Obviously, most people who see the Force being used in the way he can are envious of his abilities to some extent, so it's no surprise that the swordsman would zero in on the possibility. It wasn't quite what Ren meant to suggest, but he can at least acknowledge the idea.
"To do them? Unlikely," he replies frankly—still, there's always room for doubt on a planet that's already provided them so many unlikely opportunities. "But you can still learn. Supposedly."
Hopefully Regnard won't prove himself to be a fool in every aspect.
We last this long by going in a circle. Improvements are always followed by regression, eventually. The details change, but the core is the same.
[He doesn't sound particularly glum in his tone, though; he's accepted it as the natural course of things. There is no perfection, only continuous effort.]
The "no" is expected, and Kevin doesn't seem put out by it. He's not actually ruling it out, mind, because he doesn't rule out much of anything since the last time he accomplished something that should have been impossible, but he isn't making up his mind to prove Kylo wrong out of spite or anything, either. Maybe he'll surprise the both of them one of these years. Empatheias is a weird place.
"Then, if you're willing to teach it, I'll learn it," he decides, shoving one hand in his pocket and using the other to idly flip the false saber hilt. "There are a lot of things I'm mucking about with right now. If whatever I pick up from you can help me sort out those other things, it's more than worth the effort."
And you never know what can help you do anything in this world, so you may as well get a bite of every pie.
They'll see how long it lasts for Regnard to think the effort is worth it—but the swordsman seems to be balanced just on the edge of discipline and impulsiveness for Ren not to be entirely certain the limit will be that soon.
"I'll be expecting you on Ebdome, then," he says simply, as if that's that. And the great thing about being the teacher is that he gets to make the rules. "We'll start at dawn."
He'll see where they'll go from there, and just what Regnard is willing to put up with. Maybe if he's lucky, Ren can get him to do a single handstand...
Kevin raises an eyebrow at him for being so presumptuous. The only reason he'll allow this is that his mornings are his own and easy to rearrange. But if this looks like it'll work out Kevin will need to pipe up with his own needs. His schedule is a full one, between his Enforcer work and all the people he checks on frequently.
Come Ebdome, however, Kylo Ren will find that -- courtesy of acrobat friends in Theasthai -- Kevin is not only entirely capable of standing on his hands. He walks around on them.
[Hux reassured Kylo multiple times that he would be fine taking on the task that involved murdering some asshole pirates. He has a blaster and he's a good shot, so what could go wrong? He's not a First Order general for no reason! A bunch of lowlife pirates could never get the upper hand!
...Well, to Hux's credit, he managed to complete the task. Just not completely unscathed.
Holding his injured right arm close to his body, the general lets out a sigh before letting himself in. Maybe he'll be fortunate and Kylo will be out doing something before he notices him. Of course, he could've just went to the medcenter to get this looked at, but it isn't serious enough. It's just bloodied and swollen, nothing that a makeshift bandage couldn't hide.]
[Kylo wanted to give him another chance to prove himself, he really did. It's why he let Armitage leave without his accompaniment and minimal complaints earlier.
With Kylo sitting in his usual chair as the redhead enters, he has no such luck being able to avoid him. If the knight has anything to say about it, he never will, either.
Bruises would have been fine, a scrape or two he wouldn't have said anything over. And while he is glad that the injury appears to be nothing major, it nonetheless appears to be causing his partner a considerable amount of pain.
Like hell is he going to allow Armitage to settle for anything as crude as a makeshift bandage.]
[Perhaps Hux should've known that there's no way to avoid Kylo. It's almost like he has a sense for every time he gets injured.
Perhaps it's the Force.
Bah.
Seeing that it's impossible to avoid his fate now, Hux slinks over to his partner with a resigned sort of look. He knows that he messed up despite reassuring Kylo that he'd be completely fine. That gross feeling of disappointing someone builds up, but Hux does his best to squish it down.]
[Even if Hux were to hide any grimaces, Kylo would be able to tell. After the redhead sits next to him, he holds a hand out in a gesture that demands to see the injury. He supposes he should be grateful the man didn't come back with worse, but he still finds himself annoyed.]
[With a resigned look, Hux slowly takes off his jacket and pulls his sleeve up, revealing a black and blue bruised arm. It definitely looks painful, but nothing that wouldn't heal on its own either. Still, additional healing would definitely be helpful.]
One of the pirates managed to knock my blaster from me. [He frowns as he remembers that lowlife that dared to hurt him. He's glad that he managed to fire a bolt through his face in the end.]
A struggle ensued, my arm took most of the damage. But I completed the mission, Kylo.
[It's not as if they're in need of funds that desperately—they live comfortably enough with Hux's salary and Ren's hunting rewards. This was purely because the general wanted to, as far as he's aware.
He supposes that at least the one who harmed Armitage is dead now. That doesn't mean he's not going to lecture the other man on how to fight as he takes the arm to help heal it—slowly, though, as he's too irritated to channel his energy properly.]
[Wow, what's that supposed to mean, Ren!! Hux looks vaguely insulted and the only reason why he's not complaining about it is the fact that Kylo is healing him right now.
...And also because talking about why he took upon that task deals with feelings and that's gross. But if there's anyone he's willing to be gross with, it's Kylo.]
It wasn't intentional. [Huff, he'd never let that happen normally!] A few of them managed to sneak up on me, that's all. They've learned how bad of an idea that was though.
[A sour expression forms on the general's face for a moment, but it doesn't last as long as it normally would. There's a brief look of conflict that passes across his face before Hux looks away, avoiding any sort of eye contact with Kylo.]
I don't plan on it. This time was just an exception-- I wanted to kill someone and make it last.
[Thoughts of Velvet and her punishment flash through his mind and his hands slowly begin to clench the more they settle in his mind.]
[Despite the biting comment, there's an obvious anger in the general's eyes, even though he still stubbornly refuses to look at Kylo. It's not the same anger he holds for the Resistance or the Republic and as Kylo already observed, it's not just irritation.
He's angry, for someone else-- for someone he cares about and it's not exactly a feeling that Hux has often. It definitely didn't happen back home, but Hux has already accepted that he's far different now compared to how he behaved before arriving in Verens. It's disgusting to think that Kylo changed him that much, but... the thought of losing him is even worse.
Ugh.
Part of him just wants to say nothing, but at this stage, keeping anything from Kylo is pointless. Besides, a bigger part of him wants to talk to his partner. It usually ends up with Hux being less angry about something.]
Velvet and the rest of her group, they only suffered a month in prison for trying to kill an Arehtei. You, on the other hand, only killed Junko Enoshima, a known criminal, and was sentenced to slowly die in prison.
[Hux doesn't know what he really wants to say, which is unusual for someone like him. He's always had a sharp wit (at least in his mind!!) and he considered himself to be a good orator, but right now, he's stumbling. It doesn't help that the guilt from being involved with Junko's assassination has never really gone away either.
All in all, more emotions than Hux wants to deal with.]
Whenever I think about that, I get angry.
just ignore the 12 right there... it totally says 11-11... coughs
[Realization comes quickly, after the sad excuse for a punishment comes up. It's certainly seemed disproportionate, and for what reason the natives suddenly decided to stop caring quite as much is lost on him. He might have been more angry about it if he wasn't occupied well enough with other things, but as it is he's only been annoyed and content to watch the chaos. He, at least, wouldn't have made such stupid mistakes as a leader. Turning so far in the other direction to be completely cruel to the side that suffered a major attack, after making the one responsible for a minor crime suffer? It's pathetic, really.
That's all unimportant for the moment, though. What is important that Armitage is getting mad on his behalf. Even if the thought of it brings a light scent of flowers to the air, he'd rather not leave the man to suffer with his anger in silence.
Ren brings a hand up to Hux's face to show his gratitude for that feeling, a quiet breath leaving him.]
So you wanted to take it out on something.
[They both know how well Kylo can relate to that.]
We can't make things right here, but... maybe we should find something else to do with that anger.
[When Ren puts it that way, Hux can feel slight humiliation creeping up, which only adds to his anger. He considers himself to be fully disciplined, so to think that he wanted to take his rage out on something... but he cannot deny the truth in those words.
Which only increases his frustration.
The only reason why Hux hasn't completely left the conversation is due to Kylo's hand on his face. Even if he doesn't admit it, it's a gesture that brings him comfort, an emotion that he really hasn't experienced until coming to Verens.]
I'm fine.
[He still can't stop the slight huffiness though, in both his expression and voice.]
[Ren doesn't roll his eyes, but if he did, this would be a perfect moment for it. As it is, he simply gives his partner an unimpressed stare.]
When have you ever been fine, Armitage?
[Kylo has at least gained enough self-awareness to recognize what a disaster he himself is, and it was easy enough to see it in the other man even before he gained that awareness.]
Keeping it in and letting it fester won't help you.
this tardiness isn't acceptable in the first order
Even though he doesn't have a great argument against Kylo on that, he's still going to look rather offended by the comment. He's definitely a bit grumpy as he meets his partner's eyes, but he doesn't say anything either. It's for the best if he didn't actually answer his question. He's just above that sort of inquiry!
But a slow exhale leaves Hux as he acknowledges that Kylo is only doing this because he cares.]
Well, since you're so accustomed to letting out your anger, what suggestions do you have?
[Breaking things only helps half the time, even if it's the first thing that comes to mind. He does at least have a collection of various things procured just for that purpose these days, so Hux can't complain as much about him wasting resources anymore. That's the thought, anyway.
He only briefly thinks of the time he tried very hard to break himself before moving onto something more practical.]
Anything physical that requires all of your focus and energy. Something that challenges you. It doesn't have to put you in mortal danger.
[A familiar arrogance reaches his tone as he looks up at Kylo with a superior face. Well, nothing that challenges him that wouldn't put him in mortal danger. Sure he can run or exercise, but that doesn't require focus for him.]
[Hux is many things, but forgetful isn't one of them. It was exactly two years ago that he and Kylo first kissed in their backyard, right after they sparred for the first time. He's not quite sure how it happened, well, that's not entire true. He can blame the various situations in this world that forced them become closer, until they eventually viewed each other as partners.
Anyway, he thought that a two year anniversary should be acknowledged, despite Kylo being the Supreme Leader now and all the mess back home.
Of course, Kylo developing feelings for the girl did not help at all either, but she's gone and he doesn't have to think about her anymore. Hopefully.
And despite the tension between them now, Hux doesn't want this thing between them to weaken... or disappear. If it does, it's going to be on his terms, not Kylo's. He is not letting him go otherwise.]
...
[However, such thoughts aren't on his mind as he looks for Kylo, eventually finding him in the backyard of their home. Hux watches him train quietly for a moment, just holding a bag of food he brought from a restaurant they both favor.]
[That smug feeling is radiating off him in waves, and Kylo finds himself growing mildly annoyed. The only reason the general thinks so is because he hasn't been looking.]
You haven't mastered every skill under the stars, Armitage. What about carpentry?
[Designing and building something by hand, at least, seems like it might be mentally stimulating enough while also requiring physical effort.]
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