ben never sold his artwork, and thought that, perhaps, he should. after all, he’d never be more than a secret artist if he didn’t put it out there –– but in truth he didn’t feel entirely confident in his work, not enough to believe people would want to buy any. and he knew that, if he took to the streets with paintings and hour after hour strangers walked by, not sparing him or his work another glance, he’d just feel deflated and unmotivated. he didn’t want to taint the thing he loved most next to flying.
in hindsight, he should’ve sensed her. her presence shouldn’t have taken him as off guard as it had. but maybe it was some kind of glitch in the system –– some lingering, unforgiving blindness from his false life without the force. ben had been caught staring at her paintings as he walked by –– slowed down, even, to get a better look. he’d seen them, but not her, and not until she spoke. and he would know that voice anywhere.
she had gone from the girl to the scavenger to rey. and rey was the first person to call him ben solo since he faced his father for the last time. rey was the first person who understood him, who saw something in him that nobody else did. rey left him. that was the only thing he remembered after his defeat on crait –– rey shutting him off, leaving him alone, and him knowing that he deserved it. it was when ben solo became kylo ren… and nothing more.
and right there, at that very moment, she was looking at him like a stranger. he knew he should shake his head and keep walking, but he couldn’t. he couldn’t walk away. he wouldn’t.
ben cleared his throat, nodded at the display. “which is your favorite?”
for a brief moment when he looked at her, he almost looked as if he’d seen a ghost or something. perhaps he’d been so lost in the art that he was startled by her question. rey wasn’t sure, but she maintained a polite smile as she glanced at the display that he had been eyeing. they’d mostly been landscapes, a few of the places she’d actually seen and others of the places she’d only dreamed of.
when the man finally spoke up, rey considered his own question. her favorite? well…there wasone that she truly felt attached to. almost to the point that she didn’t want to sell it, but…she could attempt to replicate it if she wanted to. her eyes drifted to the painting of takodana. of the lake where she’d spoken with han, where she’d seen green and water and beauty. she’d painted just as it had come across to her - as the most beautiful place in the universe.
“this one,” she finally spoke up, gesturing to it. surely this man wouldn’t know where takodana was, let alone that it was an entirely different planet in an entirely different galaxy. “i painted this from memory of a lovely place. i don’t know when or if i’ll ever get back there. but it reminds me of that time.” rey let out a small sigh, wondering if she’d ever see such a beautiful place again. it was nice here, yes, but it didn’t compare. not wanting to come off as too attached to it, however, she turned back to him with a smile. “if you’re interested in this one, or any of them, do let me know and we can negotiate a price.” truly she wouldn’t ask for much - especially from someone who seemed to appreciate art the way that she did.
