"Maybe studying the way tethers work here can give us some insight. It's not quite the same, but it's something the people here could teach us more about."
She's still conflicted about the necessity of tethering and the awkward potential of her own choice, but it hadn't been disruptive yet. It wasn't quite as strong or quite as random a bond, though she still wishes her thoughts and emotions could be entirely her own. But with so many Force users in one place that was never truly an option unless she meant to keep her guard up around the clock.
The mention of tethers puts a frown on his face. Maybe she's right that it could lead to some clues, but the whole idea of it rubs him the wrong way. He wouldn't mind the idea if she were of the opposite planet alignment, since they already have this bond between them anyway. But since she's not, he'd rather not consider allowing someone else extra insight into his thoughts.
"Do you think there's any truth to it? The imbalance sickness?"
Rey shrugs lightly. She hadn't given it a lot of thought, honestly, since she didn't think their hosts had any reason to lie to them. They'd seemed forthcoming and helpful thus far, though they also wanted something of them. Still, there didn't seem to be an outward reason to lie about it.
"I wasn't in a hurry to find out. I wouldn't want to have to choose someone out of desperation."
She realizes belatedly that she ought to have hedged a bit more, as now he'll naturally want to know who she's tethered to. This ought to go well.
Kylo still feels he doesn't know this place well enough to have a solid sense of what there might be a reason to lie about. And just because the reason isn't obvious doesn't mean there isn't one. The fighting, he's willing to follow along with until he finds a reason not to. Less so the part about giving someone else access to his psyche.
His eyes narrow at the words, searching her face. "You've done it already." That much isn't a question. "Who?"
Her cheeks flush with some emotion she can't quite name, and she looks back down at her book for a few moments, hoping perhaps the bond will cut out and spare them both.
When it doesn't happen, she takes a deep breath and braces for the end of whatever understanding they were about to come to.
"I thought it better if it were someone I knew. There weren't as many Tian-aligned people here, and if I waited it might've had to be a stranger."
She can't quite make herself look at him, or speak the name she knows will hurt.
She doesn't give a straight answer, but she gives him enough clues. There are very few people here who she had met before, and only one who he knows has the correct alignment to be of benefit to her. One he knew perfectly well that she had talked to about his future self. Her reticence seals it.
"Him." That's not a question, either. He doesn't know what to say beyond that, but he can't keep up just idly sitting next to her. He gets to his feet, needing to move. Needing to put an extra step between them.
She stands as well, though she doesn't pursue him. She hadn't done anything wrong; they weren't even speaking. And even if they had been -- well, he was the wrong alignment. He wouldn't have been an option immediately, anyway, even if they might've chosen it out of familiarity eventually.
"There weren't better options. He's not--"
She cuts herself off, inwardly cursing herself for even feeling as though she needs to defend her choice.
"Of course you didn't." He spits the words back. It's not that he doesn't believe her, but more that he's kicking himself for not having expected her to, without direct intent to hurt him, do the one thing here that would hurt him the most. If he had any sense at all, he would have known that's the choice she'd make. When will he learn?
He's honestly not certain whether the bond cuts on its own, or whether it's the sudden break in his trust that makes it happen. All he knows is that he's suddenly alone again, and he won't even know how she intended to respond to that. Maybe it's for the better, either way.
Whatever retort she's working on dies on her lips as the bond cuts out and is replaced by a string of curses in at least three different languages. Of course the Force would do this now - or Kylo had. She's honestly not sure which, and it doesn't matter. Not really. Not when she shouldn't have been talking to him in the first place.
She picks up her book from where she'd let it drop in her haste and heads back toward the apartments. She's not going to seek him out again, not when she doesn't owe him an explanation. Not when it's just going to end the way all their other interactions had.
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She's still conflicted about the necessity of tethering and the awkward potential of her own choice, but it hadn't been disruptive yet. It wasn't quite as strong or quite as random a bond, though she still wishes her thoughts and emotions could be entirely her own. But with so many Force users in one place that was never truly an option unless she meant to keep her guard up around the clock.
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"Do you think there's any truth to it? The imbalance sickness?"
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"I wasn't in a hurry to find out. I wouldn't want to have to choose someone out of desperation."
She realizes belatedly that she ought to have hedged a bit more, as now he'll naturally want to know who she's tethered to. This ought to go well.
no subject
His eyes narrow at the words, searching her face. "You've done it already." That much isn't a question. "Who?"
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When it doesn't happen, she takes a deep breath and braces for the end of whatever understanding they were about to come to.
"I thought it better if it were someone I knew. There weren't as many Tian-aligned people here, and if I waited it might've had to be a stranger."
She can't quite make herself look at him, or speak the name she knows will hurt.
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"Him." That's not a question, either. He doesn't know what to say beyond that, but he can't keep up just idly sitting next to her. He gets to his feet, needing to move. Needing to put an extra step between them.
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"There weren't better options. He's not--"
She cuts herself off, inwardly cursing herself for even feeling as though she needs to defend her choice.
"I didn't do it to hurt you."
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He's honestly not certain whether the bond cuts on its own, or whether it's the sudden break in his trust that makes it happen. All he knows is that he's suddenly alone again, and he won't even know how she intended to respond to that. Maybe it's for the better, either way.
no subject
She picks up her book from where she'd let it drop in her haste and heads back toward the apartments. She's not going to seek him out again, not when she doesn't owe him an explanation. Not when it's just going to end the way all their other interactions had.
This is better, after all.