Skywalking Across the Stars

He saw the doubt in her eyes and immediately seized onto it. "But that's just what you did when you sought out Luke, is it not? Except this time, you aren't being turned away." He leaned in a bit, his eyes boring into hers. "You know that deep down you want this. Why keep running from it?"

His voice was still soft, though there was an obvious urgency to it, one he was trying to curb. Yet it was impossible to mask his desperation, his longing to take her as a pupil. Was this a desire to connect with a force user that hadn't simply been trying to control him, or was it some way to prove himself? To prove that he could be the teacher Luke wasn't. "Please. Just give me that chance, Rey." There was a flash of vulnerability in the eyes that just minutes ago had been filled with malice. A mask that was slipping, despite any intentions Kylo had set out with.

@reyofsands

Rey was surprised to see, and honestly feel, his genuine reactions to her hesitation. That sort of urgency one would have when their wants were right there for the taking. Her jaw locked tightly, looking up at him as his very being seemed to entirely engulf her with his large frame. How she listened to his every word, wondering if this was truly the right path to take with someone like him. Someone who would kill at a moments notice, but she couldn't deny her own feelings over this. They were whispering for her to go with it, to find another way into carving her own path.

"... Alright...--" Her voice was trying to find itself, and she had to clear her mind over worries of the others. This had to be for her, just for now. Just for a little while. "Alright. I'll go with you..." Was it possibly a mistake? Even now she couldn't tell that, because who could know of the future? This just felt like there was no other way. Luke, and yes even Leia, had disappointed her. Made her feel so inadequate. Always afraid of her potential, or whatever potential they were seeing, and unable to really voice it to her. It was only ever fear in their eyes that she saw. Yet, with him?? It was obviously clear enough that he was just as curious of it, of her, as she was of him. Was that a terrible thing to notice?

@destruxi

Kylo's eyes never left hers. "You don't believe that, though, do you? I can hear it--feel it." He reached up so that his hand was hovering inches away from her temple. "You're scared. It's frightening to be alone, isn't it?" Unlike before, his tone was not menacing. It was soft and genuine. Even he was surprised to hear himself speaking so candidly.

After all, he too had been afraid for most of his youth. Lost and looking for his place, never finding it among peers or even his own parents. He was ultimately led down his path by someone wiser. Someone now gone. So was he lost again? A voice in the back of his head had been asking that for some time now, and always he shut it out. Right now was no different. "I can show you how to conquer that fear, to make it serve you rather than keep you up at night."

@reyofsands

"....But I..." Her mind was racing again, feeling his presence so close to hers, and the Force driving them even closer with that near-invasive level of connection it had between them. The will to breathe was so difficult, but she remembered that she could only when he spoke again. This was so much to take in, but even with all the help of her friends no one was going to know exactly what she was going through. Her gaze drifted down, briefly, thinking hard on her last encounter with a mentor she thought would be for her.

"Luke didn't want me... because he was afraid. Said I reached for the darkness too quick, too easily. Told me to leave him alone, and so I did... but..." At just the thought of how she felt during all of that, of wanting to be the best for the likes of the Legend himself. For all of it to be turned down in the harshest of ways?? Not even Leia could console her on those feelings, when she discussed it with her over holo, before setting off with Finn and the others to this place. What other real choice did she have here? It wasn't like he was being violent with this offer, and yet some partial guilt was eating at her.

"I can't just leave them..." Her worries were mainly for her friends, and knew that they would not approve of this choice; one she was still heavily deciding on. Finn will hate me...they all will... was her main concern flooding her mind.

@destruxi

limeshade

Did he tell you what happened? The night I destroyed his temple—did he tell you why?

STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI (2017) Written and directed by Rian Johnson Cinematography by Steve Yedlin

boomdafunk

And the darkness keeps on falling for the light

Something in his eyes flickered with--was it hunger or hope? Maybe those were one in the same. He kept his voice low and his expression similarly soft, his eyes never leaving her. "Then isn't that all the more reason to learn? Ask yourself what you really know about your powers--about the Force. What Luke told you? What you've dreamt?"

He took one last step closer, leaving hardly anything between them. "Just come with me, and see what I can offer you. There's nobody else left or willing to teach you..." Or us, he thought wryly. "Unless you just want to go back to your friends and wait until that unchecked power finally explodes and hurts somebody." Didn't he know that all too well.

@reyofsands

"Kylo..." Her eyes were up on his and there was such a great hesitance in her very being, knowing that she could easily just go along with him. To take this chance to find out more about herself, and the Force as a whole. He really wasn't wrong with that, and a part of her wondered if her dreams were really seeping out that easily enough to be picked up by the likes of him. Is the Force pulling me towards his path? It must be...but!!--

"You're just trying to trick me." She couldn't even believe her own words, and the way her brows scrunched together indicated that she was in such huge denial over his offer for help. He looked so genuine, and she hated that. "I can control myself enough to not hurt any of them." Her lip was quivering with emotion, despising that part of herself that wanted to go with him. "You can't manipulate me!"

@destruxi

There was such a cruel amusement in his eyes as he listened. "Never find out? I already know. You know what it's like, Rey, to feel living things, events...the Force is something stronger than those so-called friends of yours could ever comprehend. If they knew the extent of the power that you could wield, they would fear you."

He took a step closer, towering over her smaller frame. "And maybe they should." Something more somber entered his expression, his eyes flickering over her. "Let me teach you. Let me show you that side that Luke would never dare let you know of. You wouldn't have to be afraid, to feel lost. Not anymore."

@reyofsands

Rey's fire died down into utter confusion when he started to speak, and she was almost too caught up by all of his words. That calm voice, were this any other person, any other situation, would have been so reassuring and -- She cut that thought right out, trying to really focus on what he was actually saying to her. The urge to reach out and take his offer was right there, but she attempted to steel her nerves and get her senses back on straight. They were definitely not made of the best steel...

A small shake of her head, trying to make sense of her own feelings, but now everything seemed so strange. Even she couldn't truly disagree with him, to a small degree, because sometimes she did wonder if Finn or the others were terrified of her power. Whenever she was able to showcase it to save them, a look would appear on their faces; small, but noticeable enough. Was it really just being awestruck with her? It was difficult to tell.

Yet, here this one was... offering her the chance to be with someone who actually did know what she has gone through. Who can feel her hesitance like it were stamped all over her face. It was intoxicating, this craving for some kind of understanding, and she was trying her damnedest to not jump at this.

"I don't want anyone to fear me..."

@destruxi

Indeed, her blathering on was annoying him to no end. His lip curled as he just barely kept himself from barking at her to be quiet, yet he held out for once (if only to prove expectations wrong). Finally, she stopped and he all too quickly responded. "No, they don't know. In fact, they think that it was you." A sickening smile touched his lips. "The most wanted girl this side of the galaxy, it's almost an honor isn't it? For a nobody like you."

He glanced to the side, seeing that no one was really taking much of an interest in them. In a way, she was safer here...unless somebody recognized the so-called Jedi with a handsome bounty on her head. "But it isn't all about you, of course. You know full well what we're after." His dark eyes locked with hers, and his fingers twitched at his side.

@reyofsands

"...?" Rey didn't realize there was even a bounty out for her, as none in the Resistance even told her. Maybe it was for the better. It was enough of a surprise that it left her momentarily speechless, and then a glare was back on her face whenever he mentioned the rest. It had her blood boiling to know he was just so smug about all of this.

"I don't care what you all want. You're never going to find them. So, go ahead. Put a higher mark on my head. I'll just lead every hunter far away from the others, or deal with them myself." It was all talk, because she knew that other major players in the Resistance were nearby on this planet. Even if she could get a moment to radio them again, it made her wonder if they would make it out of orbit. For all she knew Kylo hadn't come alone, and her mind was starting to race with nervous energy.

@destruxi

Kylo simply did as she asked, releasing his grip on her. She wasn't likely to run right now, he felt---and he could feel everything right now. He was conscious, however, of the fact that it could go both ways if he wasn't careful. His own emotions had to be kept in check (something he famously struggled with) or else they would bleed into the mess that was Rey's thoughts right now. From her, flashes of people and places--some familiar to him and some not--were rushing through their connection. His lip curled for just a second before he faced forward.

"Just calm down." His tone was measured. "We'll talk somewhere else. Take your pick." Ahead of them was no shortage of flashing neon lights beckoning passersby to partake in every manner of vice. All of them were sure to be packed, giving both the privacy of being lost in a crowd and perhaps the illusion of security to the other.

@reyofsands

Rey gave the area a look around, surprised he actually did let her wrist free, and she then pointed to an alleyway that was way more secluded. It was still with view of passerby's, if they chose to look down this spot. With a sharp glare, she finally looked up at him and pointed a finger. "Just who do you think you are? Still hounding me, after all this time? Does the First Order have nothing better to do? Or is some potential... Jedi, or whatever you'd call me, really that much of a problem for you all?" She was just talking his ear off, hoping it would aggravate him to no end, and maybe then he would finally call off this hunt.

"It was you who killed Snoke. Not me. But they probably don't know that, do they? Or would they even care... You're far more intimidating, when in one of your moods." She finally eased off just a little, and took a step back from him. Her nervousness, and in knowing it was more than just her they were all after. The Resistance always being the number one issue, she'd guess it.

@destruxi

He smiled widely, enough to narrow his eyes, and there was a clear sense of victory in it. 'Got you.' It seemed to say. But he spoke no words at first, simply keeping hold of her wrist and practically dragging her away from the bar she'd just rushed out of. Once further down the street, he began to talk in a low voice.

"You've been running for quite a while. How long did you really think that you could keep it up?" He inclined his head to cast a sidelong glance at her. "Do you forget how easily I can sense you? Your mind practically screams out in the force. It's so loud, as if begging for somebody to come for you." There was a smirk visible beneath his hood, and he recalled the images of her watching a ship fly away, the feeling of abandonment.

@reyofsands

"Uh, well... as long as I could, really." She shrugged a shoulder, acting like this was all completely fine, and most definitely not enjoying being nearly dragged off by his strong grip. His power was incredible, and at this close distance she could feel their connection was even more present. It was nearly overbearing how her feelings and his were intermingling, and on an aggressively personal level. She could sense his excitement as if it were her own, and her anger towards herself at being so easily caught.

"...And it's not my fault! I can't control what the Force wants to put out there!" That imagery of her old memory being shared between them, and she had to try to block it out with anything else, like the greenery of a forest-y planet. Finn or Poe laughing. Anything was better than the awful feeling of said abandonment, and she was viciously trying to hold on to those lighter times. "Let GO of me!" She finally demanded in a tone nearly petulant-sounding, trying to wrench her wrist free.

@destruxi

To the naked eye he was just another hooded figure on the street, head bowed and steps hurried. To her, however, he would be like some great shadow cast over the city. His aura oozed through the alleyways, reaching out with writhing tendrils for any taste of her presence. He knew that he was drawing closer, and she wouldn't be able to run forever.

In fact, she almost ran right into him. He sensed it before he saw it, yet lightning-fast his hand reached out to grab her wrist tightly. Kylo yanked her forward and leaned down close to her ear. "Make a scene and you'll watch the nearest civilians fall to my saber. Unless you don't care." He sounded hungry, as if wanting her to call his bluff so that he could deliver on it.

@reyofsands

Rey was just as startled to almost quite literally bump into him, not realizing he had been that close. Her paranoia and fear must have blocked out the part where she should've been paying more attention to her senses. These were things that Luke and Leia had been trying to teach her more of, focusing on the present, and not of the possible 'ifs'.

Now she was forced to do nothing but listen, and was so aggravated that he knew she'd do everything to avoid anyone getting hurt over her actions. Her gaze locked with his, a glare on her face and a silent nod while she contemplated what to even do in this situation. "... Fancy meeting you here." She'd try to play it casual, as though they weren't enemies pitted against one another, and intending to keep any surrounding ears from noticing the discomfort.

@destruxi

The thing that made rats and roaches pests was that they could hide. They could scurry around unseen, carrying their disease from one place to the next, virtually undetectable. That was unless, of course, you were sensitive to the Force. Not much could hide from you then, least of all such vermin.

She could scuttle about as she liked, but Rey was not as untraceable as she seemed to think herself. From ship to ship and planet to planet he'd followed her trail and finally found himself in this remote sector. It was an industrial town with a seedy stretch of bars and other establishments designed to distract the overworked population. On this dark and starless night, he pushed through the crowd and kept his mind focused on feeling her presence amidst the chaos of the city streets.

Come out, little mouse...

@reyofsands