albinomilksnake | STAR WARS: possible spoiler warning

[She doesn't mind the eyes. The whole mess hall can look at her while she kisses him for all she cares. But if it bothers Finn, then fine - she'll make do with simply lacing her fingers in his and letting herself be drawn back toward Poe.

--Not that she minds that either, really. Once she's within range, she slings her free arm around Poe's shoulders and then cheerfully climbs onto the bench alongside him.]

You look much better than the last time I saw you. [No dark circles under his eyes, for one. For a brief second she finds her fingers in his hair at the nape of his neck - a gentle tug there - and then she slips her arm free of him in favor of picking over what must be Finn's plate.]

[He takes it all in stride, laughing lightly as he brushes crumbs off his shoulder with the backs of his fingers, looking up under his lashes as Finn untangles himself far enough to wrap his fingers around Rey's and lead her forward.]

I have been told I'm pretty lovable.

[It's a cocky kind of joke and it doesn't settle before Rey's dropping onto the bench beside him, arm around her neck and other hand still entwined with Finn's. He grins again, without an ounce of anything resembling sharpness, only wavering at the light pull of her fingers in his hair, enough to have his eyelids shuttering closed, a little shiver and the gentle reminder of the last time he saw her.

Not like he needed it.]

And you look just as beautiful.

[He doesn't pull her into a hug in turn- or tug her onto his lap, even if it sounded like a great idea. All he does is set his hand at her back- barely touching her, just the pads of his middle and ring finger at the dip in her spine, sliding lightly down before he pulls his hand away and refocuses with a blink. Looks at Finn over the span of her shoulder. Smiles patiently and waits.]

You do-- [Finn agrees, scooting closer by degrees with eagerness boiling in his blood. It's only then that he remembers he wasn't there the way they both were; that his contribution isn't necessarily valid or relevant. He purses his lips, untangles his fingers and drops his forearms to the table, stare flicking downwards and then back again.] I mean you-- you seem like it. You always do.

[#nailedit #perfectrecovery]

[It's a silly thing for someone to say - she knows that, but she also know Poe means it, so mostly it just adds to the bright feeling trapped in her chest.]

That's nice of you. Of both of you. [Rey takes a moment to pick through the contents of Finn's plate, then takes the liberty of eating a few things off it; if there's a hiccup in Finn's logic, she doesn't bother pointing it out. Instead she simply presses her leg flush against Finn's and settles - between them, the ghost of Poe's hand at her back and then gone again.]

I don't have any idea how long we're here for. [Rey, don't talk with food in your mouth.] But the Falcon needs refitting. That should take a day, at least. --Two, maybe.

[He leans over, props his elbow on the table and rests his chin against his knuckles, smile easing into something soft and indulgent as Finn stumbles thought, as Rey takes the compliment and his food with the frank practicality she did most things. Same way she announces her schedule- without bothering to dance around it. It's not the best news of all time, but it's not the worst, either. You always had to hope for longer stretches of time but he knew, a day or two and even if she could stay chances were he couldn't or Finn couldn't. Something would probably pop up. It usually did.

And yet-]

I wouldn't count on getting away that quick. The General's trying to put something together and I'm betting she'll want to talk to the Commander about it.

[An old title, but there was something about calling him 'Luke Skywalker' that seemed a little weird now that he was a flesh and blood person again instead of a ghost Poe was chasing. And he'd never be able to say 'Master' with a straight face.]

What-- seriously?

[And for that, he sits up straighter, edges closer - nearly blocking off Rey from the meal he's hardly had a chance to look at, let alone touch (and doesn't really care to anymore, adrenaline pumping out a steady rhythm in his chest). Every day it felt like he got a little closer to hearing more, knowing more-- and it's not as if the General didn't trust him, she did-- but he was nowhere near to being a fixture in the Resistance yet, even if his 'heroism' back on Starkiller was a solid start.

(It never felt like anything but trying to save a friend that needed him.)

But if Poe's right, maybe they can get a week together-- maybe more.]

[She straightens, attention snapping around in Poe's direction.]

What kind of something?

[Her hand blindly finds another scrap from Finn's plate, feeding it into her mouth without a moment's wavering of either her focus of her eye line. If this something was big enough, maybe they'd be sticking around for more than a day or two. A week, maybe. Weeks even. Maybe 'something' is significant enough that she won't have to leave again - that the next time she goes up in a ship, Finn will be her gunner and they'll be flying with Poe's squadron of X-wings.

(She doesn't think farther or bigger than that - that 'something' could be big enough that maybe it won't involve flying into something combat-shaped at all. She isn't stupid.)]

[They're too keen and too intent and he thinks he's got a pretty good handle on what's going to happen but he can't be sure and that's- it's enough to have him sit up a little straighter.]

I can't make any promises- [The words are easy but there's something in his voice. Pleading maybe, he can't imagine how he'll feel if he ends up being wrong-] I don't know exactly what Commander Skywalker has going on, but-

[It's not top secret, but it's not common knowledge either. Still, if anyone was trustworthy it was them, and there wasn't much danger in the outline. So he leans in slight, voice low and eyelids heavy.]

We're getting close to something. We think it's where they're manufacturering their small craft. Hitting them there will really out a dent in their attempts to get back up to full strength after Starkiller.

[It would be a dangerous, risky mission, of course. It always was. Might be easier with help, though, or at least advise. Advise might buy them an extra day. Better than nothing.]

It's all guesses though.

I'm ready. [Chomping at the bit, he looks more than it by this point, mouth twisted upwards into a grin like it's all he's ever wanted. Because if they rope Luke in-- if that's really what the General is aiming for-- she won't need him or Rey, she might not even need Poe if they're trying to be stealthy about it (which is all wishful thinking on his part, but a lot of missions get pulled without Poe on duty).] Tell the General I can offer up some insight on the process or--

[She's nodding along, the lines of her expression slowly flattening her smile as she listens to Poe - not that it really does much to cut the incandescent glow in her face, the all but literal low key vibration under her skin -, but there's at least an attempt to temper her expectations.

Kind of.

Finn speaks and her hand finds his shoulder without looking.]

Eat your breakfast, Finn. When are either of you on duty next?

[He raises his hand, palm out, gentle request for quiet cut neatly by Rey's demand.]

Belive me, if the General wants something she'll ask for it.

[And with that he uses his knuckles to push the tray a little closer to Finn- but not out from under Rey's clever hands entirely.]

I'm grounded for two days. And I'm not allowed to so much as touch a report, apparently.

[Which had seemed a little harder when he'd first got the order. Stupid, since he'd seen enough of the ground troops around to guess Finn was here.

And for all the words are said with an easy, casual way, by the end of them his smiles gone just crooked enough to be suggestive. He'd be happy for something as suggestive as just listening to them talk, or holding hands under the table or going for a walk around base, but, well. Didn't usually pan out that way.]

Edited 2016-04-25 14:21 (UTC)

[A subtlety Finn misses entirely, already picking at his meal with a stubborn determination: it's impossible to be hungry like this, but for as long as it lasts, he knows he has to keep up his strength. No lulls in regiment that might get someone else killed if he's off his game in a couple of days, no gaps in dietary nutrition that'll have him tired and sleeping too long should either Rey or Poe have to pick up and take off.

And for how bizarre food had been after a life lived entirely on nutrient blocks, he's managed to adjust surprisingly well: sure, his picks are on the bland side of things, but at least Finn handles toast and Hydarien pickle spread without a fuss.

Half a slice in, (mostly pinned against his cheek) and Finn stops chewing long enough to glance up.] We could always go swimming. Rylar said there's a lake not too far from here that a lot of the cadets-- uh, recruits, like to hit up on their down time.

[In truth, he's right. A half an hour of walking in the right direction would get them there without much in the way of attention or trouble-- but he's also right because most of the time crew have difficulty securing any privacy: the lake doesn't see laps half as much as it sees other physical activity.]

[She catches the crookedness of Poe's smile by merit of knowing better - by knowing exactly how certain free hours were spent in his company the last time he had them. Her eyes narrow on him by a fraction and the line of her mouth thins in consideration - the thought that she'd had running subconsciously in time with her mouth on Finn's, her fingers in Poe's hair, pressing herself unceremoniously between them on the bench, bubbles hot to the surface.

She finishes chewing what's in her mouth, still eyeing Poe with that drawn flat expression while her elbow sets flush against the line of Finn's arm.]

I don't know how to swim. [She says it matter of fact, without thinking of anything other problems with this plan - no consideration for the fact that she very well may have duties to attend to. Just because Luke let her run off the moment the Falcon touched down doesn't mean they aren't here for something. But if she's missing longer than anticipated-- ...well, whatever. She'll make it up somehow.] But a walk sounds nice.

[Yeah, Poe knew that Lake. From experience and from reputation, although in his defense his experience was the strictly innocent kind. He wouldn't be surprised to find out other people had been telling Finn about the lake, either. He had a reputation of his own now, and Poe doesn't think there's a single person on base that was blind to Finn's other qualities, and the general attitide you got on Resistance bases was that it never hurt to try.

He's not jealous. Who could blame them?]

You should learn. [He's not even a little discouraged by that look. She's got plenty of looks, he thinks most of them are just perfect.] It could save your life. Besides, I think you'd like it. It's like flying, sometimes.

[There was a freedom to floating around, and the way your weight seemed to drop away, body not holding you back- well. He'd always like it at least.]

What? No it's not, don't lie to her. [Said as he lifts a hand to wipe at his mouth a couple of times, scrubbing away what crumbs are still clinging to his skin.

On the regular, Poe Dameron's a romantic. Finn knows it, everybody knows it - but sometimes when he's pitching something that he loves it comes off sounding at least a good hundred times better than it really is: flying? terrifying. Swimming? Like taking a bath, only bigger. At best he'd compare it to a slow speeder or diving for a grenade only you don't get blown to pieces if things go south.] It's fun, Rey, but it's nothing like flying.

[Then again, what doesn't Poe compare to flying?]

[Honestly? She doesn't really care what swimming is or isn't like.]

Well I guess I'll find out. [She strikes her hands down on the tabletop, already moving to extract herself from the bench. Somewhere between the last thought and now, it's occurred to her that Luke Skywalker might take it upon himself to come after his missing padawan if he really felt like it was important and that is, decidedly, the last thing she'd like to happen. Best to take some preventative measures then.]

Meet me on the flight deck in a half hour. I've got to check with Luke and make sure the Falcon's being looked after.

[A pause. She has one foot under the table still, straddling the bench, and for a moment it catches up to her that she's abandoning them almost as quickly as she'd shoved her way between them. She blinks, flicks a look from Finn to Poe and then back again.]

All right?

Hey- [And he does sound, at least a little, genuinely offended. To be fair, it's not like Finn knew much about flying- or about piloting, at least. He'd gotten a pretty good crash course in flying. Still, Poe's not about to admit he's wrong. Especially when he's not. He said sometimes.

But he doesn't get further than that before Rey slaps her hands on the table and pushes herself up. If his fingers twitch after her he's not embarrassed about it. He tips his face up at her where she stands, halfway over the bench and decisive despite the way she seems to catch herself.]

Fine with me. [He says it cheerfully and honestly. He didn't mind doing what she told him. He didn't mind at all. He's yet to be disappointed by her plans.]

Yeah. [Quieter this time, pinned down by an obvious reluctance to let her go, even if it's only for an hour at most. These days it's hard to shake the idea that a five minute delay won't turn into a five month distance - that something, somewhere won't suddenly go sour right when they need each other the most. It isn't fair.

More than that, it isn't unusual.

Finn turns his attention back towards the tray in front of him, already picking up another slice to keep himself from staring, or thinking too much, or— ] Yeah, sure.

[Her attention narrows at the top of Finn's head, the flats of her plans lingering briefly where they're flush to the table.

Then she nods and extracts herself promptly from straddling the bench.] A half hour. Don't forget.

[And then she's off, stride lengthening hard until she's through the doorway to the corridor and gone around the corner. Simple enough.

As is tracking down Luke, actually. He doesn't so much give her permission to go do whatever she likes for the rest of the day as she flat out tells him she's doing whatever she pleases. He all but raises his hands in surrender. So half an hour later, Rey is trotting down from the Falcon's ramp having sorted her end of things and made sure the proper repairs are logged with the resistance work orders. She also has her things this time, bag comfortably slung across her hip. There's an added bonus of an impressive hunk of Ithorian cheese in her space hand.

There. Totally prepared for any eventuality.]

[He shifts his knee out of her way on the bench, watching her go, quite a bit less torn than Finn. It's not like he didn't miss them. It's not like he didn't know that half an hour might never come, but-

Well. You couldn't stop everything just because of that.

He tips his head back to Finn when she disappears out of the door, propping his chin back on his knuckles. After a second he fishes his hand out into the space between them, scuffing the back of his finger across the low line of Finn's jaw.]

You missed a spot.

[Barely.

A half an hour. Long enough for Finn to finish his food. Long enough for him to go take a shower- a discarded option. The smuggler's vessel afforded a few more comforts than his x-wing.

He waits, and when Finn is ready he'll follow.]

Edited 2016-05-08 05:56 (UTC)

[It's the warmth of Poe's knuckles that soothes the sharpness in his shoulders left behind in the wake of Rey's exit. Flush coloring his cheeks when he flicks a warm stare over the span of his shoulder.] Thanks.

[From there it's easy to wait for Poe to scrub off (Finn doesn't; just sits at the edge of the room like a man with somewhere to be and more importantly someone to be with) staring out of the corner of his peripheral vision, fingers folded tightly in his lap. Everything feels quiet all at once and he isn't nervous, but having Poe near? It helps.

It always has.]

[There's not a lot in common between the Resistance and the First Order, but learning to shower quick was universal. On resistance bases it was half the time because the hot water would switch quickly to icy cold without warning.

So Poe's quick. He knows Finn's impatient, almost expects to find him having tapped his foot so hard there's a hole worn in the floor. He's still pulling up his pants when he reimerges, glancing up at him under wet lashes.]

I realized I don't even own trunks anymore. I guess I haven't been swimming in awhile.

[Trunks. Swimming trunks. How could he forget? How could he have wasted half an hour already and completely forgotten that he can't take Rey swimming without anything to actually wear. Back on base it was easy: swimsuits were provided and fitted, kept on hand for routine exercise or recreation - here? Not so much.

Which means Finn's awash in a feeling of mixed relief at knowing if nothing else, he's not the only one without actual attire.]

Unless you feel like swinging back around to the Finalizer, that makes two of us.

Pass. I don't plan on going back there unless I've got enough firepower to pay it back for the last time.

[It's a lighthearted thing to say, maybe enough to make up for the way he says it, half-under his breath and looking down as he does up his buttons. No, he doesn't really want to go back. At least not without a whole fleet behind him. Now that was a good image.

He shakes his head as he reaches down to grab his shirt, tugging it over his head, expression shifting easy by the time his face pops out the collar again, smilling broadly.]

Hey, as long as you're not breaking uniform regs I'm sure it'll be fine. [Because underwear was regulation- despite some argument from certain kinds of people] And it's nothing she hasn't seen before.

The way things are going, we might get a chance.

[But he's not planning on digging up his old kit, next time they find themselves even close enough to entertain the thought. Finn hops up onto his heels, dusting his hands across the front of his pants as if to give a visual cue that he's more than ready to roll.]

Anyway that's not the point. What if the rest of your team is out there? -Or mine?

[Because option A is that they roll with their clothes on which is laughable, and option B-- yeah, that one speaks for itself.]

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ejecting - 2016-06-12 16:11 (UTC) - Expand