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#Post#: 3839--------------------------------------------------
nO bIt/ChEs, No LaNd: Reylo Medieval AU
By: winterssmary Date: December 18, 2023, 6:53 pm
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HTML https://64.media.tumblr.com/f10a9dded085a1f45a19bd6138f53127/tumblr_oaa2ayC7UE1v2u9f1o1_500.gif
will i keep this image? who tf knows. i don't really care.
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#Post#: 3841--------------------------------------------------
REY [1]
By: winterssmary Date: December 23, 2023, 9:32 pm
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The shop was abnormally quiet that afternoon. There had been a
significant lull in customers over the last few days, a symptom
of the battles raging in the adjacent towns and all the fighting
men taking up arms. The only people who bought arms from Unkar
on days like these were farmers looking for new slaughtering
weapons or boys looking to prove themselves men in the war.
Actual soldiers and knights wouldn't be back until the battle
was done and they needed repairs. That was when Unkar's shop was
always the busiest, when he required all of his apprentices and
workers to be going nonstop. The quiet day was a nice change of
pace, significantly less exhausting. Life seemed easier when Rey
could only hear the roaring of the forge, the clanking of her
hammer on a blade, and the hissing of heated metal being cooled.
It was a lifeless ambiance that she had learned to enjoy, a
refuge from the war waging around them throughout Exegol and
Chandrila. The chaos was hard to hear over the shrieking of the
grindstone. The world was hard to focus on while she made
adjustments to her own personal arms. It wasn't uncommon for her
to, in her free time, sharpen her own blades when she thought
she could get away with it. Her dagger, in particular, needed to
stay as sharp as she could manage. It was her most practical
method of self-defense and, unfortunately, it wasn't outrageous
for her to have to use it. Or, at the very least, brandish it at
a few men who followed her through the marketplace or people
who've tried to steal bread from her basket. Carrying her sword
out of the shop was wasn't exactly easy, especially since she
would prefer it concealed. It was easier than handling her bulky
scabbard and quicker for her to get to in her cloak pocket
instead of the bouncing sheath at her hip. Of course, if Unkar
knew that she used some of the shop's materials on something
personal, he would have her charged with theft. She might lose a
hand, if not her life. Her sword -- scabbard and all -- was
hidden underneath her bedroll, moved out to a hollow board in
the herb garden when Unkar got a little too nosy about her
personal life. Her dagger was on her person at all times, hidden
in her bodice if she wasn't wearing a cloak. At the moment, with
the sweat on her brow from the heat of the forge, a cloak was
entirely unnecessary. Her soft scabbard was resting against her
ribcage, masked by the seam of her beige bodice. It was a poorly
constructed garment, one that she had the misfortune of
repairing several times throughout the years, adding
almost-matching fabric as she grew. It paired as well as could
be expected with her khaki skirt, which needed the well-worn
leather belt around her waist in order to keep it from sliding
down her body. Her swallow brooch was fastened above her left
breast and her hair was tied in a low bun. Her smithing apron
was heavy on her body, slapping against her thighs when she
walked. She had just taken off her heavy gloves, setting them
aside on the workbench, when Unkar stormed into her work
station, gloves clomping uncomfortable against the stone floor.
She wiped some of the sweat from her forehead, leaving behind a
small smudge of ash in its place, she was certain. "I'll have
one of my most efficient and talented smiths on it right away,
mi'lord," Unkar said, the usual domineering demeanor completely
absent from his tone. If anything, he seemed shaky, almost
intimidated. That alone was enough to put Rey on edge, worrying.
Who was this lord that he was referring to that had him on edge?
Unkar never showed even the slightest bit of fear. He kissed up
a little, but he never liked to give up his power. "That is, if
you don't mind entrusting your blade to a woman," he added. It
was only then that two men entered the space behind him. One was
a tall, pale man. He was skinny, freckles sparsely littering his
skin, with sleeked-back, bright red hair. She didn't recognize
him, nor was he wearing any particularly identifying colors or
sigils. His companion, however, immediately made Rey tense up.
The man was taller than his redheaded friend, with mighty broad
shoulders and thick muscles. She could make them out even
beneath his sleeves. He wore a serious expression, his dark
brown eyes nearly sending a shudder through her. His hair was
thick and black, falling to around his collarbone, like the mane
of a majestic horse. He was incredibly handsome. However, she
couldn't focus on how attractive he was. Her eyes were, instead,
drawn to the wolf sigil he wore on his cloak; the blue and the
silver that adorned his clothing. Lord Ben Solo. She halted
entirely for a moment, unsure of what to make of the situation.
The Kingslayer himself was in her shop, carrying a fractured
blade. No wonder Unkar was nervous. One wrong move and he could
execute the entire shop's workforce in just a few moments. Even
with Rey's few practice moves, she wouldn't stand a chance.
"Rey, here," Unkar grumbled, snapping his fingers and gesturing
for her to join the group. She cleared her throat, but nodded,
slowly approaching the three men. This man was leading the
charge the war that she so desperately wanted to end, fighting
for the wrong side of history. She wasn't exactly keen on the
idea of repairing the sword he might use to take the heads of
her friends. Up close, he seemed much larger than she thought,
which was saying a lot. "What can I do for you,
mi'lord?"[/center]
#Post#: 3844--------------------------------------------------
BEN [1]
By: Zellaphone Date: December 28, 2023, 8:35 pm
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Mud clung to Ben's boots as he and Hux strode through Niima in
search of the blacksmith's shop, though it wasn't the mud that
made his every step feel heavy. The war was draining him. The
battles and Snoke's demands were taking their toll on him the
longer the war dragged on, but he had to persist. Snoke needed
him, and he needed Snoke in order to gain greater power and
purpose of his own. He knew this would all be worth it in the
end, even if he was struggling to get through it all now. The
death of his father was what weighed heaviest on his mind,
though some time had passed since then. Of course, it didn't
help that he had been the cause of his father's death, under
Snoke's orders. Every day he wondered if he had done the right
thing, but he couldn't let Snoke or the other soldiers see his
doubts, nor could he let his own doubts get to him too much. He
needed to trust that Snoke's plans would come to fruition and
that he would gain his own rewards. With Snoke he could finally
have the appreciation, power, and respect he had always
deserved. He could feel valued. His life could have meaning.
However, all he needed to focus on right now was getting a new
sword. The last battle had proved to him just how poorly crafted
his favorite sword had really been. It had broken nearly in half
during battle and could have wound up getting him killed if he
hadn't been more careful. He was going to make sure that he
didn't make the same mistake of buying such a poorly made sword
again, and he had heard a couple of other soldiers mention the
craftsmanship of an apprentice working under Unkar Plutt, the
local blacksmith. He was keen to meet this apprentice and was
curious to see just how good their work truly was. He was Kylo
Ren, Snoke's fiercest and most feared warrior -- the Kingslayer.
He deserved nothing but the best. As they approached Unkar's
shop, Ben adjusted his cloak, making sure his sigil was visible
so there would be no mistaking who he was, though he doubted
there would be even without the sigil. By now, it seemed most of
the land was very aware of who he was, which was the way he
believed things should be. When they entered the shop, they were
greeted by a rather large man, who Ben assumed was Unkar Plutt
himself. It became very clear when the man recognized him, and
Ben watched as he straightened up, and listened to how his voice
became more shaky after her explained why he was there. The man
feared him, which Ben took pleasure in. To him, fear was not far
off from respect. You could get people to do many things for you
if they feared you, and they wouldn't question you. He liked it
-- getting what he wanted and feeling as though he had earned it
somehow. It was a nice change from how things used to be for
him. Although, it wasn't as if he wanted everyone to fear him.
He enjoyed having genuine connections with people, when he
believed it mattered. His servants, for instance, didn't serve
or stay with him out of fear. Hopefully, they didn't even stay
just for the money. He could tell that he had earned their
loyalty through his respect for them and his care. Though he
could be described as cruel, and he sometimes was, he took care
of what he believed to be his. Plutt began to lead himself and
Hux to one of his smiths, describing them as one of his most
efficient and talented smiths, which was just what he needed. He
was certain this had to be the smith he had heard of. However,
it was then that Plutt revealed that the smith was a woman,
hoping that he wouldn't mind. Hux scoffed at that. “A woman for
a blacksmith? That is practically unheard of in these parts. We
should take your business somewhere else, my lord," Hux advised
him, but Ben simply put up a hand, signaling for Hux to silence
himself. Though the man was his advisor, he wished that Hux
didn't feel the need to comment on nearly everything. He would
decide who would make his weapon, and he didn't care in the
slightest if it was a woman. He trusted women to make his
clothes and cook his food. His own mother had been a queen. He
believed women to be just as capable as men. "That is
acceptable," he told Plutt, waiting to meet the smith in
question. That was when he spotted a young, thin woman in a work
apron, her brown hair pulled into a low bun, her tanned skin
freckled and smudged with ash, and her hazel eyes directed right
at him. Ben's breath hitched at the sight of her. Even though
she was dirtied from a day of work, he could tell how beautiful
she was. He'd be a fool not to see it, he believed. Plutt called
to her, Rey, snapping his fingers as if she were a dog and
gesturing for her to join them. Rey. That was a beautiful name.
It meant bold or courageous, if his memory served him well. Rey
cleared her throat and nodded, approaching him. He made sure
that his expression didn't waver, but he could feel his
heartbeat quickening. No woman had ever had an effect like this
on him before. She asked him what she could do for him, and he
didn't waste any time getting down to business, despite what he
was feeling in his chest. “I’ve heard from fellow soldiers that
you do fine work, and I’m in need of a new sword," he explained,
holding out his broken sword. “It will need to be a sword that
is long-lasting and shows expert craftsmanship. Are you capable
of producing such a weapon?” he asked her, ready to hear her
speak again.[/center]
#Post#: 3848--------------------------------------------------
REY [2]
By: winterssmary Date: December 31, 2023, 6:16 am
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Rey noticed the nervous tone in Unkar's voice as he pushed back
the curtains, letting himself into Rey's station at the forge.
That was unlike him. He didn't like to show signs of weakness or
give the implication that he was not in total control of a
situation. It immediately put Rey on edge. If Unkar was
uncomfortable with something, it must have been a pretty big
deal. Maybe the city watch had finally learned about his
collection of stolen goods. Maybe the king himself was sending a
proxy. Either way, she stiffened up immediately. The man was
followed by two other gentlemen, one with bright red hair who
looked like he just smelled something awful, and one with broad
shoulders and dark hair. She noticed the sigil on his cloak: a
lone grey wolf on a blue background. It was a relatively new
sigil, but one that had already become quite infamous throughout
Exegol and into the surrounding kingdoms. It was the sigil of
the new House Solo of Chandrila, ruled by the Kingslayer. Her
blood ran cold instantly. It was Kylo Ren who practically
started the war by killing his own father in cold blood. He was
said to fearless on the battlefield, taking life after life
without any signs of slowing down. It had been told that he was
cruel and callous, that he didn't tolerate mistakes and he
rectified them with sheer brutality. He was the king's lapdog,
immune to punishment. And he was in her shop, being lead to her
station. To say she was nervous would be an understatement.
Unkar explained that Rey was one of his finest and most
efficient smiths, but warned the men that they would dealing
with a woman. The redheaded man scoffed, claiming that such a
thing was unheard of. While that was true, Rey knew her worth.
She was good at her job. Most people who bought her weapons
bought them ready-made, unaware that a woman had crafted them.
If they had known, she likely wouldn't have made a shilling. The
man recommended, to Kylo Ren, that they go somewhere else.
"She's earned her keep and taken to her lessons well, but we
have other options, should it suit you," Unkar said. However,
the handsome, dark-haired murderer disagreed. The power he had
to silence the insolent redhead with just a movement of his hand
astounded Rey, but it made her nervous regardless. Lord Solo
assured both of them that a woman smith wouldn't be a problem.
This puzzled her. Was it a trick? Was it because there would be
fewer consequences should he hold her face in the forge? Or was
he being genuine? "Very good, mi'lord. I assure you, she'll
exceed your expectations," Unkar promised. He lead them all
closer, calling Rey over with a snap of his fingers and pointing
to the spot in front of him. There was absolutely no respect in
his actions, which she had come to expect. Fighting back usually
got her a swift slap in the face and she wasn't looking for that
sort of embarrassment in front of the Kingslayer. He obeyed her
master, wiping some sweat from her brow a leaving a hint of soot
in its wake. She approached everyone, standing where she was
commanded to, trying not to let herself seem too afraid. She
asked what she could do for him, referring to Kylo Ren, the man
who didn't have a problem with women crafters. He told her, his
voice smooth and deep in way that she found far too enticing,
that he had heard tale of her work from other soldiers, which
caused her to perk up immediately, a small spark in her eyes.
"I've a reputation?" Recognition -- particularly positive
recognition -- was a rarity for her, something she thought she
would never have. It felt... nice, oddly enough. Despite the
fact that these well-crafted weapons were being used by soldiers
who targeted her friends. The man held out his sword, blade
broken and jagged at roughly the midpoint. She pondered it for a
moment. Lord Solo asked that his new weapon be long-lasting,
showcasing quality craftsmanship. He asked if she could achieve
something like that. She nodded. "With ease," she assured him.
Unkar nodded. "Very good. Now, Lord Hux, if you wouldn't mind
coming with me to discuss costs," the man said. Before he left,
though, he gave Rey a chilling glare. "I'll leave you to your
consultation," he said, grabbing Rey's arm for a moment and
getting close to her ear. "Don't fuck this up, or it'll be your
head," he whispered, giving her arm a rough squeeze that she was
sure would leave marks. She nodded and Unkar released her,
guiding the redhead back to the storefront. Rey rubbed her arm
for a moment, taking in a breath before shaking her head
entirely, as it to forget the entire uncomfortable interaction.
A consultation was easy for her, often one of the more fun parts
of her job. She liked learning about people's combat styles and
creating a weapon that worked well for them. She liked
discussing cosmetic details as well. And, on top of that, Lord
Solo wasn't complaining that she didn't have a penis, so she
already felt like things might run smoothly. He just genuinely
seemed to admire her work. That was a rarity for her. "May I?"
she asked after a moment, gesturing toward the hilt of his
broken sword. Once he handed it to her, she began examining it
carefully, looking for the flaws that might have caused it to
break, wondering weather it was shitty craftsmanship or that the
Kingslayer was just an overrated swordsman. "Who made this?" she
asked rhetorically after a moment, amazed at just how poor the
weapon was. Did smiths really have no standards? She gave it a
quick swing, aiming behind the two of them so that there was no
question that anyone was in danger. She noticed the odd pull,
the way that the edges were shaped, and the hollowness of the
material. Even damaged, she could tell this was made to be
disposable. "The balance is way off. Even before you broke it,
there's no way it didn't give you a little trouble. Did you
notice it pulling to your right when you swing?" she asked,
wondering if it impacted him in battle. It had to, she thought.
But she wasn't a knight or anything. "It's probably why it broke
so easily. Too much weight on the tip and unbalanced edges. You
tell because of how hollow the metal is at the base. Someone
smaller likely would have toppled over just trying to life the
damn thing," he added. She turned back to Lord Solo, a
bewildered expression on her face. "Whoever sold you this
obviously didn't care if you lived or died," she added for good
measure. She held the weapon back out to him, not at all worried
about holding onto it. She couldn't use the poorly crafted
compound of metal from the blade, nor did the hilt seem worth
sparing. "So, not much of this one is going to be salvageable do
you prefer broad for long?" she asked, committed to crafting an
entirely new weapon from scratch this time. She wouldn't taint
her own work with something done by an absolute idiot. [/center]
#Post#: 3850--------------------------------------------------
BEN [2]
By: Zellaphone Date: January 3, 2024, 9:24 pm
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Plutt's shop didn't appear to be anything special, but Ben was
willing to trust his fellow soldier's recommendations during
desperate times. He had no idea when the next battle would be,
but he knew he couldn't waste time obtaining a new sword that
was worth his coin. Hux clearly wasn't impressed with the
smithy, if his expression of disgust was any indication. He
obviously thought the place to be beneath them already, despite
barely having stepped into the shop. Unkar Plutt greeted them,
and Ben could see the exact moment he was recognized, and he
took great pride in the way Plutt changed his whole demeanor
afterward. He enjoyed having a reputation, and not just one
built on his bloodline. He loved people not daring to meet his
gaze, or crowds parting for him like waves. He liked having
people respect him, even if they were doing so just out of fear.
To him, it all proved that Snoke was right -- he could become
something great. He explained to Plutt the reason for his visit,
and the man offered one of his most talented and efficient
smiths to work on his new sword. Plutt began to lead them back
to that very smith, but not before warning them that she was a
woman, hoping that wouldn't turn him away. Immediately, Hux
scoffed, pointing out how unheard of it was for a woman to be a
blacksmith, suggesting that he take his business somewhere else.
Ben wasn't going to be so easily swayed, however. He held up his
hand, silencing Hux as Plutt tried to assure him that the smith
had earned her keep and was properly trained, though he had
other options. He told Plutt that a woman blacksmith crafting
his weapon was completely acceptable to him, Hux not daring to
argue any further. Though Snoke had been the one to make Hux his
advisor, Hux knew that Snoke wouldn't mind him punishing him for
speaking out of turn, if he saw it fit. He was still the one who
held the power here. Plutt told him that the smith would exceed
his expectations, which only made him more keen to meet her and
see what she could do. "We shall see, won't we?" he asked
rhetorically, entering the smith's workspace. It was then that
his eyes landed on a woman that caused his heart to skip a beat
and his breath to hitch in his throat. She was thin -- perhaps
too thin, but that could be remedied -- with long brown hair
that was tied into a messy, low bun, hazel eyes, and freckled
skin that was smudged with soot. He couldn't fully explain it,
but she was breathtakingly beautiful to him. He was pulled from
his thoughts by Plutt saying her name, Rey, and snapping his
fingers, pointing to a spot in front of him. It was a way in
which Ben might call for one of his dogs, which he thought was
very unfitting for a woman as beautiful as Rey. She obeyed
Plutt, wiping sweat from her brow and further dirtying her skin
in the process. She asked him what she could do for him, and he
did his best to keep his composure as he answered. He told her
that he had heard from fellow soldiers about her work, and
explained that he needed a new sword, holding out his current,
broken one. She questioned him hearing about her, seeming
surprised that she had a reputation. “Perhaps, if you truly are
as talented and as efficient as I’ve been told," he said, using
Plutt's own description of her. She pondered his broken, jagged
blade as he told her that he needed a sword that would be
long-lasting and showed excellent craftsmanship, asking if she'd
be capable of producing such a weapon for him. Without
hesitation, she nodded, claiming she could do so with ease. So,
she was hard-working and confident, it seemed. He liked that.
Seeming satisfied, Plutt asked Hux to come with him to discuss
costs, and Ben nodded to his advisor, dismissing him. "Very
well," said Hux begrudgingly, still clearly displeased with
Ben's decision to trust a woman smithy. Plutt told Rey that he'd
leave her to her consultation, but then grabbed her arm, leaning
forward to whisper something in her ear. Ben stared at the grip
the man had on Rey, seeing that the skin on her arm around his
fingers was snow white, which caused his gaze to harden. Rey
nodded at whatever Plutt said, which if Ben had to guess, had
been a warning, and Plutt and Hux left them be. He watched as
Rey rubbed her arm, which only made it more clear to him how
rough Plutt had been with her. He wondered how he was with her
when customers weren't around. A woman of such beauty didn't
deserve such brutish treatment, he believed. He would be gentle
with her. "Charming," he said quietly and sarcastically,
referring to Plutt before Rey asked if she may see his sword. He
nodded, handing off the broken weapon to her. She began to
examine it, and he watched her carefully as she did so, liking
just how focused she was. After a moment, she asked him who had
made his sword, sounding amazed, but not in the way he would
have liked. It was obvious that his sword had been poorly
crafted. She gave the sword a quick swing, which impressed Ben.
He could tell just from the brief movement that she knew how to
handle a blade, which he would hope was true for someone who
crafted them. She pointed out how the balance was off, asking if
he had ever noticed the sword pulling to the right when he
swung. Yes, he had noticed that, but he had made do with it.
"Perhaps a bit," he answered. Honestly, the blade had been a
gift to him from a smith in another town who had recognized him
and flattered him, so he felt as though he had to use it.
Obviously, he shouldn't have, though he had gotten in many kills
with it. Rey pointed out that the sword being off balance was
likely why it had broken, noticing how hollow the metal was at
the base. She was proving to him more and more by the second
that Plutt hadn't been fooling him when he had assured him that
Rey knew what she was doing. She told him that someone smaller
than him would have likely toppled over trying to lift the
sword, which was probably true. She added that whoever had sold
him the sword clearly hadn't cared if he had lived or died,
which now had him wondering if the smith that had gifted him the
sword had actually admired him all, or had just wanted him to
get killed. “I see. In that case, I’ll have to pay that smith
another visit," he said, imagining the terror on the smith's
face if he were to return. If the man had been trying to get him
killed, it was only fair that Ben taught him a lesson. She
handed him back his broken sword, admitting that it wasn't going
to be salvageable, which was fine with him. She asked if he
preferred a long or broad sword, and that answer was easy for
him. "Broad," he answered. "As for the other details, I'm
curious to see what a skilled smith such as yourself can come up
with. If you could truly exceed my expectations, I would be more
than impressed," he told her, challenging her.[/center]
#Post#: 3852--------------------------------------------------
REY [3]
By: winterssmary Date: January 4, 2024, 2:34 am
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Unkar called Rey over with the same gruff voice that she was
used to. It was a shift from the nervousness he showed Kylo Ren
just seconds prior. He obviously didn't hold the same out of
respect -- or fear -- for Rey that he did for the lord in front
of him. Regardless, she had no choice but to obey, especially in
front of King Snoke's lapdog. Disobedience could get her killed.
She addressed Lord Solo in particular, asking what she could do
for him. He told her that he had heard rumors of her skill from
other shoulders, which surprised her. Most people who owned her
weapons hadn't known that a woman made them. Unkar did that on
purpose. He held out his broken sword for her to examine, but
she was too taken aback by the fact that she had a reputation
among shoulders. She questioned that, which the lord did not
seem surprised by. He merely said that she likely earned it if
she was as talented and efficient as he was told. She looked
over the sword finally as Lord Solo said that he needed a weapon
that would last for a long time and that was well-crafted,
asking if she could do that. She nodded, assuring him that it
wouldn't be a problem for her. Unkar then dismissed himself,
asking Lord Hux -- who accompanied Kylo Ren -- to come with him
to discuss finances. Before he left, he grabbed Rey by the arm,
roughly dragging her to him and whispering that she would be
dead if she messed this up. She nodded roughly, having to rub
her arm once he finally let go. She could already feeling little
spots -- potentially bruises -- going to build up. She was
snapped out of it when she heard Lord Solo speak up,
sarcastically pointing out how charming Unkar was. "Isn't he
just?" she said mindlessly, matching his sarcasm. Then, all at
once, she realized what she had just done. She had insulted her
master -- her male master -- to a powerful man in the kingdom,
one with a reputation for cruelty. He surely wouldn't approve of
her insubordination. He might tell Unkar, which could get her
hurt. Or worse: he might take matters into his own hands to see
to her punishment. "Sorry, mi'lord. I don't mean to speak ill of
my... my master," she said, nearly choking on the last word. She
then asked for permission to look at the man's sword, carefully
examining the piece, even giving it a quick swing to see how the
construction impacted it's usage. She ranted a bit about the
poor quality, talking about the lack of proper balance. She
asked if it had impacted him, specifically about the pull to the
right. He said that he had noticed, but only a bit. He corrected
for it, obviously. It was the only explanation for how he
survived. "Could've taken your arm off if you didn't have the
wrist strength," she added nonchalantly. She pointed out that
the lack of density and consistency in the metal likely would
have lead to someone toppling over if they were smaller than
Ben. It explained why the sword broke, since there was too much
weight on the tip and poor quality throughout the piece. It was
top heavy. She made a comment saying that whoever made the
weapon didn't care if he lived or died, not thinking much of the
statement. However, Kylo Ren seemed to really consider that,
saying that he may have to pay them a visit. Her blood ran cold,
her body stiffening. "I-," she said, freezing up a bit, unsure
of what to do. Did she just sentence a man to death? She
couldn't live with that. "Sorry, mi'lord. I was merely
exaggerating. Perhaps the last craftsman was just...
inexperienced?" she said, hoping that he would calm down. No one
needed to get hurt. She handed him his broken sword back, her
hands shaking ever-so-slightly. She told him that none of it was
salvageable, asking what kind of sword she wanted. He told her
that he wanted a broadsword, which was not surprising. He added
that, when it came to other details, he was curious to see what
she came up with, since she was so skilled. He challenged her,
saying that he wanted to see if she could truly exceed his
expectations, which instantly put her on edge. "You're allowing
me some freedom? she asked, genuinely surprised. And scared. If
she messed this up, she could easily be killed. "That's rather
bold of you, sir. Most lords and knights are very... particular
about their blades," she added, not sure if he really wanted to
go through with this. But... if she questioned him, would he
strike her? "Then again, most of them don't trust a woman at the
forge. You strike me as someone of... uncommon ideas," she
added, deciding not to further question him, but to instead
affirm his ideas. It was best to go along with it. Probably.
Right? But... wait, what did she just say? Did she just call him
weird, saying he was different than other knights? What if he
was upset by that? "I mean no disrespect, of course. I meant it
as a compliment, mi'lord," she added quickly. [/center]
#Post#: 3854--------------------------------------------------
BEN [3]
By: Zellaphone Date: January 7, 2024, 2:00 pm
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Ben was not impressed with Plutt's treatment of Rey. The man
clearly held no respect for her, despite him saying she was his
best smith. The way he snapped his fingers at her as if she were
a dog, however, didn't displease Ben as much as Plutt grabbing
her arm roughly to whisper something into her ear. Ben watched
the movement with deep interest and judgment, wondering to
himself how Rey was treated when Plutt didn't have a client
right in front of him. He had some theories, all of which were
not ways he'd treat such a beautiful, and apparently talented,
woman. Especially someone who was a source of his income, but he
held his tongue. Plutt left with Hux to go discuss the cost of
his sword, leaving himself and Rey alone for the consultation.
He saw her rub her arm where her master had grabbed her, and he
sarcastically pointed out how charming Plutt seemed to be. To
his surprise, and his delight, Rey also spoke with sarcasm,
agreeing with him. Ben smirked at her display of clear disgust
toward her master. He wasn't used to a woman speaking so freely
before him, but he liked it. He liked her. However, she seemed
to immediately second-guess her tone, apologizing for speaking
ill of her master, practically choking on the last word. If it
hadn't been clear to him before that she was being mistreated,
it was clear to him now. “You’re allowed to speak freely. It’s
just us," he told her, being sincere, though he doubted she'd
have the nerve to continue speaking ill of Plutt. She might view
his words as more of a challenge than an actual invitation, and
everyone knew the dangers of speaking poorly of one's master.
She asked for permission to examine his sword, and he gave it to
her, watching her with keen interest as she looked over his
sword carefully. She ranted about the sword's poor
craftsmanship, giving it a swing that further proved to Ben how
experienced she must be with blades. She spoke of its terrible
balance, asking him if he had noticed that it pulled to the
right. Honestly, he had, but he had corrected for it. Rey
mentioned that it could have taken his arm off if he hadn't had
the wrist strength, to which he simply nodded. He was definitely
more than capable of handling such a weapon, even if it had been
a poor one. It had been a gift, however, and the first sword he
had obtained after joining the war, so he had felt as though he
needed to use it. Snoke had led him to that blacksmith, after
all after hearing high praise about him. Clearly, the praise had
been misplaced. She further explained why the sword had broken,
even saying that whoever had crafted the sword had clearly not
cared whether he lived or died. Now that was something he hadn't
considered. Perhaps the blacksmith had given him a poorly
crafted weapon on purpose. Anger began to pool at the pit of his
gut at the thought, and he made a comment about having to pay
that smith another visit. That seemed to frighten Rey, and she
stammered before apologizing, claiming that she had been
exaggerating and theorizing that the smith had been
inexperienced. Ben doubted that was the case. Rey had obviously
just realized that she had possibly condemned a man to death and
was trying to change that. It was... sweet, in a way, but he
scoffed. "I highly doubt that," he told her. Just from their
brief interaction so far, he could see that Rey was very
knowledgeable, so he wasn't going to doubt her initial thoughts.
She handed him back his sword, telling him that none of it was
salvageable, which was fine with him. She asked him what kind of
sword he wanted, to which he responded that he wanted a
broadsword. He added that he was going to leave all the other
details for the sword up to her since she was apparently so
skilled. Really, he was challenging her, wanting to see what her
own mind came up with and if she was really as good as her
master let on. He told her he'd be more than impressed if she
could truly manage to exceed his expectations. Rey questioned
him, her surprise evident as she asked if he was really allowing
her freedom. She pointed out how bold that was of him,
mentioning how most lords and knights were very particular about
their blades. While that was true, he was far more curious to
see what she'd do on her own. And if she did a poor job then,
well, he'd deal with that when the time arose. She went on to
say that most men, however, didn't trust a woman at the forge,
so he strikes her as someone with uncommon ideas. He couldn't
help the deep chuckle that escaped him at that. She wasn't
wrong, he certainly did have a lot of ideas that most considered
to be uncommon. Perhaps it was just the way he was raised... but
even though he harbored great bitterness and a mix of complex
emotions when it came to his parents, he couldn't bring himself
to let go of all of their teachings. She quickly added that she
meant no disrespect with her words, assuring him that she had
meant them as a compliment. He smirked again. The more he spoke
with Rey, the more he liked her and craved more conversation
with her. “I take no disrespect. I acknowledge that I’m a man of
uncommon ideas," he told her. “I’m simply curious to see what
you can accomplish. You strike me as a very… capable woman,”
he confessed, looking her up and down.[/center]
#Post#: 3856--------------------------------------------------
REY [4]
By: winterssmary Date: January 7, 2024, 11:13 pm
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Rey didn't fully realize what she had just done until the words
were already out of her mouth. What seemed like a harmless
sarcastic comment could very easily get her beaten. Speaking ill
of her master was a potentially grave offense, especially given
that she was a woman with no prospects and no husband or family
to protect her. All she said was Unkar and the fact that he
hadn't kicked her out -- or killed her -- yet. She saw the smirk
on Ren's face, but it didn't quell the instant anxiety that hit
her. She apologized quickly, saying that she should not talk
about Unkar that way, referring to him as master. Doing so made
her want to vomit. He said that she could speak freely, since it
was just the two of them in the room. He spoke rather gently, a
sincerity in his tone that gave her pause. "I should not want to
seem ungrateful for my master, mi'lord," she said, knowing that
she had to protect herself. She had to. But no one had ever
given her freedom to speak up before. No one had ever treated
her like a human after finding out she was a woman. Kylo Ren, of
all people, was the first one who seemed to... to actually give
her a chance. But could she trust it? Was it all some sort of
elaborate trap? Would it be more problematic if she kept her
mouth shut now? Did he want her to complain? "But he's an
insufferable ass and isn't worth the broken steel of your
sword," she added. Then, her fear came back. What was she doing?
"Wait-," she said. What was she thinking? She was so confused.
What was the right answer to all of this? She wasn't sure.
Either way, if Unkar knew what she said, he would surely hurt
her. "D-don't tell anyone I said that, please," she begged.
"Even if it is true," she added. She sighed heavily. "I'm sorry,
but I feel like you're testing me, mi'lord. And I'm failing
miserably," she admitted with a little chuckle, hoping to come
off as playful and casual so that he didn't take her too
seriously. Maybe, if he thought this was all banter, he wouldn't
think anything of it. Maybe he'd forget about it. Maybe she was
overthinking this. She examined his sword carefully, making
comments on the poor balance and the bad quality of the metal.
She was mostly doing it to -- for starters, be honest --
highlight her own skill and make him feel that he was in good
hands. The sword was poorly made, but there was no need for her
to attack the blade so viciously. She simply felt that by
highlighting the flaws of his current sword, anything she
crafted would seem that much better. She even made a comment
about how the smith who crafted the weapon must not have been
too concerned with whether Lord Solo lived or not. She had made
a horrible mistake when she said that, apparently, since the man
seemed to really think on it. He mentioned even paying the smith
a visit, which made Rey's blood run cold. Her hands began
shaking, her body stiff. She couldn't live with herself if her
comments sentenced an innocent man to death. She told him that
she was exaggerating, claiming that the smith might just be
inexperienced. He scoffed, saying that he doubted that. "I don't
mean to overstep but -," she started, clearing her throat and
panicking once more, second-guessing herself, not sure if saying
anything else might be dangerous for her. But she would rather
risk his wrath here and now than live with the guilt of another
man dying because of her offhanded comments. "Surely, mi'lord,
there is a solution in which no one is... no one is hurt," she
offered, but she wasn't very hopeful. This was Kylo Ren, a
notoriously violent and brutal individual. After a moment, she
told him that his old blade wouldn't be salvageable, asking what
type of sword he wanted. He told her that he wanted a
broadsword, but that the other details would be up to her, since
she was curious about what she might come up with. This was both
exciting and daunting. On one hand, she was confident that she
could create something powerful and beautiful. But she also knew
that, if she messed it up in any way, it could mean her life.
His statement read as a challenge, which was worrisome. She
questioned him though, saying that it was bold to give her that
sort of freedom. Most knights were particularly about their
weapons. And, on top of that, most men thought her incompetent
since she was a woman. She told Lord Solo that he was a man of
uncommon opinions, which earned a laugh from him. She assured
him that she meant it as a compliment and he smirked, saying
that he wasn't offended. He added that he was curious to see
what she could do, since she seemed capable. But maybe capable
wasn't all that he meant, given the way his eyes moved over her
form. "I-," she stammered, heat rushing to her cheeks. Was he
flirting with her? She wasn't okay with that. Not at all. Not a
knight known for brutality and cruelty. "I see," she said,
looking down at the stone floor, hugging herself, bracing
herself for something. Was this was Unkar always talked about
with how men would see her? He always warned that men could and
would take advantage of her. It was why she kept the dagger in
her bodice. "Uhm, thank you, mi'lord," she said, knowing she had
to be polite, regardless of how unsafe she might feel. [/center]
#Post#: 3862--------------------------------------------------
BEN [4]
By: Zellaphone Date: January 11, 2024, 5:57 pm
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Ben smirked as Rey matched his sarcasm when speaking about her
own master, confirming his thoughts that she wasn't very fond of
him. It was bold of her to speak about Plutt in such a way --
foolish, even -- but he enjoyed her honestly. However, it didn't
take her long to realize what she had done, and she apologized,
admitting that she shouldn't speak poorly of her master. The
word master she practically had to choke out, it seemed. He
assured her that she could speak freely, pointing out how it was
just the two of them. He wanted to hear what she genuinely
thought of her master, knowing that she likely was being
mistreated behind closed doors. That thought didn't sit very
well with him. Any other woman he wouldn't really care, but Rey
was different. She was something special, he could tell. She
told him that she didn't want to seem ungrateful for her master,
but then she quickly changed her tone, saying that he was an
insufferable ass that wasn't worth the steel of his broken
sword. Ben grinned at that, pleased by her honesty. "Is he now?"
he questioned, intrigued. Then, she changed her tone again,
looking nervous once more as she began to stammer, begging him
to not tell anyone that she said that, even if her words were
true. She sighed, adding that she felt as though he was testing
her and that she was failing miserably. “Not at all. You’re
doing tremendously well," he assured her with a smirk. "And your
thoughts on your master shall remain between us," he promised
her, not wanting her to worry about that. He had no intention of
getting Rey killed. He had no reason to. She then examined his
sword, making comments and immediately identifying what had been
wrong with the blade, pointing out its poor craftsmanship. It
was clear that she knew what she was talking about, and Ben was
impressed, though he was not at all pleased with the smith of
his broken sword. She told him that whoever had crafted his
blade clearly hadn't cared whether he lived or died, and that
was becoming more abundantly clear to him. He said that he'd
have to make sure to pay that smith a visit, and Rey seemed
fearful of what he was insinuating. She tried to suggest that
the smith had just been inexperienced, but he scoffed, saying
that he doubted that. Snoke had recommended that smith to him
after hearing remarkable things about his work. Rey spoke up
again, clearing her throat and appearing more and more nervous
as she stated that she wasn't trying to overstep, but she
believed there was a solution to the issue in which no one was
hurt. Ben studied her for a moment, surprised that she'd make
such a suggestion to him. He was a lord while she was just a
blacksmith's apprentice. He was Snoke's most feared and
respected knight, and his strength and brutality were known
throughout the land. It was interesting that she had the nerve
to suggest such a thing to him... and he liked that about her,
he found. “Perhaps, but that remains to be seen," he told her,
wishing to move on to other matters. “But I wouldn’t worry
yourself with the fate of a stranger," he added. Maybe he would
still visit the smith, or maybe he wouldn't. Either way, it
wouldn't affect her. They returned to the topic of his sword,
and Rey told him that none of what remained of it would be
salvageable. She asked him what type of sword he wanted, and he
told her that he wanted a broadsword. It was what worked best
for him. As for the other details, he told her he'd leave those
up to her, curious to see what she'd come up with and if she
could truly exceed his expectations or not. She questioned him,
mentioning that most men were particular about their blades, but
she also pointed out that most wouldn't trust a woman at the
forge, so he struck her as a man with uncommon ideas. He managed
a chuckle at that, and she quickly assured him that she didn't
mean any offense by her words. He wasn't offended at all,
however. He knew that he had uncommon opinions, and that suited
him just fine. Smirking, he told her that he wasn't offended,
saying that he was curious to see what she could do since she
appeared to be a very capable woman. He looked her up and down
at that, and she didn't seem to miss his double meaning. She
stammered, her cheeks turning red in a way that he liked. He
took great pleasure in making women blush, but making Rey blush
was different. It felt more like a triumph somehow. Perhaps it
was because the only other women he tried to make blush were the
women he paid for in the brothels. Rey looked down, suddenly
hugging herself, which was... not exactly the reaction he had
wanted. Was she not attracted to him? Was he making her
uncomfortable? She thanked him, remaining polite, but he could
see that he had overstepped. Dammit. Should he try to push her
further? Perhaps see if she'd end up enjoying his advances?
Maybe not. At least, not now. “Forgive me. Perhaps I have
overstayed my welcome,” he said, taking a small step back. “When
should I return for my sword?”[/center]
#Post#: 3864--------------------------------------------------
REY [5]
By: winterssmary Date: January 11, 2024, 9:16 pm
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Kylo Ren had just granted Rey permission to say whatever she
wanted about Unkar Plutt. She never thought something like this
would happen, nor did she really know if he meant it or not. She
worried that this might be some sort of trick so he could
justify having her killed. Or sold to a brothel or whipped or
something else that happens to girls who speak poorly of their
masters. Still, she took a chance, letting him know how she
felt. It was brief and didn't go into detail. She simply said
that he was insufferable and not worth the steel of his broken
sword. The grin on Lord Solo's face was a comforting one, one
that made her think that maybe he just liked the entertainment
that gossiping commoners could provide. She certainly hoped that
was the case but, to cover her tracks, she apologized. She told
him that she did not want to seem ungrateful for her master. She
begged him not to say anything to Unkar about this, saying that
she felt that he was testing her and that she was failing. He
smirked, assuring her that she was doing incredibly well, which
confused her a little bit, but there was something about his
voice that made her believe him. He wasn't going to hurt her. He
wanted to hear what she had to say, even if it was not the
ladylike approach. She let out a little sigh, relieved. She felt
her shoulders relax a bit. "Oh... well good, then. I'm glad I
haven't disappointed you yet," she said with a small smile. He
told her that her thoughts on Unkar would remain private,
between the two of them. And, again, she found only earnestly in
his voice. She believed him. She couldn't remember the last one
she genuinely believed someone, especially a nobleman. "Thank
you, mi'lord. Thank you," she said softly. She then took to
examining the sword he brought her, criticizing the shoddy
craftsmanship and all the trouble it was sure to cause Lord
Solo. It was amazing that he survived with such a poorly made
weapon. She truly thought that a smaller man or one without any
swordsmanship skills would have fallen victim to his own blade.
She made an offhanded comment about how the smith didn't care
whether Lord Solo lived or died. In truth, the comment was just
to play into her own skill, making herself seem a much better
smith in comparison. She didn't mean it literally... though she
did wonder if sabotage was at play. A self-respecting smith
would not have disgraced themselves with a sword like this one.
Kylo Ren, however, made a thinly veiled threat to return to the
smith and take matters into his own hands, which terrified her.
She didn't think she could live with herself if she sentenced a
man to death. She told him that she hadn't meant what she said,
trying to make things work out and keep him calm so that there
was no bloodshed. But it didn't matter. The thought was already
in Ren's head. Her hands were trembling slightly as she tried to
suggest, as politely as possible, that there was another
solution to this matter so that no one was hurt. She was so
nervous, scared that he might cut out her tongue right then and
there. But he had been so encouraging of her speaking her mind
and, regardless, she couldn't forgive herself for saying nothing
and someone getting killed as a result. She had to try. He
stared at her for a moment and she tried to hide her trembling
under his gaze. She made a mistake. She was going to die. He
told her that it all remained to be seen, adding that she
shouldn't worry herself with the fate of a stranger. She bit her
lip, but nodded. That was his polite way of ending the
discussion without ending her life. She should be grateful, even
if the outcome wasn't perfect. He wasn't going to hurt her or
punish her for speaking out of turn. She might not get so lucky
again. "Right... right. Of course, mi'lord. Sorry," she said
quickly. They began discussing the details of the sword next,
Ben saying that he wanted a broadsword, but leaving the other
details to her. She said that he was a man of uncommon ideas,
since most people wouldn't trust a woman to make these sorts of
decisions on her own. But she was thrilled with the freedom he
granted her. He told her that he wanted to see what she was
capable of, since she was apparently so talented. But the way he
called her capable while his eyes raked over her form made her
feel vulnerable, like he might take advantage of her. She hugged
herself, a blush on her cheeks as she thanked him for the
compliment. She couldn't be rude. But she felt... scared. Unkar
told her all about how men viewed her and how they would treat
her if they had the chance. Lord Solo was the most powerful man
who had ever visited the ship. Anything he did was without
consequence. And yet, he made no moves to her. Instead, he asked
for her forgiveness, which caused her to blink, quickly looking
at him, confused. Perhaps she had misjudged him. Maybe he wasn't
like the men that Unkar talked about. He suggested that he
overstayed his welcome, but she shook her head quickly. "Oh no,
mi'lord. It's nothing like that. I meant no offence -," she
insisted, but he was already asking when he should pick up his
weapon. Realistically, if she worked on multiple pieces like
normal, it would be at least two or three weeks. But, since this
was Kylo Ren, she had a sneaking suspicion that she would be
working on his sword nonstop until it was perfect. "Seeing as
your weapon is high priority, it should be ready by the end of
the week, mi'lord," she assured him. She wanted an extra day or
so for cosmetic decisions, so she thought this was a good
timeline. "I will hurry to be as effecient as possible," she
said. [/center]
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