And happy last day of Flufftober 2021. Somehow, I've managed to write a drabble for every prompt - and somehow, many of you have read them all! It's been a great challenge to write and post every day, and I appreciate so many people sticking with me!
I decided I wanted to do two drabbles for the last prompt. I thought about doing a two-parter, but ended up doing something different: a canon drabble and an AU drabble. The canon drabble is from Poe's POV, and the AU drabble is from Finn's POV, set in the same magical universe from several earlier drabbles. Both are Finnpoe and both have the same focus--and both (once again) bend the prompt. One is more sad, one is more sweet. I hope you enjoy them both. Thank you to @flufftober2021 for the prompts, and thank you again to everyone else for reading! 😊
Day 31 - Holiday Traditions (Canon)
“This feels weird,” Poe announces. He glances at Finn, standing next to him aglow in his Jedi robes. “It looks weird.”
Finn nods. “I thought so too, when I first appeared to her. But it’s normal.”
“What, the blue light and buzzy feeling?” Poe asks dryly, hoping he doesn’t sound as nervous as he feels. “That’s normal?”
“The first time, yes,” Finn replies. “You’ll get used to it.”
“I doubt it,” Poe murmurs, then sighs when Finn gives him a questioning look. “Finn, I’m not Force-sensitive. I won’t get used to it.”
Finn takes Poe’s hand, even if it is only in spirit. “You are, you know. Force-sensitive.”
“I’m not,” Poe replies. “I could never be like you, in life or death. You have a power I could never have—Finn, you’re a Jedi! I’m just a pilot.” He pauses. “Or, I was a pilot.”
“The best damn pilot in the galaxy,” Finn reminds him, and Poe holds back another sigh, because he misses it—misses flying, misses his ship, misses BB-8. Kriff, he misses his little droid.
“Because every time you flew, you tapped into something bigger than you—the Force. It’s why you’re able to appear with me.” He grins and bumps shoulders with Poe, even if neither of them feels it. “With a little help, of course.”
“And I appreciate the assistance,” Poe replies dryly. “But I don’t see this becoming a regular thing, buddy. It must be a drain for you.”
“Not on Beacon Night,” Finn says. “The boundary between worlds is thin, easier to transverse. That’s why so many cultures light the fire, hoping that they will see those they’ve lost. It’s a tradition on hundreds of worlds.”
“But how many people actually see those they’ve lost?” Poe asks.
“I don’t know,” Finn admits. “But you have me, and I have the Force, and we’re going to see Rey.”
“What if she doesn’t light the fire, or want to see me?” Poe asks. “I’ve been gone for years, Finn. I miss her, and I know she misses you, but…” He trails off, not sure what he wants to say.
Finn frowns. “Poe, why are you so worried? I would have given anything to see you again after you died. I can’t believe I found you when I did! Rey will be thrilled to see you too, trust me.” He cocks an eyebrow. “And BB-8 will be there.”
“Wait, what?” Poe turns and stares. “Are you serious? He’s with Rey?”
“Of course,” Finn tells him. “I left him with her, and she’s taken good care of him. So even if you’re worried about seeing Rey—which you shouldn’t be, since I’m sure you’ll start bickering almost immediately—at least come see BB-8. Please.”
Poe wants to see Rey again, he does, but it is the thought of seeing his faithful astromech again that convinces him. He nods and takes Finn’s hand once more, ready to cross over. “All right,” he says. “Let’s go do some haunting.”
Day 31 - Holiday Traditions (AU)
“It’s tradition,” Poe tells him again.
“We crossed over once,” Finn replies. “Last Halloween. That’s not a tradition.”
“Not yet, but if we go again, then it will be! Finn, it’s the one night of the year she can see us, hug us. We have to go!”
“Poe, we’re dead, we don’t have to do anything.” Poe gives him a dry look that could set leaves on fire. Finn holds out his hands in surrender. “Look, I know it’s tough, but it’s true.”
“She’ll be expecting us,” Poe says. “We can’t let her down.”
“Poe,” Finn sighs. “I miss her too, but maybe we need to let her move on.”
“And then what?” Poe asks, his voice sharper. “Just ignore her? Finn, we’re still here. We haven’t moved on. Are we supposed to just watch from the shadows, slamming doors to let her know we’re still hanging around?”
Finn snorts. “Yes, and we can rattle chains and flick the lights, too. How about that?”
“How about we go see her?” Poe asks. There is a note of pleading in his voice now. “Do you know what I would have given to see my mom again?”
“I know,” Finn replies, taking Poe’s hand. Perhaps not literally, but in spirit. “I guess one more time won’t hurt.”
“So we can go?” Poe looks so hopeful, Finn could never say no now.
“Yes, but…” He takes Poe’s other hand. “We need to move on someday, too.”
Poe shakes his head. “I’m not ready. I want to stick around, watch her grow up.”
“She’s a bright, happy young girl, and one day she will be a good, strong witch.” Poe nods, swallows thickly as Finn continues. “Moving on won’t change that.”
“But I want to be there,” Poe whispers. “I want to watch her graduate, get married, start a family…” He trails off. “That’s a long time away, though.”
“Yes, it is,” Finn says. “And I think you’ll probably be ready to move on before then. For now, we can celebrate Halloween the right way. By haunting our granddaughter!”
Poe bursts out laughing with him. “We are not haunting her. We’re visiting, like grandparents are supposed to.” A thoughtful look appears on his face. “You know, Halloween is the one night of the year we can corporealize again.”
Finn rolls his eyes, because he knows exactly where this is going. “And you actually want to have sex with our family in the next room?”
“No, I was thinking you could cook something. I miss your cooking.” Poe smirks. “Although I do miss your body, too. I can set a dampening spell should you be interested in reacquainting yourself with mine.”
“I cook, and you’ll give me a magical blow job?” Finn teases. “Sounds just like when we were alive.”
“Finn?” Poe wraps his ethereal arms around him and places a ghostly kiss on Finn’s lips. “I love you even more now that we’re dead.”
Maybe this new tradition won’t be so bad after all.
