galaxy together, he rarely had had a honest, heartfelt conversation. With other senators and even with his own uncle, it always felt as if everyone was after something. His approval. His influence. 

Not with Rey. At first, he had thought her stern and harsh. Now he realized it was exactly those traits what made her feel much closer, outside of the vicious circle of hidden agendas and lies that was the Senate. Ben often though if common people knew all the intrigues that went down in the aisles of the Senate they would sure stop believing in democracy. 

Her voice brought him back to reality. “I am not tired” he calmly stated “We can still make it further before the suns set. I, for one, would rest much better if we put some distance between us and Drujjalb’s minions.”

“That’s what Drujjalb thinks too,” Rey said, hands folded over her chest. “His men are scattered towards the outer reaches of the city, or somewhere near the center.” Rey had seen them. They didn’t seem to recognize her. Maybe Drujjalb hadn’t aquired any holoimages of them yet. BB-8 would be redbeacon for them, though. Which was why they shouldn’t spend a lot of time on the streets. “Where are we going, anyway?”