video; un: ren

[killthepast]

[ Two network posts within a month of each other? From Kylo Ren? Must be a special occasion!

Anyway, Riverview's resident space goth is making a post today for business reasons, not tantrum reasons, even if he obviously appears troubled. But like, it's Kylo. He always seems at least a little conflicted, troubled, and/or angry. ]

I'm looking for new members to join the Prometheus Salvaging Team. [ He says that with some reluctance. THE TRUTH IS: he's got to fill in some gaps, particularly because he still can't actually go into the field again until he gets his medical clearance.

Thanks SOOOOO MUCH FOR SHOOTING HIM, John Sheppard! ]

The work will take you outside the wall on behalf of Prometheus Labs. You must have adequate combat and survival skills-- which you'll be tested on-- and the ability to follow directions. If you're interested, send me a message.

[ He starts to scowl a little, and adds: ] Serious inquiries only.

[ REBEL SCUM NEED NOT APPLY. ]

Comments

[fhux]

[ He's going to throw one of his tools at Ren's head if he visits the workshop. ]

He wouldn't tell me what sort of work you do for him because he didn't want the conversation to get "personal", and he also said he "took you under his wing".

You are a GROWN MAN. No one talks like that.

[killthepast]

[ THEN YOU BETTER ENJOY THE ENSUING FORCE CHOKE, HUX ]

He is my EMPLOYER and on occasion we HAVE CONVERSATIONS. LIKE PEOPLE DO.

The sort of work I do for him is exactly what you see mentioned, right here, in this transmission. Nothing more. Don't talk to me like I'm a naive child.

[fhux]

[ This fUCKING CHILD. ]

Fine.
My apologies for giving enough of a damn to check on you.

1/2

[killthepast]

[ HSSSSSS ]

You don't give a damn about me.

2/2; video

[killthepast]

[ Normally, he'd leave it at that. Normally, he could tell Hux off and feel nothing. Now his snappish retort sits unpleasantly in his stomach, a little twist of guilt that brings him to send another message a few minutes later.

He's trying to keep his face an impassive mask, all business, but you know. It's Ren, with his stupid inner-turmoil and his stupid sad eyes. ]

What else did he say to you?

[ Look. See. He's trying to trust. ]

[fhux]

[ Furiously back to work under the bike being constructed in his lab, he only activates the video link to ignore Ren's miserable face while continuing. Sleeves rolled up, he reaches arm-deep into the engine for something to busy his shaking hands. ]

Enough parallels were sparked in regard to Snoke that I left soon after meeting him. I can't fathom why you would tolerate someone so similar. He obviously adores flaunting the fact you're on his leash.

[killthepast]

[ He bristles upon hearing that. ]

I'm not--

[ Ren stops himself mid-snarl, considering-- really considering-- what Hux is saying. ]

He was the first person I met here who was... [ Kind to him. But that's too pathetic to say out loud. ] interested in an alliance. I was alone here, surrounded by Resistance hostiles, and did what I must.

[fhux]

You have all the power you need to crush that imbecile's skull for even daring to condescend to you and instead you're running his errands with broadcasts like this. I wish I could say I'm surprised.

[ Incensed, Hux steadies his breathing with visible effort. ]

I haven't been clamouring for the favours of others here. Phasma would have rather died. [ NEVER MIND THE FACT SHE DID. ] You took the mantle of Supreme Leader, Ren, yet you've only led yourself into another toxic relationship.

[killthepast]

[ He's not even going to get into his powers. Every day he's here, it's a struggle to refrain from crushing the throats of his enemies, or running them through with his lightsaber. If he thought for a second he could get away with it, he would do it. ]

I'm not running any errands for him! This is my team, which is why I'm putting out the call for recruits! [ A band of warriors, which is something he takes pride in, that he wants to cultivate, and that he chose for himself. He's had precious little opportunity for that since-- well, since he was that boy who had dreams of being a pilot. ]

Don't presume to think that Pierce is the reason I do anything here. He has no more control over me than you do.

[ Oh, and: ]

And for the record, I met him after Starkiller. [ You know, when he was fresh from murdering his own father, and getting his ass beat and his face sliced open. ] Before Snoke was assassinated.

[fhux]

Your team. [ A sneer shows what Hux thinks of that. ] Which he ultimately commands through you, I expect!

[ He waves the tool in his hand dismissively, eyes rolling back to the engine before him. ]

So you didn't supplant Snoke, you outright exchanged him for a man cut from the same cloth. Incredible. Only you could own the ability to move mountains and yet manage to walk yourself in circles.

[killthepast]

[ Well, that's kind of the story of his life. Forever stuck as that frightened and angry boy who burned the Jedi temple to the ground. ]

And you're so much closer to Emperor of the Galaxy, I see.

[ He cuts the transmission. Because if he's going to have this infuriating conversation, he AT LEAST wants it to be when Hux is in choking range. ]

[fhux]

[ The shock widens his green eyes with a glance to the comm but by then, of course, Ren has cut it short. Hux grips his tools tighter and regulates his breathing, returning to the task at hand while inwardly reciting the core values of the First Order.

It doesn't do much to calm him down. ]

action;

[killthepast]

[ It was a spiteful barb, meant to provoke the other man, even if he didn't deign to keep the transmission going to see Hux's reaction. Instead, he's storming to the lab on a warpath, muscles tight with a rage he wants nothing more than to unleash on the nearest person. (Or inanimate object. But he's already punched a hole in his wall, and it did nothing to soothe his anger, soooo... off he goes.)

The stomping of his boots likely gives him away before he even lets himself in-- which he'll do by force (well, Force) if necessary. You wanted to see him in rampaging space wizard mode? WELL, HERE YOU GO. ]

[fhux]

[ The department of ISA is a workshop in a cold corner of the Perimeter Guard, a fair enough way from the other labs that stomping boots in the corridor outside certainly echo enough to be heard. Hux knows it's Ren. Who else would it be? Still, he refuses to balk and instead perches on the side of his half-finished bike, wiping soldering ash from his hands with a rag (and forced calm). He watches the doors, which are very much unlocked.

When Ren enters, Hux folds his arms and remains seated. Coolly, he asks, ]

What now?

[killthepast]

[ No, this won't do. Hux's lack of reaction, on top of everything else, just stokes his impulses to lash out, as if he has to prove that, not only is he still a power to be reckoned with-- somebody to fear-- but also that the odd, innocent intimacy they shared during the festival changes nothing.

Because he can't stand being on unequal footing with Hux, not if it means he's the one who's always off-balance and feeling like a fool. He reaches out with a gloved hand, to grab the general's throat and drag him closer, until they're inches from each other. And then he squeezes again, feeling Hux's neck through the Force. ]

Tell me again what I should do to imbeciles who condescend to me.

[fhux]

[ The choking is, somehow, a surprise. His guard has been lowered by the distance put between them and Ren's semi-acceptable control in the months since Hux arrived on the backwater moon (not to mention a memory of two boys so absurdly sweet it decayed some of his wariness) so that being dragged during has him doubly panicked. He tries to breathe and coughs, wheezing, every fibre of his being screaming to get away from the horrid Force gripping him in place at Ren's will.

It's insane that he ever thought this power was beautiful. He hates it. Ren expects him to fear this display of childish wrath but he will be severely disappointed, Hux vows, fury of his own rising up with spittle.

A sneer curdles on his lip as he rasps out, ]

Use ... real hands ... coward.

[ Inches from each other as they are and with Ren's attention on his throat, one of his palms lashes out to smack as hard as he can at the hand commanding the Force. ]

[killthepast]

[ At least he can enjoy that spike of panic while it lasts. But then it's gone, and all he can feel is anger (his and Hux's) all around him. His eyes are on the general's face, searching for anything but hatred and sneering revulsion, but the movement catches his attention, draws his gaze down to see Hux reach out to smack his hand.

He lets Hux hit him, though the smack isn't the reason why he suddenly releases the other man. No, the slackening of his grip is of his own volition. ]

Isn't this what you wanted me to do? To use my powers [ He spits the word out. ] against anyone who insults me?

[ No, he knows it's not what Hux meant. He's not a total idiot! ]

[fhux]

[ If Hux had the Force he would have murdered almost as many as he managed to do with the firing of Starkiller, purely off his own rage. He slumps on the spot when released and backs up to the nearest wall for support, coughing as he checks his throat. Head down, when he straightens and finally meets Ren's glare he wishes his own had the cutting power of a lightsaber. ]

Didn't it once occur to you [ his voice cracks painfully as he raises it to a dull roar that shakes him to the bone on the spot, ] that I was trying to HELP!

[killthepast]

[ It should give him some measure of satisfaction to see the other man sputtering and disheveled from his fit of violence. Rather, it's a hollow moment, just like the aftermath of every tantrum is. Just another example of Kylo Ren taking something and smashing it apart.

At least he seems somewhat stricken by Hux's words. Some small part of him, long smothered in the darkness, stirs, reeling with guilt or compassion or some intolerable mix of the two. He'll never be free of Ben Solo.

He does his best to suppress the remorse that flickers across his face, his expression hardening. ]

By berating me? You might want to rethink your strategy.

[fhux]

It's the only way to get your attention, by pointing out how self-destructive your choices are! Since you wouldn't just die, I'm trying to do my job and keep you alive.

[ Stalking (creakily) to the nearest workbench he wrenches off a tarp to expose the gun he said he would build for Ren to use; small and smooth and black. The inner-chamber is open, empty. Missing a component. Next he shoves the bike over, letting it crumple on its glossy finished side with a satisfyingly loud crash.

Panting through his mouth with exertion, an angry red flush covers his face and ears as he throws his arms wide, gesturing to the workshop as a whole. ]

We have no army, no weapons, nothing! We are surrounded by the dogs of the Resistance! And what am I doing? Trying to actively guard the person I supposed was on my bloody side and he's the only one attacking me!

[killthepast]

[ It's somewhat startling, to see Hux lose his composure to this degree. Though Ren doesn't jump at the sound of the bike crashing to the ground, he does watch with lifted brows, eyes widening for a brief moment. And then gaze shifts from the projects, to Hux himself, flustered with anger. How strange, to be the calmer of the two of them, for once.

Then don't, he wants to say. I don't want this, anyway. I don't want the First Order. I don't want to be Supreme Leader. I'd let both sides obliterate each other to keep my freedom here. All words that have been on the tip of his tongue for months now.

But then what? What would happen when Hux found out that Kylo Ren's the biggest traitor of them all?

So he says none of the words on his mind. Instead, he approaches the workbench, looking at the nearly-finished gun with some curiosity, then down at the fallen bike, which he puts upright again. With his hands. See. He doesn't have to use the Force for everything. It's... sort of a small gesture of apology, since he'll be damned if he actually says the words 'I'm sorry.' ]

I have no direction here. [ A reluctant admission, A SMALL GESTURE OF GOODWILL, that he'll actually just use his words instead of shouting or throwing things (or people). ] Is it really any surprise I sought out something familiar?

[ Maybe, maybe admitting Hux is right about Pierce. ]

[fhux]

[ He wishes Ren would scream and slice the entire workshop up with his saber then he wouldn't have to look at it anymore, especially not when Ren is being so careful. What a joke; Hux's throat is raw and swelling as they speak. ]

Something familiar. What am I?

[ The indignity can't be kept out of his broken voice. ]

But if a kriffing dreadnought suddenly appeared you'd demand to be aboard, wouldn't you? I have worth too, Ren, you can't ignore my existence for other allies, for sea-snakes that are more likely to eat you than ultimately help you, and then show up in my home to throw me around!

[killthepast]

[ Temper flaring, his hands balling into fists: ] You weren't here!

[ Perhaps things would have gone differently if he and Hux had been displaced to this moon at the same time. Maybe he wouldn't be so filled with doubt, now, about his path, but instead stubbornly stuck to it, whether out of spite or because he had at least one ally at his side. ]

And what if I didn't? [ Like. Just purely hypothetically!! ] What if I wanted to stay here? Would you be so eager to help me then?

[fhux]

For as long as I am here, yes!

[ A spiteful reason to demand Ren's attention or any degree of allegiance, but ... ]

Stay and abandon the Order, give me back what's rightfully mine. Do you want to make a life here, far from the galaxy we call home? Fine! I'll build you a damn house! I've worked my entire life to command my armies whereas you don't care a whit about the Order, do you think I'm blind?

[killthepast]

[ Somehow, Hux calling his shit out actually manages to deflate his anger. The tension drains from his shoulders, and his hands relax, an odd, cathartic feeling of relief washing over him.

Even if part of him wants to counter the general's assertion out of some childish impulse to be contrary. But of course it would be obvious to Hux how little Ren cares for the First Order. Not even with his neglect here of it here. Even back in their galaxy, it had been obvious. He was Snoke's protege, not any official part of the First Order's ranks. His loyalty, such as it was, had been to his master, not the cause. He wasn't ignorant to how much that rankled the true believers.

Still... He's not quite sure what to say now that it's out. ]

Oh.

[ E L O Q U E N T. ]