WHO'S FLYING THIS THING?!

[scruffier]

After D'Qar, on the way to nowhere in particular.

Comments

[scruffier]

This is pretty much the job I offered you. Thought about offering you.

[He doesn't make that offer to everyone. Only people he likes, kid. Granted, he didn't expect they'd be quite this hot. Resistance allies are one thing, personal targets of the full might of the First Order are quite another.]

We're starting with blaster training, we'll wing it after that, okay?

[icanfix]

[We weren't traveling with the enemy at the time, Rey thinks peevishly, but doesn't say.]

I turned down that job, remember?

[The rest of his words don't offer any comfort. Blaster training will be on a remote moon and she'll be stuck interacting with Kylo Ren, and "we'll wing it after that" is code for "I just want you to drop the subject.]

Fine. [Rey doesn't argue with him. She's not afraid to argue when she's desperate — like when Finn walked away from the mission — but in her experience, you can't argue people out of treating you like they're going to treat you. Arguing with Plutt about the rations he paid out never worked for her. She learned to take what she was given and make her own opportunities.]

[scruffier]

Yeah, but it was a close call.

[And there's no question now about Jakku, so maybe the consolation prize is better than nothing.

The truth is he doesn't expect or really want her to interact with his son-- Ben, he'd point out-- when they stop. It's just that both of them need the practice, it makes sense for them to do it at the same time. They don't have to shoot together. If they can avoid getting each other riled up, it'll be easier on everyone.]

Can you stop doing that?

[icanfix]

Doing what?

[She's not arguing with him, what's he getting irritated at her for?!]

[scruffier]

[For not arguing, obviously.]

You know I don't read minds, right?

[icanfix]

...neither do I? [The words come out before she remembers that wait, no, she did read Kylo Ren's mind that one time, but that was just to get him the hell out of hers. She hasn't done it since. And she doubts Kylo told his father about it. And anyway that's not the point the point is she doesn't understand where he's going with this.]

[scruffier]

[He hasn't been given the details, only that the force is strong with her, and he's got some idea of what that means for a person. Even if she doesn't mean to, he imagines she's picking up on things. With Ben and Leia it always seemed instinctive... Or maybe he's just obvious.]

I mean if you don't tell me things, I don't know them. So, what-- you don't believe me? Why?

[icanfix]

What about me agreeing to your plan indicates I don't believe you?

[Granted, she doesn't. But is he sure he's not a mind reader?]

[scruffier]

[He's not a mind reader. He is a father, though. And a damn good card player.

So he just fixes her with the are you kidding me? look. Because obviously she doesn't, and until she explains it he doesn't get why.]

[icanfix]

[You can't bully her into telling you the truth with your Dad Looks! No! She is a creature of iron will!

She sighs with the level of irritation only a 19 year old can muster.]

You don't want to let me off the ship. You'd rather I just get used to it.

[scruffier]

I don't wanna leave you on some random backwater planet to fend for yourself.

[Which he regrets saying as soon as he's done saying it, because someone did exactly that. Probably with a good reason, but even so, it was a terrible life to leave her to.]

We can't just stop anywhere we like, and sooner or later we're coming back to the ship.

[icanfix]

[That first sentence is both incredibly painful and very reassuring to hear.

It's also, in her opinion, irrelevant.]

I'm not asking you to leave me! I just want to be able to go out, earn some credits and buy parts for myself! [GOD DAD -- wait, not actually her dad, despite how desperately she wishes he were.]

[scruffier]

What parts?

[He's pretty lost now. Look, she's not his kid. But she sort of might as well be family. He decided that already, get used to it.]

[icanfix]

Ship parts! Droid parts! Things!

[scruffier]

I know I kinda have a reputation but we're not broke yet.

[icanfix]

That's not the point! [The point is independence! How does he not get that?]

[scruffier]

[They're an independent team, he gets it just fine. How does she not get it?]

So we'll get parts, we'll take on a job.

[What's the problem?]

[icanfix]

But I'll still be on the ship.

[scruffier]

You'll get off it more than I will.

[Of all of them, he's the most recognizable. At least with the ship a forged IFF code will buy them some time.]

[icanfix]

At least you want to be here.

[Why did she let him bait her into arguing? When has arguing ever got her anything? She stands up to leave because she doesn't know whether or not she even believes what she's saying, only that she's frustrated and hurt and probably going to regret all of this in about five minutes but that doesn't help control her mouth.]

[scruffier]

[Yeah, he definitely wants to be on the run with no safe harbor, the better part of the galaxy between him and his wife. With his son half-wild and still walking the narrow edge of the darkness, sullen and moody and guilty of mass murder. A too-small ship packed with fugitives, the Republic decimated, the full fury of the First Order on their trail.

He can't even blame her for sulking.]