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[ the scar running down his face burns. the cauterized wound in his shoulder burns. his hand burns, his neck burns, blood gently seeping out from it, too. these points don't comprise his entire body, but in this moment they feel like they do. he feels like a raw nerve. a raw severed nerve, all blood and pain.

he doesn't know what she means when she suggests something besides being cut and bled, but he has a few ideas and can't imagine liking them any more than he's liking this. he remains still, but tense. coiled up. like he can do anything to move from under her. (he can't.) ]

Maybe we can go without the torture. [ if he acts like himself, mouthy and insolent, he doesn't have to choose. :) ]

But this is a torture room, it's what you were brought here for. Whatever else would we do here? [ Her tone is somewhat mocking as she replies and she releases her hold on his hair with a light shove. Though she sits up a little her hand doesn't immediately move away, instead briefly taking hold of the collar of his shirt to pull it away from his neck so she can eye the skin, and her fingers seek out the spot at the base of his neck, right at the top of his spine. ]

You know, a slight injury at just the right place can swiftly paralyze a person from the neck down. Enough pressure on a certain bone -- [ said as her fingers pointedly apply a little pressure, feeling the bones so close beneath his skin. ] -- or a cut in just the right place with a blade. The pain doesn't last long, from what I've been told.

[ She sits up fully then, straddling his lower back, and her hands slowly run down his back on either side of his spine, her eyes following the path. ] I hear the traitor survived being sliced open with my lightsaber. Perhaps next time I'll recreate that. Hurt your friends through hurting you, demoralize them with footage of the damage they didn't try to prevent.

Fearless Poe Dameron, heart of the Resistance. [ Chuckling, she leans down again and reaches to lightly grab his throat, half-purposely pressing her hand against the cut. ] Not so fearless now, are you?

His name is Finn.

[ it comes out in a quiet voice, hardly more than a whisper. spat out despite the sharp stinging from the cut so close to his throat. he doesn't know what else to say, because literally anything else would betray his emotions. the sick dread he feels as she runs her hands down his spine, envisioning the kind of helplessness that would accompany being paralyzed like that.

and, if not that, and he doesn't want to talk about how finn close finn came to not surviving. he was there when they brought him to medical. he saw what happened before the bacta bag. (he saw what happened after the bacta bag.) when she says "recreate" he doesn't know if she means superficially, like the scar on his face ... or something more genuine. he's pretty sure he doesn't want to know.

there's a lot of fear churning underneath the surface, barely contained below "his name is finn." ]

[ Her lips press together in a brief thoughtful expression at the words he seems to barely get out. As always, what he chooses to say and not say is interesting to her. This instance in particular feels like she's found a little string just waiting for her to tug on it.

Kylo releases his throat, shifting a little to one side so she can get a look at his face. ]

FN-2187 is a traitor and deserves to be executed like one when the time comes. Don't worry, I'll make sure you have a good view when it happens. I wouldn't want you to miss seeing the light leave his eyes. [ A hand lifts to lightly run over Poe's hair, almost like one would pet a domesticated animal. Her precious little unwilling pet. ] Or perhaps when FN-2187 is at last captured you can make the case for why I should be merciful. It's what you'll do, won't you? Beg for the lives of your friends.

[ She's fully confident the day will come, whether it takes weeks or months to get there. Kylo could have sent the full wrath of the First Order along with the droid if she wanted to. But she wants it done once and for all. That means destroying the outside layers so there's nothing left to scatter when the core is reached. Remove their allies, shrink the playing field, pick them off one by one if necessary.

And she fully intends to keep Poe alive for it. To let him witness the complete and utter destruction of the Resistance, to watch her wring the life from them until he is all that remains. One final ember glowing in the palm of her hand. ]

[ he looks at her with anger — and hurt. the hurt is different. like maybe he feels a little something more than friendship for the traitor. she tried to strike a nerve and ended up hitting the jugular. he couldn't stand it. he couldn't stand the thought of losing any resistance members — each loss more personal as the circle drew closer — but finn was ... finn. finn saved his life. finn gave him hope when he didn't have any. finn was hope in the form of a person.

so he gets an early start on that begging. ]

His name is Finn. [ his mind races, scrambling to hold on to something that isn't a simple "leave him alone." ] You could —

[ as he thinks of a way to save him, he almost chokes on the words. she could recondition him instead of kill him. it's selfish. it's too much. he can't finish it. he knows finn would rather die. he wanted to keep him alive but it wouldn't even be him anymore. just someone else with his face. ]

[ Oh, she sees it. Feels it. The way the chord she struck felt similar yet uniquely different from the one that belonged to his droid. Such a big heart the pilot has. So many feelings for others.

How utterly exhausting that must be. Kylo can't relate. There's no one remotely close enough to her that could be threatened and invoke such an emotional response. Not even the single other member of her family; Kylo would kill the woman who was her mother with less hesitance than she killed her father. Leia meant nothing to her now. People were pawns. Weaknesses for others. A Supreme Leader had no need for weakness.

Kylo lifts a brow as she gives him an expectant look, waiting a few moments to see if Poe will finish his thought. When he doesn't she lets the Force finish it for him, her power dipping briefly into his mind. ]

Hmm, yes, I could do that. Or I could torture him to death. [ She shrugs a shoulder, her fingers trailing through his hair even as he radiates anger and discontent. ] Perhaps I should subject him to a similar fate to yours, hmm? Give myself a matching pair of toys. [ Now she's purposely trying to provoke him. It's good practice for when the First Order does eventually capture someone else from the Resistance. ]

No!

[ it bursts out of him before he can temper his emotions. he's running too hot. and she looked inside his mind, he knows she did and it just serves as a further irritant.

he didn't know what was worse. there wasn't a good end. torturing. reconditioning. being tortured as part of some mindgame, instead of the straightforward way to death. that seemed like the "best" option and he still couldn't allow the thought of subjecting finn to it. ]

Leave him alone. Just ... just leave him alone.

[ maybe finn would die in crossfire before kylo had a chance to get ahold of him. maybe he'd go headfirst into another cannon. at least a death that way would be quick. not drawn out by a sadist. it felt so grim to actually hope for that. parts of him keep slipping. ]

[ One hand moves to cup the side of his face as her eyes run over him, noting the emotion but also the way the cuts look. Part of her thinks she went too easy on him. ]

You can't even save yourself, how in the world are you going to save anyone else?

[ There's more Kylo could do, so much more, but he's so riled up and in pain that she feels fairly satisfied.

She moves, getting off of him, and she steps over him to walk over to the door. A slight gesture of one hand unlocks it and when it slides open she half steps out to address the trooper on guard in the corridor. ] Take the prisoner down to holding, and have a doctor come patch up his wounds. If he struggles too much, stun him.

[ When she steps back in the room Kylo merely casts a glance down at Poe and walks over to retrieve her comm device. Once she's cleaned up a little she'll be off to see what comm frequencies have been found within the data from the droid, as she has little doubt the droid had a way to reach practically everyone in the Resistance. That way she could send the image directly to Rey, assuming they hadn't started changing up their frequencies upon the droid's return. ]

[ she's right, and the truth of it cuts into him, colder and deeper than her prods with the knife had been. there was nothing he could do to help finn. or anyone. he couldn't even save himself. he kept trying, and it was like throwing himself at at a barrier. an endless cycle of smashing uselessly against it.

being stunned didn't feel like an experience he wanted to repeat today. not after the first time left him so vulnerable. so he tries to behave himself. sit still through the stitching and the smearing of bacta. none of it made him feel better. sure, the actual physical pain was lessened, but it did nothing for the dread. she was just creating a new blank canvas to inflict more torture on. thinking otherwise was stupid.

holding felt better than the officer's room, though. more real. he didn't have to feel disgusted with himself when he was sitting in holding. instead, he could worry about what terrible things kylo was probably going to do to his friends while he's left sitting. all the finn talk dragged that line of thinking up to the surface. ]

[ Kylo finds it amusing that after all this time, it's something so simple that causes the Jedi to reopen their private line of communication. The bond rips open with force some hours after the image is sent, and she readily accepts the headache because the sheer fury she can feel from the younger woman more than makes up for any moderate pains at having the dormant connection reopened.

It's almost too easy, goading Rey. Hanging it over her head that for being a Jedi, a sworn protector, she's sure done a piss-poor job of keeping those arguably in her charge from harm. She makes some blind threats in return but Kylo barely gives rise. The thought of the Resistance being able to strike out is laughable. As is the thought of them rescuing their prized pilot. She points out that she could have blasted them to pieces instead of returning the droid, though she hopes they've moved bases because she's going to send a dreadnought in the coming days to check.

By the time the connection is severed again, Kylo's in a wonderful mood despite having to feel a level of Rey's emotional pain. She so hopes the Resistance will do something foolish. In the meantime though, there are plenty of planets yet to bring under the First Order's shade and pockets of local resistance to exterminate.

Several days later the holding cells are a little more populated. They've rounded up one of the rebel groups they found through the droid's datafiles, and while several were killed in the fighting or left to be executed by the planetary government as an example of what happens to enemies of the First Order, a dozen or so have found themselves guests of the First Order. Over the following days they're taken off one by one to be interrogated; a few don't return.

When troopers eventually come to take Poe from his cell, he won't be the only one. The youngest of the rebels still alive, a girl barely out of her teenage years, will also be hauled out of her cell. While the girl's only been to interrogation, Poe will likely recognize where they're being taken to since it was his last 'visit' with Kylo.

And Kylo's there, waiting, when the troopers drag the two of them in the torture room. ]

Put the girl on the rack. [ She makes a gesture with one hand that's already holding a long blade, and then points to a set of chains attached to the nearby wall. ] And put him over here. I want to make sure he has a good view.

[ the time alone is never really any easier than the time spent in her presence. instead of actively being in pain and turmoil, he has to spend his time constantly on edge for the shoe to drop. for her to show up to inflict more pain, or to deliver news that he knew he'd probably never be ready to hear. (his resistance being destroyed. because it was his. his as much as anything. and whatever happened to it ... the darker part of himself didn't hesitate to point out that it would be because of him.)

as the holding cells fill up, all the captured rebels feel like a weight crushing his chest. these were people who relied on him to give them hope. and here ... now ... he didn't feel like he could. too much of the light was smashed out of him. all broken and fractured. who could look to that? for all his fighting, he couldn't even save himself. he keeps his distance, stays quiet. it hurts to do it, but the thought of leading them into a fool's errand hurt more. it's like he learned something after all.

that said, it's not until he's struggling against the knights trying to pull him towards the chains that he realizes there is still fight in him. enough fight to save one person, because she's barely more than a child and she's good. she didn't deserve any of this. ]

Leave her alone! Hey! Leave her out of this! I thought we had something special.

[ Observing his struggling against the knights, Kylo makes no effort to intervene. She's enjoying the sight of his fighting spirit far too much for that. Besides, a decent struggle now means less energy he has to fight her with later. ]

Do we? I don't know, after last time you left me feeling very unwanted. [ A smirk is kept off her face and mostly out of her voice. The banter is a fun little touch to her; perhaps she won't alter his personality completely if she does decide she wants a permanent change. Blind obedience could get rather boring, and boring things weren't kept alive for very long. Besides, if she keeps a bit of that attitude in place then he'll yet be able to run his mouth and give her an excuse to punish him.

The girl, for her part, puts up a bit of a fight as she's dragged over but she's fairly easily overpowered. Kylo smiles at the fear she can sense from the girl, watching her eyes flit around the room like a trapped bird. Stepping in as the girl is restrained none too gently, her empty hand goes to the girl's face, thumb stroking across her cheek. ]

Such a sweet little thing. A pity your parents had you fighting on the wrong side. [ Striking a nerve -- the girl's mother was one of the ones who didn't return from interrogation -- the girl musters a glare and spits in Kylo's face. As she wipes off her face and steps back one of the troopers backhands the girl, and though the action from the girl surprised her Kylo laughs. ] Oh my, you've got some spunk to you yet. No wonder the hero over there doesn't want me to hurt you.

Edited 2018-07-24 21:09 (UTC)

[ he can feel unwanted warmth spread across his face. (anger? blushing? both?) maybe she was just talking about how he tried to escape while she'd been cutting into him at her leisure, but his mind automatically jumps to the time before that. it didn't make any sense — didn't he make her feel wanted that time? or at least, feel something all — but he doesn't spend much time thinking about it. there's no room for reflection when he's all anger and struggle.

why was he struggling, anyway? it didn't matter. he couldn't stop anything from happening to the girl. not unless he sacrificed some part of himself. (again.) and even then ... that was only a maybe. he was smarter than that. not always, but he can see the puzzle pieces in front of him shifting this time.

kylo wanted him to watch. the idea wasn't just hurting her, it was hurting her and making him watch it as some sort of way to punish him. ]

Hurt me instead. Whatever you're gonna do to her, do it to me. If this is some sort of interrogation thing, you know she'll crack quicker that way.

[ is it a great plan? no. is it the best he could do on the fly? yes. ]

[ Kylo picks up on that little shift of emotion from him, if mostly because it stands out so starkly against what emanates from the girl, though she doesn't give any outward indication of it. How interesting. Perhaps the time away from her, left with only his thoughts, was having an effect on him. Good.

Satisfied that the girl is secure, Kylo then turns her attention to Poe. She arches a brow at his suggestion and approaches once he's been restrained, dismissing those who brought them with an idle gesture. Rather than immediately reply she chooses to regard the marks she made on his face, tilting her head, and something close to a pout crosses her face as she notes how it's healed somewhat. Her own fault really, she didn't give explicit directions for only certain wounds to be attended to, but it irks her just the same. ]

You must be feeling better, to be so eager for more pain. [ She reaches out to brush her fingers along the mark on his cheek. ] But I must say that's a very astute observation. How very helpful of you. Perhaps I should have you start helping with interrogations, hmm?

[ As she steps closer her hand moves, fingers threading in his hair to cup the back of his head, and she leans her head in to speak near his ear. ] In case you were curious, Rey was quite upset to see what I did to you. Downright furious. Does it feel good, to know you mean enough to others that they take offense on your behalf? [ The knife Kylo's been holding in her other hand makes an appearance then as she presses it into his torso near his waist, the motion slow and only deep enough to begin drawing blood. As she does it she practically nuzzles against his skin, lips briefly pressing to the spot below his ear. ] And I can't do to you what I'm going to do to her because I plan to kill her... unless you think you can convince me otherwise.

[ if he didn't have to look at his reflection, he didn't have to acknowledge most of the scars that were still there. or, at the very least, the one that remained on his face. the way she traces the line reminds him that yep, it's still there all right. her touch makes him feel just as vaguely nauseous as that tiny tidbit of praise. helping her with interrogations would be like its own form of torture.

but -- it did feel good to know that rey still cared, that what's left of the resistance, wherever they were, still cared. were they going to come after him? no. but it still meant something. just like how what he was doing now still meant something to him, even if it didn't matter. even if the girl was going to end up dead.

he couldn't let that happen. he had to think of something. he saved bb-8, he could do it again. even while the knife starts to dig into him, his mind is racing for an answer. something he could say that could fix it. save her. ]

You could -- you could send her back. You could send her back with a message.

[ the only thing he could come up with was literally the exact same plea used for bb-8. and that's ... not good. he knows it's not good. ]

[ Humming a thoughtful noise at his words, she digs the knife a little deeper, twisting it slightly. Kylo can hear the girl fussing, struggling against her restraints, but it's merely background noise. She knows the girl isn't going anywhere and making her wait will only stew more fear and similar emotions. ]

Now, why would I do a thing like that? I don't know if she's half as good a messenger as your droid was.

[ The struggling gets a little louder behind her and it draws Kylo's attention, half turning away from Poe to look toward the girl. ] Feeling left out, sweetheart? Don't worry, I can fix that.

[ She lets go of Poe and withdraws the knife before fully turning and walking over to the girl. ] He seems to think you're worth saving. I don't know. Do you even want to be saved? Maybe you want to die, then you can be with your parents again. [ Using the tip of the knife to move hair out of the girl's face, Kylo smiles a little at the way the girl shudders, terrified and angry and not knowing what to do. ]

[ he gasps a little as the knife twists in. she's done worse to him, his tolerance is well on its way to being built, but things that hurt still hurt.

there it goes. she moves the knife, there's no relief. only a dull ache where it used to be and the spreading of more blood on his only shirt.

he doesn't have anything to bargain with. nothing he could give that she wasn't already capable of taking all on her own. the only thing he does have is his unceasing desire to protect others, no matter how futile and meaningless the effort may be. ]

Stop! [ he calls out again as kylo leaves him and approaches the girl. ]

I'll do whatever you want if you leave her alone.

[ he knows that it means more to her if he's the one volunteering to play in her game than if she's forcing him. maybe he can win that way.]

Edited (Replying in email is a trip 💀💀💀) 2018-07-25 20:35 (UTC)

[ While she doesn't move away from the girl, he does succeed in drawing her attention away. Kylo lowers the blade, resting it against the girl's shoulder, not harmless but if the girl holds still she won't get poked, and looks over at him. ]

Whatever I want? [ Kylo gives him a questioning look as she seems to consider it. After a moment she adds: ] Leaving the girl alone doesn't necessarily leave her alive.

[ She doesn't have to give him a chance to clarify what he means -- although she's confident that is, in fact, what he means -- but the concession costs her nothing. It's acknowledgement that he's adapting, learning, from their interactions. If he's going to play willingly then it's only fair for her to make sure the rules are understood. Just like how before she honored the reward she promised him after he did what she wanted, when she could have easily gone back on it or changed her mind. The psychology behind pulling the rug out from under someone was simple, a short-term reward and enjoyment. Something with more layers is far more engaging to her, the reward often greater and longer lasting.

When the girl starts to stammer something Kylo looks back and holds a finger to the girl's lips. ] Quiet now, the adults are deciding your fate. [ The hint of a glare that the girl musters almost makes her want to push the knife into the girl's shoulder but she restrains the urge, returning her attention to Poe as she waits for his reply. ]

[Leia would have advised against it, he realized. A girl isn't worth the life of a Resistance captain. He sacrificed people higher up the ranks than her in the field. Massacred a whole bomber fleet, but now he's willing to lay his life on the line for a nobody.

But not really. He knows Kylo won't kill him. Make him wish he was dead, sure. Almost certainly. But she wouldn't kill him. It was more than he could say for the girl.]

Leave her alone. Alive, unharmed. You know what I mean.

[ Kylo lightly rolls her eyes at that. ]

Yes, I know what you mean, but leaving an option open-ended or vague might invite a result that you don't actually want. [ She partially turns toward Poe and gestures vaguely with the knife while she talks, half to make the girl nervous. Rarely did anyone like the sight of someone casually waving any sort of blade around. ] For example, bargaining for me to leave the girl alone would still allow for someone else to kill her.

[ Likely a stormtrooper, but if she really wanted to damage his psyche she could work her magic and make him do it. She won't now of course, and wouldn't have, but that doesn't mean she won't in the future.

When she removes her hand the girl remains quiet and, satisfied, Kylo slowly approaches Poe again with a considering stare. ]

Just so we're clear... you want the girl alive and unharmed, released to be used as a messenger?

[ it's like being in court, lord jesus anakin skywalker. he presses his mouth in a thin line, annoyed.]

Alive, unharmed by anyone, released as a messenger. Any other loopholes I didn't consider? Didn't know you were a lawyer on top of everything else.

[ As her eyes narrow her empty hand raises and fingers curl, applying mild pressure around his neck through the Force. Not enough to fully cut off his air but enough to constrict it uncomfortably. ]

Careful. I could have easily taken you at your initial request and it would be a dead girl leaving this ship.

[ She lowers her hand after another moment, releasing her hold, and she taps the end of the knife against his chest as she stands in front of him. As much as she was looking forward to seeing how much it would upset him to watch her slowly torture and kill someone mostly innocent, Kylo's hard-pressed to ignore this opportunity. ]

Very well. [ Turning away, she sets the knife down before approaching the girl once more. ] Seems like it's your lucky day. You should thank him for saving your life.

"... T-Thank you..."

Good girl. [ Kylo pats her cheek as she steps in closer and though the girl flinches, she at least refrains from spitting in Kylo's face this time. Speaking quietly in the girl's ear, Kylo gives her a little message to pass on to others in the Resistance, using a touch of her influence to make sure the words won't be forgotten. After the girl nods her assurance that she'll deliver the message, Kylo walks over to the door to summon the trooper waiting in the corridor. ] Take the girl and see that she's escorted to the nearest trade post. I'm sure from there she knows how to make contact with the Resistance, don't you? [ Another vigorous nod from the girl, her eyes wide. It's clear she can't believe she's actually being released.

As the trooper cuffs her and takes her from the room, she looks back at Poe with a mix of relief and uncertainty. Regardless of Kylo's message, she's going to make sure the others know Poe Dameron is still very much alive and still fighting, at least from what she's seen. ]

[ he gets the idea. sometimes, when you're one little comment away from being force choked, it's time to be quiet.

still, he can't not say something when the girl thanks him.]

You're welcome.

[ is it great? deep, meaningful, groundbreaking? no. It's bone of those things, but it does come from his heart. he bites is tongue on a "may the force be with you," but he thinks it.

that said... after she's escorted away... poe is acutely aware that it's just the two of them now. or it might as well be. he signed off on his fate. the blood seeping from his new stab wound is uncomfortable damp against his torso and what's left of his scars from last time burn like the remember who caused them.]

[ Once the door slides shut and they're alone, Kylo shifts her attention fully to him. Was he already regretting what he offered to save the girl's life? She doesn't search his mind to find out. She trusts his body language will tell her soon enough.

She gives him an appraising look and her eyes catch on the fresh bloodstain adding to the others on his shirt, making her crack a little grin as she comes closer to him. ]

Hmm, looks like you'll be needing a new shirt soon. [ One hand reaches out to give a little tug to the collar of his shirt before idly trailing her fingers down his chest. It's tempting to rip the fabric right then and there. ] I imagine you'd look rather striking in black. Although black does hide blood very well.

[ Kylo lifts her eyes to his face, her gaze having followed her hand, which now rests near his waist on the side she hadn't stabbed. ] You know, I didn't have to give you the opportunity to make your wishes for the girl more clear. You should remember that for next time.

[ he doesn't regret saving the girl's life ... but he is anxious about what it means for him. what horrible thing he's going to be wrangled into doing next.

truth be told, his entire outfit is getting kind of gross at this point. but he'd never voluntarily ask for a new outfit. in fact, he doubles down on wanting to keep it. ]

I like this one. It tells a story.

[ after that, though, he gets quiet. he shouldn't have to thank her for human decency. it feels wrong. he wonders if anything about this will stop feeling wrong. his response comes out more flat this time. no more wind in his sails.]

I'll remember.

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