Empatheias Mailbox/Amulet

[lostapprentice]

[God forbid you have to deal with this absolute mess, but he has a mailbox and can be contacted through the crystals.]

Comments

[huxceptional]

[Talking about feelings was never one of Hux's strengths.]

...No, I suppose not. [Should he just acknowledge what Ren has said? There's a small amount of confusion coming from the general, apparent enough for Ren to sense.]

If you're unable to stop caring about various things, then you'll just have to find other solutions. Perhaps make it tolerable. [Not that Hux has this sort of problem because he's an asshole.]

[lostapprentice]

There is no solution. That's the point.

[This place has taught him just how much he's powered by conflict, both by inflicting things upon him here and making him reflect on things from their galaxy. Ren brings a hand over his face, letting out a sigh and regretting even bringing this up at all.]

... forget it. Forget I said anything.

[huxceptional]

[For some reason, the dismissal frustrates Hux. The reasonable thing for him to do is just let this topic drop, but it would feel like his effort to try and help was a complete waste of everyone's time. That thought doesn't sit well with him, even though he's more than aware of his inadequacies in this particular subject.

Maybe he just dislikes being inadequate in anything. Or maybe it's just because Rne is involved.]

No, I'm not going to.

[lostapprentice]

[Kylo finally sits up and looks at the other man properly, a faint frown on his lips as he watches Armitage for a moment. He shakes his head slightly before he responds, turning his gaze away as if to avoid the topic.]

Fine... but I don't want to talk about it.

[The shadows start to revert to their normal intensity, at least; he is a bit heartened by Hux wanting to fix this somehow, even if it might not necessarily be for Kylo's sake alone. Out of everything, he's the thing that's helped Ren's life be more bearable here.]

[huxceptional]

[Fine, Hux doesn't need to listen to this anymore. He understands the issue at hand and as long Ren knows that he's not forgetting about this, then that will just have to suffice for now. Besides, there's only so much he can tolerate this sort of talk before losing his patience.

At least the shadows have lessened a bit, so Hux was slightly successful. That's the most important thing here.]

For now, you should be spending more time on more important matters, like making me food. [Is Hux joking? Who knows.]

[lostapprentice]

[Ren, at least, decides to take it as one, and he lets out a brief huff of breath through his nose as an approximate laugh. He sets his chin against his hand and his elbow against his knee, raising his eyebrows even though he's still a bit tired emotionally.]

I'm the one who's injured. Shouldn't you be making me things?

[huxceptional]

Since when being injured stopped you from doing far more dangerous tasks?

[Hux gives Ren a pointed stare.]

I seem to recall a recent incident where you trained despite having an injured leg. [Besides, Ren is the housewife between the two of them.]

[lostapprentice]

So you're saying you're fine with me being on my feet?

[Ren leans forward, almost as if he's preparing to stand up. Maybe he is, maybe he isn't. Maybe it depends on how Hux reacts.]

That was easier than I thought.

[huxceptional]

[He can't stop himself from grabbing Ren's arm, wanting to make sure that he doesn't get up on his feet again despite what he just said. Look, Hux was just trying to make a point here!!]

Sit down you enormous idiot. You're not reopening your injury after I spent the last half hour being your medical droid.

[lostapprentice]

It's not my fault you're sending mixed signals, Armitage. [He's openly amused now, a slight smile on his face as he sits back to reassure the other man. There's a clear fondness there, too, in the way he's tilting his head and facing Hux.]

[huxceptional]

[Humph, he sees Ren's amusement. Not allowed!!]

Use the Force, that's always your favorite way to accomplish tasks. You won't need to stand up and you'll be training your mastery of the Force by making me food.

[See, a completely logical reason why he suggested this.]

[lostapprentice]

[Ren comes just short of rolling his eyes, but he does shake his head at the suggestion.]

I'm not using the Force for something as mundane as making dinner. It would be an insult to my training.

[The Force is Important. Using it for anything less than important would be blasphemy, and Ren is certainly devout enough to consider that unacceptable.]

[huxceptional]

Wasn't aware that you actually had standards for that.

[Aren't lightsabers supposed to be sacred as well? Kylo never hesitated to smash various pieces of equipment with that blasted thing.]

[lostapprentice]

[His eyebrows rise just slightly, and he rests his chin against his fist as he leans against the armrest.]

Of course I do. Unlike you, I take the Force very seriously.

[huxceptional]

[A small dissatisfied grunt leaves Hux at that.]

And you don't consider making me food to be a very serious matter?

[Now Hux is curious if he can convince Ren to make him food by using something that he takes very seriously.]

[lostapprentice]

You're a grown man who can feed himself, so no.

[You can't have it both ways, Hux.]

[huxceptional]

[ren is the worst boyfriend.]

Humph, but you still owe me for this. [Seems like he can't convince Ren, but he wants to have the last word in somehow.]

Once you're healed, I intend to take that IOU.

[lostapprentice]

[Kylo puts his free hand on the other man's opposite shoulder, seemingly casual as he replies. Making dinner for Hux isn't exactly a chore, so he's not bothered by the strange insistence.]

You were right that I wouldn't let this stop me from doing things, you know. You telling me to sit is the only thing keeping me from it.

[You brought this on yourself! Clearly.]

[huxceptional]

Telling me that I'm right and admitting that you're following my orders in one sentence? Today won't be forgotten.

[The words have no real bite, however, and Hux can't stop himself from leaning against Ren's shoulder. A small and weak part of him wants this and it has nothing to do with Hux trying to control his co-commander.

[lostapprentice]

[Ren has to chuckle, though he attempts to suppress the smile on his face as Hux leans closer.]

It is more convenient to have you in an agreeable mood. [Not to mention their banter is a helpful distraction from the fact that Ren can't do the training he'd like, or from thoughts about what happened on the surface. Instead of focusing on those, he brushes his hand over Hux's hair, enjoying their proximity.]

[huxceptional]

I could say the same about you.

[Hux thinks that Ren is far more difficult to get along with on a normal basis. That's how it was on the Finalizer at least, although he's heard that Ren has made a couple of... allies of sorts while here. This world has changed them both, obvious enough by the fact that he's leaning against Ren instead of wanting the man to be dead.

...And the fact that Ren is smiling at him.]

If you ruin my hair, I'm replacing your shampoo with green hair dye.

[lostapprentice]

Getting rid of that awful gel isn't "ruining" it. It's an improvement.

[One day he will get Hux to let his hair down at home, so to speak. That day may not be today, but Kylo is nothing if not determined.]

Besides, if you dyed my hair green you'd have to look at it more than I would. [So really, who would lose more here?]

[huxceptional]

[Awful?! How rude. Hux gives Ren a look from his rather comfortable position, so the offended glare loses a lot of its impact.]

Appearance is important, Kylo. People expect a certain look when they see me.

[More true in the First Order and less so here. Still, a lot of people would question him if he walked into broad daylight with floof hair.]

[lostapprentice]

[Kylo is equally as comfortable, leaning back and combing his fingers through the red strands here and there carefully, occasionally scratching Hux's scalp lightly.]

Isn't that more of a reason to do something different? It could catch them off-guard, make you unpredictable.

[... okay, so what if that isn't always the best thing to be when you're a police officer.]

[huxceptional]

[He doesn't mind getting pampered like this, it's definitely more preferable than getting into arguments with Ren and having a headache from that alone. This relationship is beneficial for his health overall, not to mention that Ren is more likely to protect him if something goes wrong.]

I highly doubt that the people of this world wants more unpredictability than what's already occurring here. [He further relaxes against Ren.] It's not like I'm trying to gain an advantage of the local police force either.