OPEN POST • ALL-PURPOSE TEXTING MEME

[notanybunny]

for your TFLNs, overflows and general texting shenanigans

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[justrey]

The clarification deepened Rey’s frown. Was Ben mad at Jacen, for triggering this confrontation? Because this was beginning to feel like a confrontation, and she honestly wouldn’t be surprised if she suddenly found herself in a shouting match. Or worse, a lightsaber duel.

But, no. She wasn’t sure, but there was something else. Beyond his glowering and what he’d just said. Something that only stirred the conflicted feelings that frothed beneath the impassive exterior he tried so hard to project.

“Sure you’re not, you’re looking positively charming right now.” Okay, maybe she shouldn’t have allowed herself to be baited into saying something like that, but the words were out of her before she could think to stop herself.

Then, she sighed. “Ben, look at me.” She resisted the urge to fold her arms in front of her, realizing that he didn’t need any more reasons to jump into wrong conclusions. “I wasn’t turning you down, okay?”

[vaderfan]

Color actually tinged his cheeks at her sarcastic comment. Dark eyes narrowed, and he fought the downward turn of his mouth. He was trying to be impassive, yes. Even as he knew he was failing, wanted nothing more than to turn and stomp out, he pushed out a slow and measured breath and reached up to pinch the bridge of his nose.

There had been a time when he would have fired back immediately, grasped whatever cruel comment he came up with first and throw it back at her. When he would resort to violence if no comment was forthcoming. With aching difficulty, that time had passed. He'd spent much of his time on Hapes quietly learning and re-learning breathing exercises, meditation, diversion techniques, anything that hinted at the ability to undo Snoke's conditioning. Progress was slow and he'd had his fair share of set backs, but in this moment he evaded the impulse to snap back at her.

He even maintained most of his composure as he turned to look at her when prompted, though for another moment his expression remained an uncomfortable mix of the anger he was letting go and the stoic visage he was trying to embody. Feeling exposed and thus overcompensating his guard, Ben looked back at Rey.

He listened to her, and he reached for the stillness he could not often touch. He reached for their bond, and it helped a bit. He waited another moment before he spoke.

"I would understand if you do," he said quietly, with more calm than he truly felt. "You have every reason to."

[justrey]

She'd braced herself for, well, something. An equally sarcastic quip, an insult, an accusation. Perhaps even a lashing out via the Force. But he was surprisingly... calm. Yes, she could still feel the undercurrent of conflict, but it wasn't the frothing rage she used to associate with him. She supposed it had paid off, all the Jedi exercises and training he'd put himself through since his relocation to Hapes. It was a good thing, but it was a tad unsettling still.

Unsettling enough to leave her more agitated than she should be.

"Don't put words in my mouth," she huffed, unconsciously wringing her hands for a lack of a better thing to do with them. Kriff, he was impossible sometimes. But as much as she wanted to settle the matter, she really didn't know what she was supposed to say. Take it from the top and explain herself? What was there to explain, anyway? What she liked about him? That while she hadn't said anything about him kissing her, it was okay?

(How do other, normal, no-Force-bond people do this?)

"I wasn't turning you down," she ended up repeating, frustration lacing her voice.