#plpoe

[detroitverse]

Poe, Finn, Rey and Rose in my new cowboy themed challenge.

Close-knit, they won't take kindly to getting pitted against each other and may very well decide to split the prize, regardless of who wins.

[enkisstories]

The Damerons learned "clipping into each other so that it looks as if we were holding hands/locking arms" from the Ticos!

[detroitverse]

Love is... locking arms with your sweetheart while she reads her repair book, all the while serenading her. Damn, Poe, you're slaying it!

[detroitverse]

The cowboys had gotten told the categories they would get evaluated in, but not the exact skills that would provide the score.

Guitar contributing to "Culture" was a bit of a stretch, but there they were, merrily taking turns plucking away on the strings of a single guitar between the four of them.

After watching Poe Dameron play for a while, Armitage noticed that he gave the others helpful hints to improve their own playing.

What was the point of this? They were rivals! Why would Dameron give his opponents pointers? It made no sense!

Oh, well, all the better for him! Should Dameron sabotage himself, that would only help him, Armitage, come out on top.

Armitage slammed down the keys of the piano with mathematical precision, but little heart, until the noise drowned out Poe's guitar play.

[detroitverse]

Rose and Poe didn't take the "First Kiss" card, because the chance was so low. Then "Passionate kiss" came up and they were able to do it, with one caveat: No locking lips.

Realizing that something was amiss, they agreed to keep their relationship open. Maybe once they had gathered more experience with other partners, they could figure out how to kiss each other? Trouble was, neither of them had an idea whom else to try with.

[detroitverse]

Armitage spent more time with the cowboys than he had planned to (or even noticed). One day he was this close to sharing promotion secrets with Finn.

Only Poe talking about his favorite love songs saved Armitage from the near lapse.

Finn seemed to really like what he heard... But what had come over Armitage! These people were not his friends! He needed to remind himself of that.

[detroitverse]

Poe: "Sit down, Mr. Hux! Ever sat on the grass before?"

Armitage: *snorts*

Poe: "And now smell the flowers! Breathe! Let everything flow out."

Much to Poe's surprise, his boss' son follows his advice. Armitage relaxes, just a little, but that little is enough for Poe to shoot his question.

Poe: "Why did we have to move the cows today?"

Armitage: "I noticed that this meadow is rich in flowers and herbs that will give their milk a special note. Couldn't let that go to waste."

Poe: "Are you knowledgeable about that kind of thing? Botany? Natural sciences in general? You a scholar, Mr. Hux?"

Armitage: "I'm nothing of that sort."

Poe: "But you're my age, maybe even a little older. You must have, well, maybe not officially learned a trade, but picked up lifeskills. Went to college, maybe?"

Armitage: "I do have a field of expertise, yes."

Poe: "So what is it?"

Armitage: "In addition to my primary vocation, I also have a modicum of military training that includes resisting clumsy interrogation attempts."

[detroitverse]

The next day Armitage ordered the cowboys to herd the dairy cows on a different pasture. The foreman watched them closely and at the end of the process noted down a score for everyone in secret.

But then he added a fifths line to the table...

Poe: "Hey, boss! Boss' son... Mister Hux! A word, please?

Armitage: "What's the matter, Dameron?"

Poe: "You seem to get scored just like us."

Armitage: "Oh, do I?"

Poe: "Yes. We saw. And you don't sound surprised in the least. What's going on here?"

Armitage: "Well, what did you figure out so far?"

Finn: "Your father wants to promote one of us. But if you were in the running, too, wouldn't he just give you the job, you being family?"

Armitage: "My score is just a benchmark. If any cowboy drops as low as a layman, they don't deserve to get kept on the payroll, let alone get promoted."

Rey: "That makes sense."

Finn: "Yes, because it comes from Hux jnr.'s mouth. But old Hux? He doesn't make sense. He's a nutcase. So I reserve doubt. If you ever want to talk, Mr. Hux, you know where to find us."

Armitage: "I don't want to talk. But I would like to stay for a while longer."

Rey: "Sure, knock yourself out. It's your land, after all!"

The foursome saw Armitage wince at Rey's remark. What had been so bad about it, they wondered?