prismaticrap | ▶ TDM .018

Entry tags:

You awaken amidst the darkness with only a faint light to greet you. Your body is hemmed in by shards of crystals, gently sparkling and possibly pricking your skin. The surrounding landscape is dyed in the pinks and purples of the dusk filled with crystals protruding from the ground, some as large as a skyscraper. After an hour or two of wandering through the crystal wilderness, a group of people find you worse for wear. They are the gallant Moon Knights from the planet of Prismatica. Because of the strange phenomena during the past months when scientists observed the sudden appearance of rainbow crystals in the sky, the government has been feverishly combing through the moon for more Moonblessed to be rescued. You’ll eventually be brought into Iris’s moon government center.

You all may have your usual inquiries — Where are we? Who are you? What's going on? — and the Prismals are almost too eager to answer. They tell you about their world and about the first appearance of the Moonblessed as the medical staff give you an examination to make sure you’re not carrying any viruses or biological hazards. If you react violently, you may be restrained and nerfed with a specialized neurotransmitting gun that releases a numbing agent through the top of your spine. Once the examinations are over, you’re informed that you will be provided accommodations on their planet during your stay. You will then be escorted to the docks, and led onto a large transport vessel that makes frequent trips back and forth between the Iris moon and the planet. Faces onboard vary from both old and new Moonblessed as well as the local Prismals.

The next destination: Prismatica.

▶ Welcome to the Jungle
Iris Moon, Government Center (Arrival) and Planet Prismatica, City of Lunatia | top

Welcome to Prismatica’s hub, Lunatia, the city of your dreams! A bustling metropolis lush with bright lights, vibrant colors, luxuriant plant life, and all the conveniences of technology absent from your own world… It seems like paradise to all the uninitiated. After a quick tour of the city, new arrivals can find themselves getting cozy in their new homes.

A Settle in your new home at Level 2 to find new roommates and say hello to your neighbors! City officials will give you directions to the designated districts across Level 2 and instruct you to pick out a unit. Each apartment complex has a different aesthetic, some may look cozy, some stylish, and some bizarre. The free accommodations have a basic living space that can only fit two or three people at most in one unit.

Starter Chromaspace furnishings are provided which can be controlled with the touch of a built-in panel. Examples are color-changing curtains, transforming sofa beds, cabinets turning into tables, etc. Customizing your apartment or moving out will have to wait until you earn more chroma. Until then, why don’t you check out your new neighborhood or explore the city levels? Maybe your new roommates or neighbors can give you a “hand” with allowance for dinner.

▶ I Didn’t Choose the Hug Life, the Hug Life Chose Me
08/09 | Outside Lunatia, Kingdom of Calanthe | top

With the return of Lyestella and Vulpus to the land, the Lyestellans and Amegaharans have pledged to cooperate with the Lunatians in their effort to continue to restore Prismatica to its former glory and recover the planet’s lost history. The Prismals now turn their attention to the decrystallization of the land and the detoxification of the air, both remnants of the great cataclysm of ages past. The planet’s surface has already been changing, revealing new sites of archaeological interest. Aside from Neuhr Ellysti, another one was recently found to the far south of Lunatia in an old city that the Prismals call Calanthe.

The Moonblessed-produced Chroma has dissipated the toxic mist surrounding the city, revealing a sprawling, majestic kingdom encased in crystal as if it was frozen in time. The kingdom is partially submerged in water, requiring some sophisticated techniques to reach its innermost recesses. Lunar Scientia has requested for Chroma to be funneled into the ancient city to allow them to study it further.

As an apology for his antics last month, Vulpus has volunteered to lead the Calanthe decrystallization efforts with the power... of dance! His Azure Passion Blossom dance will help the Moonblessed generate more Chroma by amplifying it considerably.

B As Vulpus dances, the Moonblessed are asked to participate in a large-scale hug-a-thon at the Calanthe research camp. The goal is to partner up with one another and try to remain awake for 3 hours, simply standing and hugging, in order to take home the following rewards: a generous amount of groceries, two luxurious dessert cakes (comes in two flavors!), and the choice to take home one of the latest Chromawear releases from Prissy Polyp.

Now that he’s being good, do you think Vulpus’s hips don’t lie? Nope. He is definitely back on his bullshit. For those unwilling to participate, they will find their bodies inexplicably “magnetized” to one another, spontaneously sending you through the air and sticking you to someone else. Escape is nigh impossible for at least an hour when the effects wear off. Better be prepared to make friends fast.

▶ Ride It, My Pony
08/10 | top

The mass amounts of hug-induced Chroma successfully banish the crystal and toxic mist away and open up the kingdom of Calanthe. While many may be eager to venture into the unknown, Lunar Scientia warns everyone of the dangers ahead. Prepare yourselves, and don’t travel alone.

Calanthe is covered in runes and symbols that may be familiar to veteran Moonblessed, including the Mark of the Destroyer which had been present in the Glory. Meanwhile, the shimmering waters surrounding the city are remarkably beautiful, but with no ocean floor in sight — only an endless abyss.

C Calanthe’s waters are enchanted to drown all those unwelcome, even those who can breathe underwater. It’s not a good idea to touch or stand close to the water for too long in any way, either. That will summon innumerous kelpie horses that will lunge out and ram against you, your friend, and/or the nearest Prismal researcher, instantly knocking them into the nearest wall. These creatures best described as finned horses made of water; they mysteriously evaporate after each attack, only reappearing to ram any threat to their territory again.

Once provoked, the kelpies will start conjuring bubble cages around its opponents, which will send them floating upwards before quickly sinking into the endless abyss. Damaging the bubble cages from within is completely ineffective, as they can only be broken by those outside of it. Rescuers, hurry and break the bubbles before it’s too late!

Alarmed by these developments, Lunar Scientia will order a temporary retreat as they try to figure out how to deal with all the furious kelpies before any more people are taken into the abyss.

▶ Natural De-Selection
08/10 - 08/24 | top

Day and night, all begin to hear haunted whispers echo throughout Lunatia in the next coming days, among them the voices of those who were recently taken into the abyss, begging for help or mercy.

Ghost sightings of slain jellyfish and Korokiels from past battles flicker into view at random hours of the evening. Some people feel painful, spontaneous electric shocks. Others feel tentacles coil around and strangle them for a few seconds before the sensation disappears completely.

Just what did they unearth in Calanthe? News programs, articles, and social media are filled with rumors and conspiracy theories, but all seem to agree that the research team has awakened an ancient curse.

Those who were not freed in time and kidnapped into Calanthe’s watery abyss will remain in an unusual stasis, floating about in the bubble with those they are trapped with. The longer they stay there, the smaller the bubble gets, making it harder for them to breathe. Their most painful thoughts may end up echoing throughout Lunatia. The captured can stave off death a bit longer by constantly moonlacing until rescue comes for them.

D Time is of the essence. As soon as Lunar Scientia quickly announces their findings, everyone dives straight back into the bottomless depths. All rescuers will be given a newly developed Carcharian potion that will allow Moonblessed to temporarily grow shark properties, including the special ability to breathe in Calanthe’s waters, enhanced flexibility and agility in the water, and possession of sharp jagged teeth. These teeth are magically effective against kelpies who seem to fear the shark kind. The potion’s effects will naturally wear off after an hour, so be sure to complete your rescue by then.

With the kidnapped Prismals and Moonblessed back home safely, the Prismals will continue to carefully study how to safely navigate the area and explore Calanthe.

▶ Questions

If you have any questions regarding this test drive meme, please ask them in the Questions thread below.

WHO CAN POST? ▶ Test drive memes are for new characters only. Existing players may not post starter threads in the test drime meme. However, current players are more than welcome to use these prompts for their own posts in the IC communities, personal inboxes, catch-all posts, etc.!

IS THIS CANON? ▶ As our test drive memes are game canon, feel free to keep any threads that happen here as canon for your character should they be accepted.

DO I HAVE TO PARTICIPATE? ▶ As always, all content is optional. You do not have to be affected by any of the prompts if you wish to opt out.

KELPIES ▶ These horses cannot be tamed or reasoned with. If you kill one, more aggressive kelpies will come for you out of vengeance and start to swarm you and others.

CALANTHE’S WATERS ▶ As stated on the log, these waters are enchanted to drown intruders. Even those who can breathe underwater will NOT be able to. Attempting to bypass this through any means will not work.

BUBBLE CAGES ▶ Each bubble should contain at least two people. A Moonblessed may be trapped with an NPC Prismal if desired. You may freely communicate with other bubbles in the abyss. Attempting to use the network will fail as the signal is jammed.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Finn laughed, something that even sounded kinda stunned and as airy as he felt right now. He clapped Poe on the shoulder, shaking his head a little. ]

Pleasure planet is one word for it. Guess I have a lot to catch you up on.

[ Speaking of: ] BB's not here, no. I did see him, though, and he was doing great. He went back home, actually. [ Long story. Long story. ] But Hux and Ren- [ You know what, that's a long story, too. ]

You know what, we'll just start at the top whenever you're ready. The important thing is, Ren and Hux don't want to start anything. Well, Ren doesn't. Hux- [ He wiggles his hand, trying to indicate the crazy going on with that guy. ] We'll see about Hux, but he said he'd stand down and I think he meant it.

So... no war. [ Literally, actually. Since they won it. Does Poe know that? How does Finn ease him in? ]

[he watches the other try to find a place to start. BB-8 is a great place to start. The fact that...] He was Here? Wait, have I been here before, or was he with Rey? Or... [his face scrunched up a bit as he tried to follow.]

[There was a LOT that the other needed to cover. A LOT. For him the last he knew he'd help ruin the Resistance and they needed to find help out there. His squad was scattered to the winds and he was waiting to hear from them still.]

No war, huh? I wonder how long that will last. [Like he didn't quite trust it, but if Finn said it was so, he'd deal with it.]

How about this. I got a feeling there is something wrong here. Last thing I remember we were all on the Falcon, leaving behind the First Order. You... look a it too different to be from the same moment. [he said, reaching up to pluck softly, playfully, at the others hair. It suited him] How long have you been here?

[ Yeah, it's a LOT. But despite whatever frustration might be there and the impending conversation, Finn just smiles and lets Poe play with his hair. ]

I've been on this planet for... maybe eight months. The last time I was home was almost two years ago, though. I was on another planet before I showed up here, Vaikuntha. BB-8 was there, not here.

[ But YOU were, is what he doesn't say yet. At least he's talking in a calmer state now. ]

It's really complicated and I don't know how everything works, but we can arrive here from different points in time. Like, leaving Crait behind is the last thing I remember- [ -and what he thinks Poe remembers- ] -but Rey is a whole year ahead of us. A lot happened back home, apparently.

And here... And everywhere else- We have a lot to talk about, Poe.

[It really is a lot, and it has him reeling a bit. It was strange enough to find himself here in the first place, but now there was time line discrepancies on top of it? A different place for Finn before, where he saw BB-8, and Ren and Hux are behaving?]

[He squinted a look at his friend, making sure he was alright, studying him for a moment, then nodding slowly.]

Okay, so, BB-8's safe back home. You've been missing from home for like two years, and Rey is from the future where things have changed.

[He gave a halfhearted mildly amused laugh.] Buddy, we've got a lot to catch up on. But, I suppose, who better to guide me than you?

I feel like this is completely deserving of a drink. Or at least that might ease things a little. Come on, there has to be somewhere around here to grab a drink and let you try to fill me in on seemingly impossible things.

[ Finn draped his arm across Poe's shoulders, leading them in the direction of a decent watering hole. ]

I know a good place.

[ During those two years he kinda maybe sorta developed a habit. It's not a bad one, at least, unless he's going through another episode, but it's enough of one that he actually does know a good place. Good drinks, quiet, secluded- It was Ben that introduced him to it, actually, when they were setting their boundaries and terms eons ago now. ]

I would offer up my place but there's a... roommate... issue? I hesitate to call him a pet since he has his own room but, yeah, we'll deal with Waldo later. [ Yet another thing to easy him into. Death has feathers and teeth, Poe.

Finn tries to think of something to break some of the nerves all of this news can bring but it's still all too big. They won the war? Way too big. Poe was here before and forgot? Way to make him have a crisis. Finn can feel the Force? Way to make them both have a crisis. ]

Anyway, I think you'll find there's a lot of good people here. I can introduce you to some of the friends I've made. One of them would definitely like you... How long have you been here?

[ A few days. Finn knows this already. He's just kinda disturbed that he knows things he hasn't been told. ]

[Poe automatically leaned into his friend as he draped a arm over his shoulders. He allowed the other to led the way, walking along with him. Poe wasn't one to judge about habits like that. Sometimes they came in handy. Like now.]

Lead on, my friend.

[There was a raised brow at the Waldo thing.] Finn, we're on a pleasure planet. Don't lead with 'I have a roommate who's maybe a pet.' and not expect me to have questions.

[He gave him a side long look at that really. Waldo, huh? But then he smiled at the Good People comment.] Look at you, making friends outside of a war. I like anyone who would like me, I'm sure. [he teased.]

Ah, a few days is all. I've been getting settled and exploring since they let me out of orientation.

[All of it was 'big' and all of it needed to be talked over. Though he might say he should have lead with 'we wont the war' as that seemed the best.]

[ There wasn't enough warning for Finn to even try and stop his bark of a laugh about the whole Waldo thing. The fact that James did actually leave a leash and collar in Finn's apartment for the 'pleasure planet' part just makes it worse. ]

No, no- [ He wiped at his eyes, smile wide. ] Waldo's an animal, something called a goose. He's this big bird looking thing that starts getting really annoying if he doesn't have his blueberries and granola bars. I just meant that he- Well, he does have his own room but he's also weirdly smart. I'm starting to think I live at his place.

[ Finn's smile stays big and just gets warmer. He did make friends outside of war (though not totally sure it's peacetime either). It's a good, revelatory feeling that he can even do that at all. ]

But that's good. It sounds like you're finding everything okay so far.

[Stars was it good to hear him laugh. If he could just hear all his friends laugh like that, nothing in the universe could be wrong. As Finn explained Waldo though, Poe too laughed, grinning over at him.]

So you got a pet, who's basically taken over your life, huh? Sounds like something I need to meet some day. I'll be sure to bring some blue barries over.

[He loved that warm smile. Loved every smile Finn had. A smile fit well on his face and it should be shown. He also felt a bit of pride for his friend, going from Stormtrooper to... well, this. It made Poe smile just as warmly back.]

I've been doing pretty well on my own. Just exploring. But to be honest, finding you here just made this place that much better. [his hugging arm around the back of the other man tightened in a squeeze as they walked. He did, honestly, FEEL much better to run into Finn. So much less alone than before.]

I could say the same. [ And hopefully Poe sticks around this time, but that's a bit of a selfish thought, isn't it? Considering what happens back at home, wouldn't he be better off there? Ah, it's complicated. ]

I could say the same. It's great to see you, Poe. Really. [ Really really. Finn nods ahead of them, indicating a little pub smashed into the wall between a restaurant and boutique. Looked nice. ] We're here.

[ Finn did the neighborly thing and opened the door for Poe, relieved to see that he was right. There was hardly no one here. He gestured to the bartender and began to move towards a dark booth in the back. ]

By the way, did they tell you what moon you're under?

[ Because if Poe's with Iris, too, then they have so much MORE to talk about. ]

So, it's been a while since you've seen me, huh? [he tossed that out, walking along with the other, when the other said they were here. He looked up to the little pub, literally a hole in a wall.] Nice. You going to buy me the first drink while I build up to buy the second?

[But they moved inside, a nod given to the bar tender, and moved to follow Finn to the dark room in the back, sliding into a booth and leaning on the table, Poe looked interested.]

Cordis. Or whatever it was they said. I was told to look forward to changes. [And all that changed was so far he was wildly hungry for Chroma... or food, or drink. No physical changes had hit him.]

Why, what are you?

Sort of. [ To answer about how long it's been since he's seen him. Then, in answer to the drinks- ] I'll buy the rounds.

[ Finn sat down across from Poe, at least for the time being. He didn't know how the other man was going to react to this conversation, so maybe a little distance was going to be necessary. Unclear. ]

Cordis isn't bad. [ Way better than Iris and, from what he's heard, more chill than Sanguis. ] I'm with Iris. So's Rey, actually. It's... a weird one, but we learned to work with it. [ He's not sure how much Poe has been told about the other moons so he doesn't want to get too detailed on it yet.

Besides, the barkeep's just brought their drinks over, more or less. Two tumblers and a bottle one of their better whiskeys. Finn's... sorta loaded so it's good. ]

[Seated across from him in the booth, Poe leaned forward on the table, hands folding a moment as he looked at his friend.] I have the feeling the drinks are going to be needed, huh? Thanks.

Cordis isn't bad... [he repeated carefully, brow listing. Rey and Finn were in another place of mind and for a moment Poe felt left out. Why wasn't he in the same moonlancing phase? He'll learn later that he got the better deal.] Okay, so Iris is weird. I've herd about the animal traits we pick up? But not much else.

[the bottle shows up with two tumblers and he smiles, a brow raised. Hey, he's not going to pass up a bottle of whiskey. Good call.] So where do you want to start?

[ Yeah, the animal traits are a Thing. Other than that, Finn just knows that Cordis people like to eat a lot but he can handle that much later. It's certainly not as dire and immediate as yet another awkward Heat Talk, which is probably a conversation they'll have anyway.

But okay, yeah, right, okay, so. Finn pours them both a glass, tucking his close without sipping it and running a hand through his hair again. Right, okay, uh- Oof. ]

There's just so much... [ And so much to purposefully leave out. Even though his checkered past has suddenly become relevant, Finn still doesn't want to reveal his Sith background to anyone else. Especially Poe. Like he told James, Poe would hate him.

Right, okay, not important, where to start- ]

When we were on the Falcon, leaving Crait, was when I first appeared in Vaikuntha. Like I said before, it was another planet like this one, some place that existed in-between dimensions. BB-8 was with me there. And Wedge Antilles, actually. Anyway-

After about a year, I was able to go home, but everything was messed up. A few planets were destroyed, the Order was winning. I think Rey was dead. I found you and we managed to turn it around and- This is complicated but I think that was a separate timeline. I really mean turn it around, like none of it ever happened. None of it ever will now. What Rey told me of the future is totally different.

When I got back to Vaikuntha, I tried to fix the timelines, make everything right again. BB-8 and I were going back home to make sure it worked and... then I woke up on Iris, same as you. That was about eight months ago.

[ Just skipped a metric fuck ton of details there, but it's important for Poe to know straight up that Finn had seen him before. Or, at least, Finn thinks it's important. ]

About a month ago, you showed up here, too. You stayed for about a week but then you were gone again... It's not a surprise you don't remember it. Not many people do when they travel around like that.

[There was SO MUCH TO GO OVER. They were going to be here for a while for sure. The bottle was going to be needed. Because yeah, heat talk is going to be interesting for sure. But so is... everything else.]

[He took the glass that was offered to him, and lifted it to sniff the contents. taking a sip as Finn started talking.] I'm all ears.

[And so Finn was at a new place after Crait, but Poe never noticed him missing. That was a note for later--He nearly choked on his drink the moment the name Wedge Antilles was said. He said his glass down and pat his chest a moment.]

[he said nothing though, letting the other talk. His brows creasing as he mention Rey being dead. About a different timeline. Messing with Timelines sounded like fiction and complex.]

[He'd seen Poe before. They did things. Turned shit around. Poe ran a hand over his jaw, frowning. Lat he knew Rey was alive and just saved them, but this was all... messy.]

You aren't kidding when you said that it was a lot. Wow. And--[Wait, that last part sank in a but late.] Wait. I was here before? I think I'd remember this place if I had been. Or I would think so. Stars, that is a hell of a lot to deal with, Finn. I mean, for you. I'm glad I was there to help, for a bit, but I wish I remembered it.

[ Yeah, Finn's been through hell. Kinda literally. But don't worry, he told Antilles all about Poe. What Finn didn't know, BB-8 filled in the rest. ]

I know. I know it's difficult. If you have any questions about your time here, I can try to answer them, but you were mostly just trying to settle in. [ They hadn't even talked like this, something Finn regretted and was now trying to rectify.

Even though part of him thought Poe wouldn't be here long, anyway. That's how it seemed to go with them. Regardless, he was going to try making every second count this time. ]

I'm just glad you're here now, you know? Anyway, there's still the real future to go over. Or, I guess, whatever future you'll probably see when you go back. That's how it works. We just... go back to the same moment we left. Other people don't even realize we were gone at all.

[Don't tell him that. Antilles is a hero to him. Jeeze! But no, seriously, he took another sip of his drink at the thought of it.]

Man, I don't know. You said I wasn't here long, so I suppose I wasn't able to get established. But... I suppose if we go home and no one knows we were gone, it's safe to assume I might have forgotten this place as well?

It just seems so weird. I was literally talking to you and Rey on the Falcon and then I was waking up in the middle of a moon I've never heard of, near a planet I don't know. Honestly, I think I'm being open minded enough about all of this being possible.

[He leaned on the table, eyeing Finn carefully, before pushing on, asking.] But how about you tell me the future. Like some prophet, hmm? I'm not dead in the future, am I? How are you and Rey and General Organa? What... happens? You mentioned Ren and Hux were here too. Do they know this future too?

[He stopped asking questions now, hands resting on the table between them, drink half drank. He was going to need more of it with this future, wasn't he?]

[ Finn knows what it's like. Going through something impossible, feeling like you're dreaming, trying not to panic, obsessed with going home. At some point, several times over, he just learned to accept it. But that's something a person has to figure out for themselves, he thinks. ]

You're taking it well so far.

[ So far. But then Poe mentions their future and... his smile falters a little. ]

They both know, too. They've seen more than we have, but Rey's seen the most.

I guess the most important parts are, no, you aren't dead... and we won the war. [ He doesn't know how to give that statement the impact it deserves. Rey hadn't either, at least. ] In a year back home, the First Order's gone... We win.

[That WAS going to be something he would struggle with a bit later. The obsession to go home. To finish things. Then again, if he knows how the future turns out, and that when he goes back it will be back to where he left? Well, that helps. Or it will, when he tells himself all this over again to himself.]

So far, so good. Pretty sure it's going to hit me differently later, but I'm just glad to be talking to you now. So, we'll see.

[Rey knows the most. She's from the farthest point in the future. Good to know. And ... AND... he's not dead. He smiled, about to say something smart about being alive, only to pause completely as Finn said they won.]

[They won the war.]

[His eyebrows raised at that. Then his eyes widened. Surprised. A year form now they Win. the WAR. A little breathless laugh escaped his mouth at that. The First Order is gone and they won the war.]

[He whooped, leaning back and throwing his hands up into the air. If anyone else was around they'd just have to deal with the happy outburst.]

We won! Are you for real? [He leaned on the table again, leaning forward and grinning almost wildly at Finn.] We won? There's no more war?

[Half his life was spent on war, he had to wonder what he'd do after it was over.] That's amazing news, Finn!

[ Finn laughs and really really wishes they could just end on this note. After all, he never properly celebrated. Rey was still reeling from her heritage and Finn-... He had stayed up all night trying to imagine life with war not in the backdrop, not constantly on his mind, somewhere to be totally at peace and out of conflict. Everything he wanted. Impossible.

So this mood's a pretty good one to be in. ]

We won. I'm pretty sure Hux died before the end, and a lot of things happened with Kylo. Apparently he turned on the Order but didn't make it out either. He's trying to go by Ben now.

[ Oh, right, and the whole Reylo thing. While Finn doesn't want to reveal Rey's family without her knowledge, he kinda has to give him that news since it's really relevant. ]

There-... There's some bad news, too. Well, one thing that'll just piss you off but-... Yeah. [ Bad news. ]

[He was laughing, amazed, pleased, happy. A life with no war seemed impossible, but it was in his future. Amazing. This was amazing news.]

[He settled more as Finn talked about the General. About Kylo Ren. They didn't make it out. There was something about that that was... sad, really. it was sobering, but he nodded.]

I'll... keep that in mind if I run into them. They're both in a truce now though? I mean, here. They aren't starting trouble here?

[and more sobering is the way Finn looked as he said there was bad news too. Oh no. This was too good to be true. Finn, you don't DIE too do you? He settled down in his set, leaning both arms on the table and looking seriously now to Finn.]

Good news first was good. Now on to the bad news. Bring it. I can handle it.

[No, he wasn't going to handle this well. Actually, out of everything that Finn COULD say, about the future, or the sith, or Kylo Ren going by Ben, or war or not.... out of all of it there was one thing that would upset him most and it was going to be this.]

No, no trouble so far. Especially from Ben.

[ He doesn't know how Poe wants to treat the whole Kylo/Ben situation and Finn's not going to try to sway him any which way. He's just going to give that one air to breathe.

But. Right. The bad news. He had no idea how to deliver it, so Finn took a drink, let out a breath, looked at Poe, and just said it. ]

Poe... Leia didn't make it.

[ He also doesn't know how close the two of them were, but his gut tells him this isn't going to be light news. Then there was something about some of Poe's Black Squadron not making it either, but Finn didn't know exactly who so he wasn't going to say anything on that. He can't let Poe speculate about which of his friends are dead. ]

You and I became generals after her, before the final battle.

Ben. [He pursed his lips and nodded.] Right. Might take some getting used to the name change.

[Not that he really wants to see the man again. Last time he did he had his brain broken into and he barely has the brain cells for that kind of thing as it is. Still, he'd keep that in mind.]

[But then Finn was taking a drink, and seeming to prepare himself to deliver the bad news. His guts are telling him true, this isn't going to go easy. The fact that he loses some of Black Squadron is going to upset him too. That's war for you, and he knows the chances, but it's none the less upsetting.]

[But then Finn says that. Leia didn't make it.]

[It's like Finn literally punched him in the gut and the breath left him for a moment. He exhaled as he heard it, drawing back from the table to sit in the booth properly, back pressed to it and paused there.]

[his eyes darken, brows drawn in, as if his first reaction is "That's not true" or "That's impossible" or something just as disbelieving. But then, this was Finn. And this is Rey's intel. They'd never lie about something like this. And thus his brows turned into a more worried frown, eyes watering a bit but not welling.]

...okay.

[...was not the word he meant to say first. It came out a bit tight and he nodded short nods a few too many times. He remembered to breathe at that point, taking in a slow breath and letting it out again.]

[His hand reached out for his glass and he tipped it back, knocking back the rest of his drink, his wrist used to swipe at his eye swiftly, before sitting the glass back down again. He nodded once more, as if he was slowly accepting this.]

Okay, yeah, that is... news. I suppose I shouldn't be too surprised, but she always seemed like such a figure that would always be there. [they'd already almost lost her to the vacuum of space. Her recovery was unheard of. If she could live though THAT she could live through anything, right?]

Was it bad? Or... [He wasn't sure what 'or' there was to follow. Peaceful, maybe? Was she in pain? Was it in vain? How did it happen? Why her? Please don't tell him it was his fault some how, or he'd never recover.]

[He'd deal with the General's part in a bit]

[ Finn sees the disbelief and anger bubble up but it's gone as fast as it appears. He's not sure what to do, doesn't know how to help, so he just refills Poe's glass.

There are still parts of even this he doesn't want Poe to know, doesn't want to make the situation between Rey, Ben, and Poe worse before it even starts, but hiding it would just be worse. ]

Rey told me she did the same thing Luke did on Crait, reached out with the Force, reached out to Ben. Apparently, that's what got him to switch sides. Rey said she wasn't with Leia at the time, but... I think Luke had peace at the end. So I think she did, too.

[ He doesn't want Poe to blame Ben for Leia's death so it's worded as carefully as he can. Still, if it happens, it happens. Finn's not going to blame him for resentment, given the past. ]

I'm sorry.

[ It's difficult apologizing for something that hasn't happened yet. ]

[It was difficult to think about really. Leia always seemed like a constant ever since she brought him to the Resistance. He had heard such stories and those stories never fully prepared him for how awesome she was in real life.]

[The glass filled again, he gave a small nod of thanks, taking another sip, but just a sip. Listening to Finn explain. Reached out to Ben. Took the man from Kylo to Ben, just by reaching out to him.]

[Maybe there was a bit of resentment towards Ben for it. Just a bit. But then again...] So she went out on her own terms. Good.

[The word 'Good' came out a bit tight on his voice, so he cleared his throat a bit, too one more sip of his drink, then moved forward to lean on the table once more.]

[Poor Finn. To be the one to tell Poe has to suck, but then again, Poe wouldn't have wanted to hear it from anyone else, really. He can't be mad at him. He pushed a weary smile on his face as Finn apologized. A hand reached out from his glass to rest on top of Finn's hand.]

Don't apologize. It was bound to happen. I wish it wasn't so soon, but if she went out in her own way, then who am I to complain? I mean, I AM going to complain, but... [He shrugged. then softly,]

Thanks for being the one to tell me, General.

[ Going out on her own terms. Good, that was the best way to take it. And it's true, from what Finn's heard. That's just how Leia is.

A corner of his lips tick up in a sad smile, his hand wrapping around Poe's and holding on firmly. ]

Still wish I had better news to tell, General.

[ Winning the war is pretty damn great news, at least, but he still winced, the smile fading. ]

There's just... one more thing. It's not really bad. Sort of. It's- [ Fuck, get it over with. ] Rey and Ben are together.

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'i could say the same' jsldjf no more tags after 1am for me lol

he's just so happy to see him he repeated himself. <3

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Emotions are a GO

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