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#Post#: 3875--------------------------------------------------
BEN [10]
By: Zellaphone Date: January 24, 2024, 5:14 pm
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Ben expected Rey to be pleased after finding out that she would
now be living with him. Compared to her tattered bedroll covered
in soot, just about anything would be better, but she would now
be living in a castle filled with servants to tend to her every
need. Why would she not be pleased? She'd never have to go
wanting of anything ever again. However, she only came off as
surprised and perhaps a bit... frightened? She clutched at her
bodice, telling him how sudden this all was, which he could
understand. This was only their second time meeting, after all,
but she was unlike any woman he had ever met, and he was certain
that it was her that he wanted. And if he ever changed his mind,
he could likely find somewhere else for her to go. He assured
her that he knew this must be a lot to take in, but that she'd
be comfortable in her new home. She apologized to him, telling
him that she didn't know what to think before asking why he
would do this, and why to her. He answered her, telling her that
he wished for her to be his wife, though he'd let that be her
choice. That certainly surprised her, and she repeated him,
questioning him, but he simply nodded. It wasn't rare for
someone in his position to be wanting of a wife, but it was
strange for a lord to buy a woman smith he had just met to marry
him. Many people would likely not approve, but he didn't care.
Snoke's opinion would be the only one that would truly affect
him. Rey took a step back, and his first instinct was to walk
forward and reach out to her to try and reassure her, but he
thought better of that. He stayed where he was, uncertain of how
he should handle this situation. Why did she seem so afraid? Was
it because of who he was? She assured him that she meant no
disrespect, saying that she was sure his home was lovely, but
then she began to stammer on her words. He waited patiently, his
head practically spinning as it tried to think of ways to
rectify this situation. Why wasn't she happy? Why wasn't she
just going along with him? Wouldn't just about any woman in her
position want to have what he was offering her? Rey pointed out
that she barely knew him, which was true, but they knew one
another better than any arranged marriage. She apologized again
before saying that him buying her didn't feel as though he was
leaving her much of a choice. His brow furrowed slightly at
that, and she apologized once more, clearly out of fear. He was
giving her a choice. He didn't lie about that. Sure, she
probably now felt obligated to stay with him since he had
purchased her, but he wasn't going to force anything upon her.
"Would you have rather stayed here?" he asked without thinking,
getting a bit frustrated with how Rey was taking all of this. He
understood that she was surprised, but why was she so hesitant
to live a better life? She should be thanking him, shouldn't
she? He shook his head. Getting upset at her wasn't going to
make her come with him easier. He assured her that she would end
up choosing him, explaining that he believed that they would be
a good match after getting to know one another. He told her that
she was hard-working, attractive, and seemed intelligent enough,
which were all things he wanted in a wife. That was when she
finally admitted that she was flattered, which was good to hear,
but she couldn't help but believe this was a trick. He quirked a
brow. A trick? She explained that she was a lowborn who didn't
know who her parents were, pointing out that men wouldn't want
her for marriage. That was what finally made him understand one
of the reasons why she might be afraid to come with him. “I have
no need of a whore in my home, if that is what concerns you," he
told her. If he wanted sex, there were brothels, and he had
money. Though he certainly wouldn't mind having sex with Rey,
that was something he was willing to wait on. “I won’t lay a
hand on you unless you ask," he assured her, not wanting her to
fear that she would be attacked at any point. He would respect
her boundaries. "Though I assure you… I can be quite gentle,” he
added a bit flirtatiously, smirking every so slightly before his
expression became serious once more. He was growing tired of all
this back and forth. “Now gather up your belongings so that we
may be on our way," he instructed her, wanting to be back at the
keep by the time dinner was served. [/center]
#Post#: 3876--------------------------------------------------
REY [11]
By: winterssmary Date: January 24, 2024, 6:54 pm
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Rey wasn't sure what Lord Solo expected of her. Did he expect
her to be thrilled? To be happy that she was being sold off to
the highest bidder in the same manner as cattle? Surely, he
didn't understand what all of this meant. How could he? He was a
man. And a wealthy one at that. He'd had parts of his path
chosen for him, sure. He was always to be the heir of his
family's estate -- until he murdered his father in cold blood,
of course -- and he was always to have a public life of comfort
and luxury. But he was able to choose his wife. He could
abdicate his lands if he so chose. He could control his own
finances, declare his loyalties as he saw fit. He didn't know
what it meant to not hold your own autonomy in your hands. He
didn't know what it meant to never have a say in what you do,
where you live, and who you spend time around. He didn't know
what it was like to start with nothing but your first name
written on parchment and a pin on your swaddling clothes. Him
buying her, declaring that he would marry her, wasn't a happy
statement. It wasn't her moving gleefully to the next stage of
her life, finally becoming the woman she was supposed to.
Instead, she was moving from one owner to the next. She was
told, just now, that her future would now include being taken
advantage of, forced to birth children in hopes that one of them
was a healthy boy. She would not be able to speak for herself.
Hell, she doubted -- with Lord Solo's wealth -- that she would
even be allowed to raise her own children. She would be bedded
by a man with a horrifying reputation -- if he didn't kill her
for treason first -- repeatedly and forced to give birth
regardless of how it hurt, how it could kill her in an instant.
Her entire future was forfeit. This was not a happy day. She
tried to explain this in a gentle way, reminding Lord Solo that
they barely knew each other and that this was a very sudden
development. She apologized, but told him that being bought
didn't leave her with much of a choice, like he claimed. The
illusion of choice was almost cruel, if she were being
completely upfront, but she dare not call him cruel to his face.
Especially since he was already getting irritated. He asked her
if she would rather stay here, an undeniable anger in his voice.
He didn't raise his voice at her, nor did his face contort too
much, but there was enough malice to give her pause. "I-," she
started, but she struggled to find the right words. How could
she answer him without upsetting him further? Was this her new
life? Having to dress up her every thought so that her husband
didn't strike her? Would that even work? It didn't with Unkar,
so why would it with Kylo Ren, the Kingslayer? If he could kill
his own father without cause, what would stop him from hitting a
woman? "It's more complicated than that," she said, trying to
keep her voice steady. Of course she didn't want to stay here
under Unkar's thumb. She hated the man. But no movement in her
life was going to be pleasant, apparently. "I'm to be passed
around from owner to owner until the day I day. This has always
been my truth. There had never been another future for me," she
explained. "No matter how fine your home is and how kind you've
been to me, it's not a happy experience for me. It's a reminder
that I am no more than livestock to be pawned and purchased,"
she added. She didn't show her anger toward the unjust system,
since it was not something Lord Solo created either. She just
stated this as the blunt fact that it was. Hopefully, he could
appreciate that. He appreciated her honesty before. "Besides, I
don't know how to be a wife, let alone a lady." Lord Solo
explained that he was certain that she would choose to marry him
in time, thinking they would work well together once they got to
know each other. He might be right, but she doubted it. She was
in the business of trading information with intent to hurt his
troops and soldiers. She doubted they could overlook differences
like that. He listed a few traits that he liked about her, which
was... kind, she supposed. Though it didn't make her any less
queasy. She told him that she was flattered, but explained that
all of this felt like some sort of trick. She explained that,
since she was lowborn with no money or prospects, that no one
ever wanted her to marry. He seemed to catch her meaning,
assuring her that he had no need for a whore. That was actually
really nice to hear. But that didn't meant that he wouldn't take
her against her will. Most men did that with their wives,
especially toward the beginning of a marriage. But then, he said
that he wouldn't lay a hand on her unless she asked. She
couldn't help the way her heart stopped at that, believing him,
for a moment. Her expression softened a bit, so hopeful. "Do you
really mean that, mi'lord?" He ruined it a moment later when he
assured her, his voice almost a purr, insisting that he could be
gentle. She couldn't help but stiffen up at that. She hated that
the sincerity of the moment was ruined by him trying to...
flirt. His face quickly became stern once more as he ordered her
to gather her things, obviously wanting to leave as soon as they
could. She gritted her teeth, but nodded. She removed her apron
before she went to her bedroll, gathering her sword and
attaching the scabbard to her belt. She took her folded dresses
and tucked them into a tattered bag. She wrapped her thin and
worn cloak around her shoulders, sure that the winter air would
make this a difficult journey for her. "I've no friends here.
I'd say it's probably best if I skip the goodbye tour," she
said. [/center]
#Post#: 3877--------------------------------------------------
BEN [11]
By: Zellaphone Date: January 24, 2024, 9:14 pm
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Ben was confused by Rey's reaction to his offer. Was she not
happy to finally have the chance to have a stable roof over her
head, or warm food in her belly? Was she not pleased that she
would always be clothed in the finest silks, waited on hand and
foot by loyal servants, and cared for by a nobleman? What more
could she want? Surely she didn't wish to stay with a man she
openly detested and sleep on a bedroll unfit for the rats. He
was offering her an escape from this unfortunate life she had
been given, and if she still wished to smith fine weapons and
armor, then he would see to it that she would get a forge.
Perhaps he wasn't giving her freedom, necessarily, but he was
giving her something as good as, right? She still had the option
to refuse to be his wife, though he hoped that she wouldn't. She
pointed out that they barely knew one another, which was true,
but that could change with time. A lot could change with time,
and he was hopeful that she'd get to know him and like what she
learned. He wasn't all bad. He could be loved... couldn't he?
She apologized, adding that him buying her didn't feel as though
she was being left with much of a choice at all. He furrowed his
brow at that, disappointed with that statement. He was still
giving her a choice. The money he had given Plutt had nothing to
do with that. Other men would have likely bought her to be a
kitchen maid or something far worse. Meanwhile, he bought her to
potentially be his wife. He asked her if she'd rather stay here,
his tone a bit gruffer than he had meant for it to be, but he
couldn't help but be frustrated. She stammered, telling him it
was more complicated than that. She explained that she was to be
passed around to different owners until the day she died, saying
this was always to be the case for her, and that she had never
had a different future in store. Immediately, he regretted the
tone he had taken with her. She told him that no matter how fine
his home was, or how kind he had been to her, she was not happy
with this situation since it was merely a reminder of how she
was no better than livestock to be pawned off and purchased.
Shit, that was not how he had meant to make her feel, but at
least she didn't sound angry... and he appreciated her honestly.
It helped him understand her situation better. He had never been
in her situation before, nor had he ever been anything less than
a nobleman. He did somewhat understand what it was like to feel
as though your future was carved in stone, but he had changed
his future after killing his father... Rey added that she also
didn't know how to be a wife or even a lady. "You-" he began,
trying to think of the right words to say. What was he supposed
to say to offer reassurance to someone who felt as though they
were to be nothing but property their whole life? Was there
anything he could even say? “You won’t be livestock to me…” he
told her with a sigh, running a hand through his hair as he
continued to think of what he could tell her. Perhaps buying her
had been the wrong way to go about all of this, but what else
was he supposed to have done? Would anything else have even
worked? “You yourself said that Plutt wouldn’t allow any other
life for you, so I used what I thought to be the best method to
prove otherwise," he explained to her. “And I thought I would be
met with more gratitude, but I was obviously mistaken," he
pointed out. He was still bitter about that, but he supposed he
couldn't change how she felt right now. Hopefully, in time, she
wouldn't feel like livestock. Perhaps after a good meal, a warm
bath, and a good night's rest, she'd feel more grateful. “As for
you not knowing how to be a wife or lady, that can be taught,”
he assured her. He had plenty of books that could likely help
her, as well as his own knowledge. He then tried to be confident
by telling her that he was sure that she would choose to marry
him, saying that he believed they could be a good match. He
listed some traits he already liked about her, and she told him
she was flattered, but she felt like this was all a trick. That
confused him, and he quirked a brow. She explained that she was
lowborn and didn't know her parents, making her someone a man
wouldn't want to marry necessarily. That he understood, but she
didn't need to worry about him. He didn't plan on taking her
without her consent. That wasn't something he'd do. He also
didn't care about her status. He didn't need more money or
prospects, so that wasn't a concern. He assured her that he
didn't need a whore, promising not to lay a hand on her unless
she asked. Of course, he was certainly hoping that she'd ask,
but he could be patient. While he did often crave the touch of
another, it was merely for connection and comfort more than the
sex itself. If he was lucky, Rey would be open to connecting
with him in other ways. Rey asked if he meant what he said, and
he couldn't be surprised that she was questioning him. Any other
man likely would take her whenever they pleased. But he was not
any other man. "I do," he assured her before trying to be
playful with her, adding that he could be gentle. That had
apparently been a mistake, judging from the way her expression
changed and her body visibly stiffened. It seemed as though she
wasn't going to take to his courting very well at the start, but
she would possibly warm up to it in time. He just had to figure
out what she liked, and the sooner they got to his home, the
sooner he'd be able to begin. Ready to be home, he instructed
Rey to gather her belongings, to which she nodded, though she
didn't look pleased. He waited as she removed her apron and
began to collect her things, taking her sword and attaching it
to her belt before putting some poor-looking dresses into a
tattered bag. He'd have to take her to get new clothes made for
her first thing tomorrow. Normally, that would be something she
did with her handmaiden, but he wanted to be sure that
everything was done correctly. Finally, Rey wrapped a worn cloak
around her shoulders that didn't seem as though it would keep
her warm from the winter's chill at all, and told him that she
preferred to skip saying any goodbyes since she had no friends
here. He nodded, fine with that plan, even if it was a bit
surprising to know that she had made no friends at all during
her time here. She must have been lonely, which was something he
could relate to. "Very well," he told her, taking his leave with
her and walking up to Carbonel who had waited patiently for his
return outside. "Here," he said, taking off his own cloak and
carefully draping it over Rey's shoulders. Due to their
difference in size, the cloak practically engulfed her, but at
least she wouldn't catch a cold now, and her wearing something
of his was a bit... endearing to him, he found. He held out his
hand to her, silently offering to help her onto his horse. In
hindsight, perhaps he should have brought an extra horse along,
but he wasn't disappointed that he'd have to spend his journey
back home with Rey against him. Besides, having one horse also
prevented her from attempting to run away. "Sit up front so that
I may keep an eye on you," he told her, fearing that she might
still try to escape him somehow.[/center]
#Post#: 3878--------------------------------------------------
REY [12]
By: winterssmary Date: January 25, 2024, 4:44 pm
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It took Rey a little bit to explain how she was feeling to Lord
Solo. Or, at least, part of how she was feeling. She couldn't
tell him about the paranoia she felt spending time with Kylo
Ren, a lord that she and her allies sought to overthrow. That
would get her hanged, no questions asked. But she could tell him
about how she was to be traded and sold away all her life, like
a cow or goat. She existed only to be used by others until the
day she died. He didn't quite know what that was like. She
wouldn't deny that being an heir came with certain expectations,
but he was a man. He had choices. And money. She had neither and
never would. She insisted that it wasn't being sold to him that
was the problem. It was being sold in general, which he seemed
to resonate with. He assured her that, to him at least, she
wouldn't be livestock. He ran a hand through his hair, a sigh
escaping his lips. It was obvious that this wasn't going the way
he planned, but she didn't know how else it could go. Was she
supposed to jump into his arms and be happy? Fall to her knees
in gratitude? Worship him like some sort of god for buying her,
like she was a prized hen? He explained that, since she said
that Unkar would never allow her another life, he used the best
method he knew of to change that. She supposed, given his
position, she could understand the idea. It was a kind thought.
"I appreciate th-," but then he made a bitter point about her
lack of gratitude. She blinked at that, irritated by the
comment. So he was expecting gratitude, as if he was some grand
hero for doing the expected thing of a man his age? For buying
another slave? "Well, I'm sorry I haven't met your
expectations," she said dryly. Likely, that wouldn't change. He
also assured her that she could be taught how to be a wife and
lady, which she knew was technically true, but it would take a
lot. Surely, it was more effort than she was worth. She couldn't
read, so she would have to be taught by a tutor of some sort and
it would require a lot of un-learning on her part. She asked
that she be forgiven, telling Lord Solo that she couldn't help
but think that this was some sort of trick. She told him about
how, because of her status, she was never sought after as a
wife. He seemed to understand her meaning, assuring her that he
had no need for a whore and he promised that he wouldn't touch
her unless she asked. Truthfully, she was shocked by the
admission. She believed him, if only for a moment. Any other man
would have just taken her. There wouldn't be any consequences
for him, whether he planned to wed her or not. But Lord Solo was
promising that this wouldn't be the case. He seemed genuine, a
softness returning to him that was almost comforting. Of course,
he immediately broke that by making a flirtatious comment, as if
she wasn't already incredibly uncomfortable. His expression
turned stern once more, ordering her to gather her things so
that they could leave. She didn't like the tone, nor did she
liked that she had to view him as a master now, but she would
obey if it kept her from being smacked. She did as he asked,
gathering what few belongings she had to her name, including her
tattered clothes and her sword. After slipping on a thin cloak,
she approached the lord once more, asking that they skip the
goodbyes. She didn't want to risk Simon accusing her of thievery
for leaving with her sword, since she wasn't supposed to have
it. She doubted Lord Solo would protect her from that sort of
accusation. He accepted that, leading her out of the shop and to
a... horse. Perhaps she was expecting a carriage or something,
but not a lone horse. Not that the horse was the problem. In
fact, it was quite a beautiful stallion, from what she could
tell. But it meant that the journey to Skyfall Keep was going to
be a little less comfortable than she would have hoped. Before
she could say anything -- or ask to pet the stallion -- Lord
Solo was lightly draping his cloak around her shoulders, a
comforting gesture that brought out a little pink in her cheeks.
"Oh, thank you," she said, the black cloak practically
swallowing her whole. It was like wearing a thick, fuzzy blanket
and she loved it. It blocked out a lot of wind that chilled her,
easing the goosebumps that rose on her arms. "Won't you be
cold?" she asked, wondering if he was doing out of the kindness
of his heart or just to appear more gentlemanly. Maybe it was a
bit of both. Either way, she wouldn't fight this kindness,
especially since it kept her warm. She just hadn't been
expecting it. He then instructed her to sit at the front of the
saddle so that he could keep watch of her, as if she would jump
off a speeding horse just to avoid this fate. Actually, it was a
smart decision on his part. She wasn't above bruising herself
for her freedom, especially where Kylo Ren was involved. "Yes,
mi'lord," she said stiffly. She didn't like having to call him
lord all the time, especially if she was going to be living with
him for a while. She also didn't like having to just do what he
said without question, never being asked what she liked or what
she wanted. But that wasn't anything new, she supposed. "You
have a magnificent horse, mi'lord," she said, helping herself up
onto the front of the saddle. "Does he have a name?" she asked,
leaning forward on the horse so that she could easily pet him on
the neck. [/center]
#Post#: 3879--------------------------------------------------
BEN [12]
By: Zellaphone Date: January 26, 2024, 11:59 am
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It didn't take Ben long to realize that he had seriously
misjudged how purchasing Rey would play out. She was not
grateful like he had anticipated for her to be, but instead felt
like livestock that was going to be passed from owner to owner
throughout her whole life. He knew that was a completely
understandable way for her to feel, but he couldn't help but be
frustrated that this wasn't all going the way he had hoped, and
he didn't know how to fix it. What was done was done, and he
couldn't undo purchasing her from Plutt. Even if he could
though, he doubted he'd ever have the chance to make her his
wife any other way. He pointed out that she had stated that
Plutt wouldn't allow her to live any other sort of life other
than the one he had given her, so he had used the only method
that would have likely worked to prove otherwise. Of course, Rey
still didn't seem to feel any better about the situation she was
in. Hopefully in time, however, that would change. Surely after
she saw Skyfall Keep and filled her belly with the finest foods
he could offer, she'd change her tune. Rey explained that this
all felt like a trick to her, revealing that she was a lowborn
who didn't even know who her parents were, which meant that most
men wouldn't want her for marriage. He understood her meaning
right away, but assured her that he hadn't bought her to be his
whore. In fact, that idea discomforted him greatly. He was aware
that other men would feel differently, but he had been raised
with a different view of women. Despite his... issues with his
mother, he did not regret her teachings, nor could he ignore
that, through watching her, he had learned that women were just
as capable as men and deserved equal respect. He promised Rey
that he wouldn't lay a hand on her unless she asked, which she
seemed relieved by. He would be too, if the roles were reserved,
though he'd be lying if he said that he didn't already know that
he did want to be touched by Rey. He added flirtatiously that he
could be very gentle, but that had, apparently, been another
wrong move. She visibly stiffened up, and once again, Ben found
himself to be frustrated with just how much he seemed to be
ruining everything. He'd have to use dinner tonight to try and
learn more about Rey so that he could hopefully interact with
her more properly. Growing tired, he instructed Rey to gather up
her belongings so that they could leave, and she obeyed, though
she did so with clear displeasure. He waited as she collected
the very few things that she owned which included her sword and
tattered clothes. Even her cloak was too thin and worn to keep
her warm. He'd have to make arrangements to get her new clothes
as soon as possible. When she was finished, she told him that
she was ready to leave, explaining that she had no friends to
say any farewells to. He accepted this, though he was surprised
to learn that she didn't seem to have any meaningful connections
in the only home she'd ever had. However, it wasn't as though he
had made any friends throughout his life, or any meaningful
connections. Even his own family hated him, which he obviously
couldn't blame them for at this point. He led Rey outside and to
Carbonel who was waiting patiently for his return. Really, he
probably should have brought a carriage, or at least another
horse, but he preferred riding on horseback, and giving Rey her
own horse would just give her a better way to run from him,
which he wouldn't be surprised if she tried to do. If she wanted
freedom so badly, running would make sense, though she wouldn't
get very far with him pursuing her. Glancing at Rey's cloak once
more, he removed his own, draping it carefully over her
shoulders. The last thing he'd need was for her to catch a cold
on their first night together. She thanked him, her cheeks
turning a pretty shade of pink as she let his cloak engulf her.
She looked rather endearing being swallowed up in his clothes,
he realized, and he gave her a small nod. She asked him if he'd
be cold, seeming genuinely concerned. "No need to worry about
me. I'll be fine," he assured her, offering his hand to her to
help her up onto Carbonel. Thankfully, he was wearing enough
layers to keep him warm. He instructed Rey to sit up front so
that he could keep an eye on her, and she stiffly obeyed, still
calling him mi'lord, which felt a little strange. She wasn't to
be his staff in his home, so it didn't seem right for her to
address him so formally. She didn't take his hand, helping
herself up onto Carbonel as she complimented the horse, calling
him magnificent. Ben couldn't help but smile slightly. He was
quite proud of his house. He had acquired Carbonel in France,
wanting the perfect war horse with good breeding, and Carbonel
had yet to disappoint him in any way. That, and he just loved
his animals. "Thank you," he said, untying Carbonel and petting
his cheek. Rey asked if he had a name, petting his neck.
"Carbonel," Ben told her, watching the way she petted his horse.
She seemed as though she might love animals as well, which would
be nice. Perhaps she would be excited to learn of his dogs once
they arrived at the keep. “You may visit him in the stables
whenever you desire. I’m sure he would appreciate the
attention," he told her, though he'd have to make sure she had
someone watching her at all times so she didn't try to make an
escape. He would be furious if she attempted to take his horse.
“And I’d prefer it if you call me by my name from now on," he
added, giving Carbonel one last pet. “Wife or not, you will be
the lady of the house, so it only seems right that you call me
Ben," he said, his own name sounding somewhat foreign on his
tongue. No one called him by his own name these days. He was
always more formally addressed or called Kingslayer, or Kylo
Ren, the name he had chosen for himself after Snoke made it
clear that he wanted him to remove all of his ties to his own
family. With that out of the way, he pulled himself onto
Carbonel's saddle, situating himself behind Rey. She was warm
against him, but he tried not to think of that too much. "Pardon
my reach," he said quietly, having to practically put his arms
around her so that he could grab Carbonel's reins.[/center]
#Post#: 3880--------------------------------------------------
REY [13]
By: winterssmary Date: January 27, 2024, 8:46 pm
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Everything was happening really quickly. She thought that today
was going to just be a mostly normal day, save for the brief
interaction with Kylo Ren when she presented his sword to him.
Nightbringer had taken a considerable amount of time for her to
craft and she was glad that the project was finally drawing to a
close. However, she did not expect to be bought in a separate
transaction by the same man who bought the sword. She hadn't
expected a life-changing event to happen while she was just
trying to work. She hadn't expected a man to declare a desire to
marry her in her entire life, let alone today. And it was made
more shocking by the fact that the man in question was a warlord
known for his cruelty and brutality. And fighting for an evil
dictator that Rey was actively working to undermine. The day
went from a simple transaction to her life very well being in
danger. She couldn't pretend to be happy, no matter how much
Lord Solo wanted her to. She tried to soften the blow of it all,
to make it not about him but about her and her status. Without
money or prospects, she was always going to be sold to the
highest bidder, unless she could make enough money for Unkar.
However, she didn't think she would ever be sold to man with
wealth or status, let alone a warrior. She didn't think she
would be told to become the lady of a powerful house, to serve
King Snoke. She never thought she would ever be in such a
difficult -- and deadly -- situation like this. After she
gathered up her things, Lord Solo lead her out of the building,
letting her skip having to speak to Unkar ever again. She was
grateful for that, even if she didn't say it aloud. She hated
that man. But she wasn't sure that this man, as kind as he
seemed, was much better. She hoped he was. She hated how much
she liked him, if she were being truthful. But she knew better
than to ever trust a man. Ever. Lord Solo had apparently ridden
here on a horse. She was expecting a carriage, but she supposed
beggars couldn't be choosers. Besides, the horse in question was
a gorgeous black stallion that she was entralled with. As she
approached the horse, Ben draped his cloak around her shoulders,
instantly adding some heat to her that she much appreciated. She
thanked him, but worried that he might get cold on the ride
home, not wanting him to blame her if something went wrong. He
was being a gentleman, but she learned a long time ago that men
treating you kindly usually meant they expected something in
return. He said himself that she wasn't grateful enough. He
assured her that he would be fine and she chose not to argue
with him, melting into the warmth that the fur lining provided
her. Rey helped herself onto the horse, not intending to slight
Ben's offer for help, but simply to show her independence. She
complimented his horse, not sure if she was just making
conversation or if she was truly that enthusiastic. She'd be
lying if she said she didn't absolutely love animals and,
frankly, seeing the stallion was enough to lighten her mood a
bit. She asked the horse's name and Lord Solo told her that it
was Carbonel. She smiled. "Carbonel, what a pretty young lad,"
she said, petting the horse's neck. Ben told her that she could
visit him in the stables of their home whenever she wanted. She
smiled at that, her expression genuinely brightening for the
first time since she was told that she had been purchased. "I'll
be sure to do that, then. I always liked the soldier's horses
when they stopped by the shop," she said. "I'd like to see all
your other horses too, should you have any," she said. Part of
her wondered if, one day, if she didn't fuck this up somehow,
she could have her own horse. She'd always wanted one. But she
didn't think that would be a thing any time soon, if ever. She
didn't exactly plan on staying at Skyfall Keep for any longer
than she needed to, for her own safety. He added that he would
prefer it if she called him by his actual name: Ben. "Oh -," she
breathed. It shocked her a little bit to hear him use the name.
Rumor had it: he had changed his name to Kylo Ren on behalf of
Snoke and never spoke his birth name afterward. She was glad it
wasn't entirely true. "Alright, Ben it is, then," she said
softly. Ben heaved himself up onto the saddle, taking his
position right behind Rey, his chest pressed up against her
back. Her cheeks went hot at the contact. She hated that she
didn't hate it. She hated how nice and warm it felt, how oddly
safe it felt, knowing that he wasn't intending to hurt her. Yet,
anyway. He asked that she pardon his reach, wrapping his arms
around her to get to Carbonel's reigns. "Oh, right. Yeah," she
said, clearing her throat and shifting a little, uncomfortable.
"Will we be riding for a long time?"[/center]
#Post#: 3881--------------------------------------------------
BEN [13]
By: Zellaphone Date: January 28, 2024, 2:19 pm
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Ben had gone into today feeling confident with his decision to
bring Rey into his life. She had seemed to rather like him
during their first meeting, and before he had revealed to her
today that he had bought her, things had been going very well.
He had fully believed that Rey liked him, but once he told her
that she'd be living with him from now on and had the option to
be his wife... that no longer seemed to be the case. Now it was
difficult for him to know what she thought of him at all, but if
he had to guess, she might hate him. He had royally fucked this
all up, and he wasn't sure how to fix it, if he even could fix
it. Rey was clearly unhappy with the fact that she'd have to go
with him, and while he somewhat understood why, he still thought
that she'd be at least somewhat grateful that she wouldn't have
to live under Plutt's orders now. Perhaps she'd feel better
about everything once she settled in. He hoped that would be the
case. Getting her to choose to marry him wasn't exactly going to
work out in his favor if she ended up despising him, and it was
only going to solidify his belief that he could never be truly
loved by anyone. He led her out to Carbonel who had been
patiently awaiting his return outside of Plutt's shop, and
removed his cloak, draping it over her shoulders. The ride to
Skyfall Keep was going to take a bit of time, and he didn't want
Rey to catch a cold from the chill of the winter's air. He
wondered how she had ever survived so long through such cold
weather with her tattered dresses and worn cloaks. She was so
thin as well... He'd have to try and fix all of that. He'd take
her out for new clothes in the morning and would start feeding
her proper meals starting tonight. She thanked him for the
cloak, her cheeks turning a lovely shade of light pink. He
nodded in acknowledgment of her thanks, trying not to blush
himself at how endearing she looked swallowed up in his cloak.
She asked him if he'd get cold, seeming genuinely concerned
about him, which was a bit surprising, but perhaps she was just
being courteous. He assured her that he'd be fine, telling her
to not worry about him. Thankfully, he didn't get cold very
easily, and with his leathers on, he was comfortable. He held
out his hand to help her up onto Carbonel as he instructed her
to sit up front, but she took matters into her own hands,
helping herself up on the horse instead. Slowly, he lowered his
hand, feeling defeated. She must hate him, and her not wanting
to touch him was going to make the ride home a bit awkward for
her, he feared. She then complimented Carbonel as he untied his
horses's reins from the post, and he thanked her. He too thought
that Carbonel was a magnificent horse, and he took great pride
in his stallion. She asked him if his horse had a name, petting
his neck. He answered her, telling her that his name was
Carbonel, which she repeated, calling the horse a pretty young
lad as she continued to pet him. Ben couldn't help but smile a
bit to himself at the sight. If Rey loved animals as much as he
did, then perhaps it would be a little easier for them to get
along. He told Rey that she could visit Carbonel in the stables
whenever she pleased, adding that he'd like the attention. She
smiled at that, visibly brightening, which threatened to take
his breath away. God, she was beautiful. She assured him that
she'd take him up on his offer, adding that she always had liked
to see the soldier's horses whenever they had visited Plutt's
shop. She also said that she'd like to see all of his other
horses as well, should he have more. "I have a few horses that
you may meet," he told her, petting Carbonel's cheek. Most of
his other horses were just cart horses, but he was sure she'd
enjoy meeting them all the same. "There's my advisor's horse as
well, but I doubt he'd approve of you spending much time with
her," he warned her. Hux was not going to be pleased with Rey's
presence. He then told Rey that he'd prefer it if she called him
Ben, feeling strange with her referring to him as mi'lord all
the time. It made her sound as though she was just another
servant, which she wasn't. Besides, if he was going to court
her, he'd feel awkward if she never addressed him by his real
name, though his own name sounded foreign of even his tongue
these days. The last person that had ever called him Ben had
been his mother... right after he had killed his father. Rey
seemed shocked by his request, which was understandable to him.
Really, he wasn't even supposed to be acknowledging his real
name due to Snoke's orders, but he didn't want Rey to call him
by a name that wasn't his. He wanted to hear what his name
sounded like on her lips, and she didn't disappoint. She agreed
to his request, saying his name and his heart skipped a beat.
His name and never sounded so sweet before, and he wanted to
hear her say it again. He nodded in approval, keeping himself
from asking her to say his name once more. That would be a...
strange request to ask of her. Instead, he climbed up onto
Carbonel, situating himself right behind Rey with his chest
against her back. He liked the feeling very much, and he was
glad that she couldn't see his face from this angle since it
felt slightly warm. He asked that she pardon his reach, having
to wrap his arms around her in order to hold Carbonel's reins.
He really liked the position they were in, but he didn't comment
on it. Not right away, anyway. Rey excused his reach but seemed
uncomfortable by it from the way she cleared her throat and
stiffened. She asked him if they'd be riding for a long time,
and his heart depleted. She didn't wish to be near him. “Not
terribly long, no," he told her, nudging Carbonel with his foot
as he snapped the horse's reins, beginning their journey home.
“Does it... frighten you to be this close to me?” he asked her,
curious to hear her answer. Hopefully, she'd continue to be
honest with him.[/center]
#Post#: 3882--------------------------------------------------
REY [14]
By: winterssmary Date: January 28, 2024, 11:52 pm
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Rey felt some of her anxiety fade away when she laid eyes on the
elegant black stallion in Lord Solo's charge. The horse was
large and powerful-looking, muscle tone apparent even beneath
the saddle and dressings. She liked horses. She thought they
were majestic creatures and liked how well they seemed to
respond to human contact. She liked their manes, loving that an
animal had a head of hair just like a human. She liked animals
in general, of course, but horses in particular had an air of
grace and dominance that she was always drawn to. Did she forget
entirely about the fact that she was just purchased by a
warlord? No, not at all. But she felt a little better about the
journey to his keep, at the very least. She thought would be a
little less uncomfortable if she could pet the horse as they
moved. If they couldn't have a carriage, she thought this was
probably the next best thing. The animal seemed to respond well
to her too, not at all phased when she approached it so
cautiously, practically gawking at the thing. She asked his name
and Lord Solo told her that he was called Carbonel. It was not a
name that she'd heard before, but it sounded... German? Saxon,
perhaps? She didn't know, but it suited him, in a way. After
mounting the horse and sitting in the front of the saddle, she
lightly stroked the horse on the neck, liking how he reacted to
it. It was obvious that he was more comfortable -- and perhaps
even gladly anticipating -- his master's touch though. That,
oddly enough, eased her tension even more. Rey was a firm
believer that animals were a decent judge of character. If you
were kind to animals and they liked you in return, you couldn't
be too bad of a person. Even if your career involved
slaughtering rebels that Rey considered friends or allies.
Ignoring that last fact, this showed that he had a gentle touch,
that he had a bond with his horse. She liked that. It made her
feel safer somehow. Lord Solo told her that she would be allowed
to visit Carbonel at the stables whenever she wanted, which made
her brighten. The idea of having animals at her disposal that
she could befriend and bond with was completely new to her, but
something she had always craved. It didn't quite feel real. She
told him that she would gladly take him up on the offer,
wondering if he had other horses as well. The way he said
stables made her think so. He told her that he had a few, which
excited her. "Wonderful. I can't wait to meet them," she said.
If she was going to Skyfall Keep -- which she was, against her
will -- she might as well make the most of her brief time there.
She didn't exactly plan on staying long if she could help it. It
was too dangerous and, if Lord Solo truly did like her, she knew
that Poe would want her to stick around to get more information.
That wasn't only a life-threatening task, but it felt wrong. She
didn't really want to betray this man's kindness, even if he was
brutal and unforgiving on the battlefield. Lord Solo added that
his advisor kept a horse at the stables, but that he would
probably not allow Rey anywhere near the mare. "Is he that
little redheaded man? The one with the shrill voice who always
looks like he just smelled a rotten egg?" she asked. She assumed
he didn't value said advisor too much, since he wasn't here when
Lord Solo was picking up the woman he wanted to marry. It was
probably safe to mock the man who would have rejected
Nightbringer solely because it was crafted by a woman. "Is he
afraid I'll taint it? He knows being an urchin isn't contagious,
right?" she jested. Lord Solo then said that, given their
circumstances, he would like it if she called him Ben. She was,
admittedly, floored by that. She didn't think he ever used his
given name. After King Snoke usurped the throne, he was known
almost exclusively as Kylo Ren. She thought that was what he
chose, but that didn't seem to be the case. She actually liked
the name Ben on him. It softened him a bit in her mind. She
assured him that it was fine, trying the name out on her lips.
He nodded at that before climbing onto Carbonel, taking his seat
in the saddle. She blushed at how close they were, her back
flush to his chest. It wasn't an uncomfortable position, which
was really troubling. She wasn't supposed to like this. She
wasn't supposed to like how warm he was, how the combination of
his body heat and his cloak made her feel like she could melt
into a cozy nap if given the chance. She wasn't supposed to like
how his arms wrapped around her, grabbing for the reigns and
holding her gently in place. She wasn't supposed to like how
nice he smelled or how safe she felt. This was bad. This was
really bad. She had to keep reminding herself that this was the
enemy she was dealing with. It didn't matter how nice he was or
how he liked her or how safe he made her feel and how much she
enjoyed talking to him. He was still Kylo Ren at the end of the
day and Kylo Ren was dangerous. He asked that she pardon his
reach, which she did, but she couldn't help but stiffen. He
wasn't the uncomfortable part of all of this. She was just angry
that she liked it when he held her. She cleared her throat,
wanting to distract herself as they moved forward. She asked if
the joruney would be long and he assured her that it wouldn't,
obviously not noticing the bright red blush on her cheeks. He
then asked if she was frightened by being so close to him. She
was, but not for the reason he was thinking. She was scared of
how easily she thought she could fall for the man, how little
effort it would take for her to ignore her Resistance in favor
of the easy life he was providing her. And she was scared of
being abused, but not at this very moment. At this very moment,
there was no realism to her anxieties. She didn't think about
the real danger she was in or the possibility of being taken
advantage of. When his arms were around her, all that melted
away and there was only the fear of wanting this. But, beyond
fear, the real reason she felt so odd was because she wasn't
normally touched. By anyone. Unless it was a beating or a slap
or someone groping her in the streets. She thought it was rather
sad that Ben had to ask if she was afraid of him. His reputation
was not a pretty one, so he likely expected it. But, despite his
reputation, he was kind to her. Gentle, even. It pained her to
know that he had expected her to be scared of him, even it it
made sense for her to be. "Oh no, no it doesn't frighten me,
Ben," she assured him. "It's just... strange, I guess. People
don't normally touch me unless I'm being punished," she
explained, speaking in half-truths because the whole truth was
too dangerous to admit. For both of them. "I also haven't been
on horseback in several years. This whole experience is new to
me," she added. That part was true too, but she didn't fear
Carbonel. It was just odd to have a thousand-pound animal
beneath her, moving of its own accord. "Don't mind me. You
haven't done anything wrong. I promise," she said.[/center]
#Post#: 3883--------------------------------------------------
BEN [14]
By: Zellaphone Date: January 29, 2024, 11:27 pm
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Ben was glad to see Rey so eager to meet his other horses. It
was endearing to him that she seemed to love animals, which was
a trait he could share with her. However, he wasn't very fond of
cats. Especially not Hux's cat. Thinking of Hux, he told Rey
that Hux had a horse of his own at the stables, though he
doubted the man would approve of her going near his horse. She
asked if Hux was the little redheaded man, going on to describe
his voice as shrill and saying that his face looked as though he
smelled a rotten egg. Ben laughed at that, unable to hold it
back. It always brought him joy to hear what others thought of
Hux, especially when they didn't like him. The man was honestly
nothing more than a nuisance to him, despite being his advisor
and a fairly respected captain. "Yes, that is him," he said. She
then started to jest, asking if Hux was afraid that she'd taint
his horse, rhetorically asking if the man knew that being an
urchin wasn't contagious. Ben grinned, enjoying her humor. "I
doubt that he does," he answered her, continuing to pet
Carbonel's cheek. “And I must apologize in advance for how he
might treat you. He thinks himself to be above everyone,” he
warned her, knowing Hux was likely never going to treat her with
proper respect, which he'd no doubt have to talk to the man
about. Then, after a moment, he asked Rey that she called him by
his real name instead of mi'lord, thinking it would be more
appropriate since she was to be the lady of the house and he was
going to be courting her. She seemed surprised by his request,
which he had expected, but she obeyed, saying his name as if to
test how it sounded. His heart skipped a beat immediately,
unused to hearing anyone refer to him by his actual name. He was
especially not accustomed to his name sounding so nice on
someone else's tongue. He wanted her to say it again. He nodded
in approval, quickly climbing up onto Carbonel's saddle so that
she could not see his face since he was fairly certain he was
blushing. He settled in behind her, enjoying how she felt
pressed against him. She was warm, though she smelled of smoke,
earth, and sweat. He'd make sure to have the servants draw her a
bath tonight, but he didn't necessarily mind the smell. The
soldiers he fought beside ended up smelling a lot worse after
long battles and days of travel. She asked for her to pardon his
reach, having to wrap his arms around her in order to grab
Carbonel's reins. She excused him, but immediately shifted and
cleared her throat, seeming uncomfortable. He frowned at the
reaction, though she couldn't see. Did she really detest his
touch that much? If so, this whole situation with her was going
to be a lot harder on him. How was he supposed to court her if
she already hated being near him? She asked if their journey was
going to be a long one, and he assured her that it wouldn't. He
then gathered up some courage, asking her if it frightened her
to be so close to him. Honestly, he wouldn't be shocked if she
said yes. He expected people to fear him these days, given the
circumstances. He had slayed the former king who had also
happened to be his father, betrayed his whole family, became
Snoke's attack dog, and became the most feared knight on the
battlefield. There were few who didn't fear him these days.
However, Rey assured him otherwise. She told him that she wasn't
frightened, calling him by his name again. She explained it was
just strange for her, and that she wasn't normally touched
unless she was being punished. "Punished..." he repeated
quietly. It wasn't a surprising thing to hear, but that didn't
make it any less unpleasant. He had grown up in an environment
where hitting servants would have been unacceptable, but he knew
that wasn't the standard in most places. Snoke had especially
taught him that, seeing as even he himself had received many
hits and slaps from the man. It just hurt to know that Rey,
someone that he liked, had been treated in such a way. Rey went
on to add that she also hadn't been on horseback in several
years, so this whole experience was new to her. "I see," he
said, relieved that she wasn't scared to be near him. It gave
him hope once more that perhaps things between them could work
out in his favor. She told him to not mind her, promising that
he hadn't done anything wrong, which warmed his heart to hear.
It was rare for him to feel as though he hadn't disappointed
someone somehow. "That's good to know," he told her softly,
feeling reassured now that he knew that his touch didn't
completely disgust her.
They spent most of the journey to Skyfall Keep in silence,
though that didn't bother Ben. The silence wasn't entirely
uncomfortable, and he knew they'd have plenty of time to talk
over dinner once they arrived home. He did, however, point out
the town on his land to her as they passed it, knowing it would
likely be a place she'd visit with him from time to time. She'd
certainly be going there tomorrow for new clothes. When they
arrived at Skyfall Keep, it was clear that the servants had
become aware of his arrival, which they were usually good at
staying on top of. The stableboy was already waiting for him by
the front entrance to take Carbonel, and all of his dogs rushed
out to greet him. Ben smiled softly at the sight, bringing
Carbonel to a halt and climbing off the horse. Once again, he
offered his hand to Rey to assist her, unsure if she'd accept
his help this time. Once she was back on the ground and his
stableboy took Carbonel's reins, leading him off to the stables,
Ben turned to his dogs. He got on one knee, greeting each of his
loyal dogs and petting them all the best he could with the two
hands he had been granted. They all wagged their tails happily,
some even barking in excitement. "Rey this is Chewie," he said,
beginning introductions as he motioned towards his large,
scruffy Irish wolfhound. Chewie had been his father's dog before
Ben had taken him. Honestly, it was difficult to look at him or
be around him at times since he reminded him of his father, but
he knew he needed that reminder. He would never tell Snoke, but
he missed his father dearly, and the guilt of his murder ate him
alive more and more each day. Nonetheless, Chewie was happy with
his current residence, and the other dogs that resided with him.
Of course, that was because the dog had no idea what had
happened to his former master. "Wolfe," he went on, gesturing
towards the other Irish wolfhound that had come from the same
litter as Chewie. "Ranger," he continued, pointing at his
bloodhound. "Furst." He was the mastiff. "And Madame," he
finished, petting the head of his long-haired greyhound. If
there was one thing that he was proud of above all else, it was
his dogs. All of them were well-bred and highly trained hunting
dogs that rarely left his side once he was home. He loved his
dogs, and he hoped that Rey would love them as well. Possibly
even more than that, he hoped that his dogs would love her.
Really, it was just Madame he worried about. She could be quite
territorial over him at times. It was then that Hux came
storming out of the keep, clearly displeased. Ben prepared
himself for an onslaught of questions and reprimands. “Where the
hell have you been?” the man asked him angrily, keeping his
distance from the dogs surrounding him and Rey, which was smart.
The dogs didn't tend to take kindly to those who spoke to him in
such a way. Hux's eyes widened as he spotted Rey. “And what is
she doing here?” he asked. “Hux, I’m sure you remember Rey. She
will be living with us from here on out," Ben said casually,
used to Hux's behavior. Hux's eyes grew wider, and his face
began to redden with anger, beginning to match his hair. Really,
it was quite comical to Ben. “She will be living here? As a
servant, no doubt?” he asked, seeming to be grasping at a final
shred of hope, though it was likely Hux already knew that Rey
would be no servant. Ben smirked. “No, as my wife," he answered
smugly. "In time, that is," he added. That seemed to really
upset Hux. “As your—“ he began before seemingly getting too
upset to finish his sentence. “This is highly inappropriate and
unacceptable! Snoke will never approve of—“ Ben held up his hand
at that moment, silencing Hux. He didn't wish to talk about this
right now. Truthfully, he didn't want to talk about it at all
with Hux. He knew that Snoke wouldn't approve of what he had
done that day, but that was why Snoke didn't need to know all of
the details. He would tell Snoke that Rey was his
soon-to-be-wife, even if that wasn't set in stone at the moment.
“We can discuss this later this evening, Hux. I am tired from
our journey and wish to enjoy our dinner," he told the man,
postponing this confrontation. “But this is—“ Hux tried, but Ben
grit his teeth, pointing at him in a warning and silencing him
once more. While Hux was his advisor due to Snoke's orders, he
still knew his place. He knew better than to challenge him too
much or else he would relieve punishment from either him or
Snoke himself, and Hux certainly didn't want to be punished by
Snoke. "I will not repeat myself," he warned Hux, and the man
nodded, though his anger was still clear. "Yes, my lord," Hux
said bitterly, and Ben turned away from him, looking back at Rey
and holding his arm out to her, hoping she'd take it. "Shall
we?" he asked, ready to show her into the keep. "I will show you
around while the table is set for us," he told her, knowing it
would take some time for the servants to carry everything into
the great hall. He had asked for a feast, after all. [/center]
#Post#: 3884--------------------------------------------------
REY [15]
By: winterssmary Date: January 30, 2024, 4:34 pm
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The ride to Skyfall Keep wasn't too terribly long, just like Ben
promised, but that didn't mean it wasn't an awkward experience
for the two of them. Well, she imagined it was the same for him.
In truth, she couldn't really tell. Not being able to see his
face certainly kept their moods shrouded in mystery. They didn't
speak much, but it gave Rey plenty of time to think. He warned
her of his advisor, who would not be pleased with her presence.
Ben apologized for how the man might treat her, as he apparently
had a superiority complex. That was fine. She was used to it by
now. She'd never met a person who didn't think they were above
her in some way. She'd never known anyone to view her as an
equal and she doubted she ever would. He also pointed out the
town that was settled in his territory, a quaint collection of
shops and services that she was sure she wanted to visit. The
idea of actually being allowed in a marketplace without a
specific list -- and a time limit of sorts -- was thrilling to
her. Of course, she expected Ben to only send her in with
specific tasks and perhaps even a chaperone, but still. At least
she wasn't running errands for Unkar anymore, clutching a dagger
beneath her cloak to help out if she got mugged. She only hoped
that the town responded well to her. Being Kylo Ren's new
prisoner-slash-potential-wife might affect her social standing
in unexpected ways. They entered the palace territory through
the courtyard, servants already bustling around the entrance
preparing for their arrival. Ben steered Carbonel toward the
stableboy just as a pack of five dogs rushed into the courtyard
to greet him. Rey's eyes went wide with delight, a bright smile
on her face. "Ben," she began as he helped her dismount from
Carbonel's saddle. "You didn't mention that you had dogs waiting
for you at home," she said with a laugh. Ben got down on one
knee, each of the dogs happily running up to him, tails wagging
and a few of them even barking in greeting. "May I... may I pet
them? I don't want to scare them away or anything," she asked,
wanting to be cautious in case they were guard dogs who didn't
respond well to strangers. Of course, they didn't seem to be
that way, but she could never know for sure. Ben introduced each
dog individually: a scruffy wolfhound named Chewie, a less
scruffy wolfhound named Wolfe, a bloodhound named Ranger, a
mastiff named Furst, and a longhaired greyhound named Madame.
She smiled at each of them, getting down to her knees as well so
that she could be on eye-level with them. "They're all so
beautiful. Hello, friends," she said softly. Chewie seemed to
take the quickest shine to her, though all of them -- save for
Madame -- responded well to her. Madame didn't respond poorly,
though it was obvious that she much preferred Ben's attention to
her own, which was completely fair. But she was happy that the
other dogs seemed to enjoy her attention. She was scratching
Chewie behind the ears with one hand, stroking Furst's fur with
the other, when Ben's advisor stormed out of the front entrance
of the keep, a shrewd look on his face that instantly soured her
mood. He practically barked at Ben, which was ironic given his
obvious avoidance of the dogs. It certainly made Rey feel safer
to have Furst at her back, Chewie sitting right in front of her,
their eyes locked on Hux as he went into a rant. Specifically,
Hux shot her a pointed glare, asking what she was doing here.
Suddenly, she wasn't too angry about being at Skyfall Keep.
Suddenly, she decided that she wanted to be here, that she
deserved to be here. Ben answered calmly before she could snap
at the man, saying that she would be living her from now on. His
pale face grew redder with anger, a sight that she found rather
amusing. Hux then said that he assumed she would be a servant,
which caused her to smirk a little bit, thinking it was going to
be really funny when Hux found out that she outranked him, since
Ben was so insistent that she would be the Lady of the house.
Ben answered that she would be his wife, in time. She didn't
even argue. In fact, if entirely out of spite, she decided that
she would gladly play into that, just to see Hux squirm. Hux
started yelling, talking about how inappropriate this was, which
caused her to snicker as she got back to her feet, dusting off
her skirt. He added that Snoke would never approve, which sent a
chill down her spine. "I didn't even think about that," she
whispered. She was so worried about being in Ben's care that it
didn't even occur to her that Snoke had a large say in all of
this. If he found out that one of his most trusted men had
decided to court a lowborn orphan, he could demand she be
executed on the spot. He could kill Ben for defying him. This
whole prospect just got that much more dangerous. Ben seemed to
wave off any concerns though, telling Hux that they would
discuss it later, since he wanted to have dinner after their
journey. Rey couldn't help but be stiff at that moment, though
Chewie lightly rubbing his head against her hip helped. Besides,
she found it very amusing how Ben could silence Hux with so much
as a point of his finger. Hux eventually accepted this, since he
didn't have much of a choice, and Ben turned back to face Rey.
He held his arm out to her and she took it, knowing it was what
was expected of her. He insisted on showing her around the keep
while they waited for the dinner table to be ready. She nodded.
"Are we... are we having some sort of formal dinner? I wasn't
expecting that," she admitted. She had never been to a formal
dinner, nor did she know if those even existed in the context
she was picturing. "I'm afraid I'll be very out-of-place. I
don't exactly have a dress fit for an occasion," she said with a
little laugh. When you ate dinner at a castle, you were supposed
to dress well, right? She had seen noblewomen in the market,
their hair curled in outrageous up-dos and their dresses giving
them those intense, exaggerated waistlines that made it hard to
move. She didn't even have a petticoat. Already, she felt like
she didn't belong. She looked poor even among Ben's servants.
She looked like she'd lived in the wine cellar for all her days.
"I think I'll stand out even among your servants," she mused,
though the whole thing made her feel like she didn't belong
here, like Hux might have had a point. [/center]
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