[Kylo's turning to look at him just as he's tucking the food behind him, and it earns Hux a briefly narrowed look. It's absolutely a defensive way to respond, and no attempts to cover it up will erase the initial words.
He shifts his weight, tilting his head along with his posture as he tries to get at the actual truth here.]
And thus Hux is going to act as if everything went according to plan. He's not going to let himself be seen as the weak one, with him buying food for some arbitrary day that Kylo most likely forgot about.]
It's not important. [Quick, change the topic again. Hux stands to his full height while keeping his arms behind his back.] What have you been trying to do, exactly? I know that you're harnessing your... power, which I suppose is rather commendable.
Rather than answering, Ren starts to approach Hux's side, aiming to use the extra inch or so he has to figure out what the redhead is hiding. Why would he respond to the question when he's not getting a response?]
[Strange how he was almost excited to show Kylo the food, but now he just wants to toss it over the fence or off the island completely. That's a reasonable reaction to have for all this.
Hux actually takes a couple of steps backward, his face flushing almost angrily.] Don't you know what personal space is?!
I thought we were past personal space. And you never interrupt my training without a reason.
[Even if that reason would be just to discuss something, Hux has never hesitated to push forward when it's something Ren doesn't want. Therefore, through simple logic, something Hux is hesitant to share is clearly something Ren would want. So he steps closer.]
[Even Hux can see that he's backed into a corner now. Well, great. No chance to hide the food or hurl it somewhere... Kylo will easily grab it. At a time like this, the best decision is to show it to him and just be completely nonchalant about it. Right.
That will definitely work. Be completely calm and neutral... despite the fact that he was hiding it until now.]
It's just food.
[He brings out the bag and holds it in front of him.]
[... is it for a special occasion? It's not that Hux has never gotten him something, but it's generally reserved for those rare moments that Armitage feels the need to celebrate. Kylo wouldn't have expected him to remember the certain date this month, however.
Either way, he's grateful, and his gaze and voice grow a little softer.]
Thank you.
[He can continue training later. At this point... well, it's not exactly hard to focus on hate, but it wouldn't come as easily, and he'd be distracted.]
[...Has Kylo forgotten what today is? Well, it's no big deal... of course not. It's just a day, nothing more. Pushing back his uncertainty, Hux does his best to remain unaffected by his rising emotions, attempting to make his voice sound as monotone as possible.
However, the fact that the air is suddenly icy around them, probably gives him away.]
It's nothing, you need energy to train and thus become more powerful. [Truly the thing that matters here.]
[He could easily bring up the anniversary of sorts—and he may, if Armitage continues deflecting—but once more he'll try for an honest answer. He doesn't expect to get one, but if he stops trying... well, he doesn't want to give up entirely.
He reaches forward to take Hux's hands in his own gloved ones, partly to coax an answer out of him via comfort and partly to make sure he doesn't try to shove the food at him and flee.]
[Hux doesn't fight Kylo when he takes his hands, although the general doesn't seem any more wiling to truthfully answer. He just tries to keep an air of dignity as he meets his partner's eyes with his own.
Look, he's fine. Everything is fine. Who cares about a dumb anniversary!! The only anniversary that should be celebrated is when he finally takes over the galaxy.]
I just figured that you needed food, that's all. I know it may surprise you that I sometimes think of your personal well-being. [Kylo is no use beaten down anyway.]
[Typical Armitage. He supposes he should stop expecting any form of openness without effort on his part at this point, but it's fine. He's dealt with it before, and he'll continue to deal with it.
They both know what it's for, anyway, so he's just going to respond as if they've already acknowledged it.]
But Hux is unable to hide his flustered expression when Kylo just plainly acknowledges their anniversary. So, he did remember! Well, that's good-- wait, what does he mean by that exactly?!
...Not that Hux can blame him, not this time.]
No. [The general responds quietly, letting some of his more petty feelings fade.] Especially not after we both returned from Crait. I hated you.
[And of course, he still hates Kylo in some ways, that won't ever disappear. Not just for messing up on Crait, but for taking the role of Supreme Leader. His outsider standing in terms of the First Order military, his powers. There's just a lot still.]
[Kylo acknowledges the response with a hum, turning his gaze away slightly without moving his head. He knows that hate hasn't gone away, and likely won't ever, just because Hux simply can't take himself mentally out of the First Order and his ambitions. Kylo has abandoned nearly everything regarding their world, here, just because it's pointless to dwell on things he can't even remotely come close to accomplishing.]
[Kylo does have a point there. It is a bit surprising that he stayed after all that. Leaving would be the logical thing to do.]
...I didn't want to leave.
[Leave Kylo, leave the relationship. Because along with that hatred that only increased after Crait, coming back here and being slammed with two years of memories all at once... that was impossible to shake off. Hate is something that Hux easily feels, it can easily grow, but for him to feel something akin to affection-- attachment, that isn't nearly as common.
[He would have hated it, if Armitage had remained for any reason aside from wanting to. Not that he'd expect the man to do anything he didn't actually want to do for his own goals, whatever they might be, but... they've both changed considerably since they've been here. Ren isn't certain all of that change has been for the better, sometimes.]
[Sentimentality? Ridiculous. If Rae Sloane showed up and tried to get in his way, he'd have her killed too.]
If my feelings disappeared, I wouldn't have hesitated leaving you. And most likely killing you in the process. [He'll just casually throw that out there because well, Kylo wouldn't be surprised anyway. The man may be reckless, but he's not stupid.]
[Perhaps it would be less about sentimentality and more of... something else more selfish. Either way, it doesn't matter much. Armitage admitted he is attached, in his own way, and that's enough.
He barely bats an eye at the murder mention.]
I'd expect more than a few attempts out of you, if our feelings here weren't so different here.
[Time and resources are on his side here, sorta. Plus, Hux is at least somewhat certain that Kylo wouldn't try to kill him in return, so that's an advantage. Of course, there wouldn't be any point murdering him in the first place, given that no one stays dead here.]
[Kylo come back!! Hux starts to follow him, looking almost abashed by all this.]
What-- no, this topic just came up on its own! [Even though Hux stands by everything he just said, he doesn't want to let the conversation end like this.]
I wouldn't have gotten you food otherwise! And I assure you that it's not poisoned!
[Maybe a normal person would be insulted by that comment, but then again, a normal person wouldn't bring up murdering their partner on their anniversary. Hux just draws to his full height, his eyes narrowing at Kylo before looking straight at the food in his hands.
He just wants to prove himself here.]
I can prove it. I'll eat the whole thing if you don't want it anymore.
[Look he has some Doubts but he's not going to throw away a perfectly good meal. Stepping into the kitchen, he takes out a plate and a few utensils towards that end, but Armitage shouldn't expect a large portion. He can make dinner for the redhead afterwards.]
[Why are you so difficult, Kylo! Nevermind the fact that all of this is pretty much Hux's fault in the first place, no that's not the point at all. A part of him wants to add that if he actually poisoned the food, he wouldn't have said such a thing out loud, but he manages to keep that part to himself for once.
Look, it's progress. Sorta.]
...It's one of your favorites. [He says that part more quietly, because he does want Kylo to enjoy the food in the end. It's why Hux bothered at all.]
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lostapprentice) wrote2035-01-06 02:37 am
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He shifts his weight, tilting his head along with his posture as he tries to get at the actual truth here.]
It's never "nothing."
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And thus Hux is going to act as if everything went according to plan. He's not going to let himself be seen as the weak one, with him buying food for some arbitrary day that Kylo most likely forgot about.]
It's not important. [Quick, change the topic again. Hux stands to his full height while keeping his arms behind his back.] What have you been trying to do, exactly? I know that you're harnessing your... power, which I suppose is rather commendable.
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Rather than answering, Ren starts to approach Hux's side, aiming to use the extra inch or so he has to figure out what the redhead is hiding. Why would he respond to the question when he's not getting a response?]
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[Strange how he was almost excited to show Kylo the food, but now he just wants to toss it over the fence or off the island completely. That's a reasonable reaction to have for all this.
Hux actually takes a couple of steps backward, his face flushing almost angrily.] Don't you know what personal space is?!
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[Even if that reason would be just to discuss something, Hux has never hesitated to push forward when it's something Ren doesn't want. Therefore, through simple logic, something Hux is hesitant to share is clearly something Ren would want. So he steps closer.]
Tell me what you're hiding.
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That will definitely work. Be completely calm and neutral... despite the fact that he was hiding it until now.]
It's just food.
[He brings out the bag and holds it in front of him.]
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[... is it for a special occasion? It's not that Hux has never gotten him something, but it's generally reserved for those rare moments that Armitage feels the need to celebrate. Kylo wouldn't have expected him to remember the certain date this month, however.
Either way, he's grateful, and his gaze and voice grow a little softer.]
Thank you.
[He can continue training later. At this point... well, it's not exactly hard to focus on hate, but it wouldn't come as easily, and he'd be distracted.]
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However, the fact that the air is suddenly icy around them, probably gives him away.]
It's nothing, you need energy to train and thus become more powerful. [Truly the thing that matters here.]
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[He could easily bring up the anniversary of sorts—and he may, if Armitage continues deflecting—but once more he'll try for an honest answer. He doesn't expect to get one, but if he stops trying... well, he doesn't want to give up entirely.
He reaches forward to take Hux's hands in his own gloved ones, partly to coax an answer out of him via comfort and partly to make sure he doesn't try to shove the food at him and flee.]
Are you going to tell me what this is about?
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Look, he's fine. Everything is fine. Who cares about a dumb anniversary!! The only anniversary that should be celebrated is when he finally takes over the galaxy.]
I just figured that you needed food, that's all. I know it may surprise you that I sometimes think of your personal well-being. [Kylo is no use beaten down anyway.]
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They both know what it's for, anyway, so he's just going to respond as if they've already acknowledged it.]
Did you ever think it would last this long?
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But Hux is unable to hide his flustered expression when Kylo just plainly acknowledges their anniversary. So, he did remember! Well, that's good-- wait, what does he mean by that exactly?!
...Not that Hux can blame him, not this time.]
No. [The general responds quietly, letting some of his more petty feelings fade.] Especially not after we both returned from Crait. I hated you.
[And of course, he still hates Kylo in some ways, that won't ever disappear. Not just for messing up on Crait, but for taking the role of Supreme Leader. His outsider standing in terms of the First Order military, his powers. There's just a lot still.]
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I'm surprised you decided to stay.
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...I didn't want to leave.
[Leave Kylo, leave the relationship. Because along with that hatred that only increased after Crait, coming back here and being slammed with two years of memories all at once... that was impossible to shake off. Hate is something that Hux easily feels, it can easily grow, but for him to feel something akin to affection-- attachment, that isn't nearly as common.
And it's been nice.]
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[He would have hated it, if Armitage had remained for any reason aside from wanting to. Not that he'd expect the man to do anything he didn't actually want to do for his own goals, whatever they might be, but... they've both changed considerably since they've been here. Ren isn't certain all of that change has been for the better, sometimes.]
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[Sentimentality? Ridiculous. If Rae Sloane showed up and tried to get in his way, he'd have her killed too.]
If my feelings disappeared, I wouldn't have hesitated leaving you. And most likely killing you in the process. [He'll just casually throw that out there because well, Kylo wouldn't be surprised anyway. The man may be reckless, but he's not stupid.]
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[Perhaps it would be less about sentimentality and more of... something else more selfish. Either way, it doesn't matter much. Armitage admitted he is attached, in his own way, and that's enough.
He barely bats an eye at the murder mention.]
I'd expect more than a few attempts out of you, if our feelings here weren't so different here.
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[Time and resources are on his side here, sorta. Plus, Hux is at least somewhat certain that Kylo wouldn't try to kill him in return, so that's an advantage. Of course, there wouldn't be any point murdering him in the first place, given that no one stays dead here.]
You can't possibly predict every method I'd use.
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Is this what you want to discuss on our anniversary?
[Way to ruin the mood, Armitage!!]
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What-- no, this topic just came up on its own! [Even though Hux stands by everything he just said, he doesn't want to let the conversation end like this.]
I wouldn't have gotten you food otherwise! And I assure you that it's not poisoned!
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[You didn't have to bring up death, you could have just left it at hypothetically leaving! God, Armitage, why does he even love you.]
I should make you prove it, after that.
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He just wants to prove himself here.]
I can prove it. I'll eat the whole thing if you don't want it anymore.
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[Look he has some Doubts but he's not going to throw away a perfectly good meal. Stepping into the kitchen, he takes out a plate and a few utensils towards that end, but Armitage shouldn't expect a large portion. He can make dinner for the redhead afterwards.]
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[Why are you so difficult, Kylo! Nevermind the fact that all of this is pretty much Hux's fault in the first place, no that's not the point at all. A part of him wants to add that if he actually poisoned the food, he wouldn't have said such a thing out loud, but he manages to keep that part to himself for once.
Look, it's progress. Sorta.]
...It's one of your favorites. [He says that part more quietly, because he does want Kylo to enjoy the food in the end. It's why Hux bothered at all.]
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I could tell. [There you go, Armitage. There's your acknowledgment.] Is there anything you wanted to do today?
[aside from plot hypothetical murder]
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