001; video;

[letoldthingsdie]

[As Kylo Ren (if that name could even be considered separate from him at all) he had never used the network. He hadn't bothered really talking to people other than the occasional response. He kept to himself. Perhaps if he had made an effort someone besides Rey might have cared when he disappeared a few days ago.

When he had left it hadn't been during Sanguis. Now that he was back, he was sitting in Rey's apartment - her plants hanging up and sitting in pots in the background. He had questions that needed answers.]

I haven't introduced myself before, though some of you I've spoken to may know me as Kylo Ren. Those who I've met can continue to address me by that name, though I'd prefer to go by Ben Solo. For those who I've yet to meet I can't say I'm terribly sorry for being so antisocial.

[There's a hint of a smile, just the subtle curl of his lips at the edges.]

I'm sure I'm not the first, but has anyone here been able to experience being sent away because of a lack of Chroma being generated? I feel as if I've come back differently, in some ways.

[He won't go into detail, but he's remembered things he didn't know before. For him a year has passed and now his scar is gone. He has experienced death. Part of him is still trying to process it all, how he spent nearly a year here and just like that he had returned home - or what he thinks is home. He's not entirely sure he can trust it. The memories changed him, though.

While his clothes were still the same black as usual, he looked and felt more at ease. His posture had become less tense. For all intents and purposes he was different but still the same.]

Private Message: Finn

Rey isn't here. I can't feel her anymore. Did she speak with you at all before she disappeared?

[He's hoping it's the same as his situation. He needed her to be back so that they could sort out a few things. It was also good that Finn was here too. He could ]

Comments

[letoldthingsdie]

I was here nearly a year before this and I was gone for a year. As for how often I moonlaced...?

[He clears his throat awkwardly, running a hand through his hair. It's not as if he's particularly shy about his feelings, but he's not used to being asked so directly how often they 'moonlaced'.]

There was a girl here before I disappeared, but I haven't been able to sense her presence in the city since I returned. Maybe it's as you say, that I got lucky.

[He's quiet for a moment, listening to her explanation.]

Time space - I haven't come across it where I'm from, but it's interesting in theory. I consider myself someone who is well read and I like to solve questions when I can't find the answers to them, but I've always been more of a pilot at heart than anything else. We had space travel as common practice where I'm from.

LMFAO PLS IT'S OK u caught it while I was sleepin

[cadeuces]

Ah, you must have arrived around the same time I did, then. It's a shame we'd yet to meet. But I'm just as glad to hear you'd had someone, though I'm sorry if she's no longer here. I know not everyone can be as lucky, but it does make it significantly easier to swallow this place to have regular companions. I'm sure you'll find plenty of people willing to assist if you ever find yourself in need of some chroma. You're always welcome to come by my clinic as well, if needed; my hands are a bit cold most of the time, but they'll do the trick to hold onto for a bit. It's on the beach in level 2.

( Which is offered along with a crinkling of her nose and a smile, a bit of a tease for herself but still a very sincere offer for stranger-friendly moonlacing, if he ends up needing someone to fall back on. It only makes sense the local doctor would be around to help, doesn't it? )

You certainly seem well-read to me. And as far as we're all aware in the year 2076, time travel is still just a theory and a topic for fictional works. Space travel, however, is fairly explored, though no one's quite living in space long-term just yet. They were working on terraforming Earth's moon. It was still quite experimental.

( And there were genetically-modified gorillas that ended up rioting, so you know. Probably still a bit too early for all that. Wew, Overwatch. )

I take your "pilot at heart" remark to mean you piloted spacecrafts, then? If it was common practice. What were you piloting for?

[letoldthingsdie]

Mm. It was helpful having her here. The two of us needed the familiarity I think since we were both from the same world and without anyone else we knew. I'm not the most social person so I blame that on why I haven't introduced myself on the network sooner or tried to meet other people. She was definitely the more outgoing of the two of us but we still somehow managed to stay in our own bubble.

[He smiles too, just a bit.]

I appreciate the offer. If she doesn't come back I suppose I'll have to take you up on it.

[He's fine with holding hands. It made things less heartbreaking that way. Holding hands was safer than the alternative. The idea of being intimate with someone after he and Rey had spent nearly a year growing beyond their resentment into something akin to lovers made his stomach knot. This woman didn't need to know his troubles, though.]

[cadeuces]

You're far from being alone in that, Ben. Many people struggle with what's expected of us in this place and don't particularly wish to invite more by making a spectacle. I think we all benefit from having a bit of familiarity when we first arrive, here. Even if we sometimes end up in those bubbles. They always pop eventually, no matter how we wish otherwise.

( There's a touch of chagrin to that, gaze shifting just an inch off from the camera, looking away. 'Tis the season for loss, it seems. She's just lost someone who's been with her the whole year they've been here, as well, though it only dims her smile for a moment. It ticks back up to see his own on the screen, head tipping another few degrees with the fall of a curly ponytail. )

You won't have to; only if you're comfortable. And only if you want to. You're more than welcome to come visit and speak with me in person, first. I have excellent coffee, and I appreciate the company. Especially if you happen to like puppies.

( It is less heartbreaking, but how often do things ever remain at just holding hands, here? It's always a gamble. But she lays down her offer regardless because he sounds like he could use a friend, and maybe a good hot cup between his palms and a still-warm-from-the-baker croissant, and a little ball of fur bounding across the tile to make that smile stick around a little longer. She'll always be an ear to bend if he ever decides that speaking of those troubles might help him. It often did. )

And maybe then you can divulge the "piloting" secrets, if you decide I'm trustworthy.

( And he'll get a wink, with that. She'd asked and he hadn't answered, so she can only presume it's Top Secret. She was paramilitary herself for a while; she'd get it. )