From the large viewport of the Finalizer's command bridge, Armitage Hux surveyed the thousands of troops held at his command. Pilots dressed in sleek, obsidian suits with helmets atop their heads tended to their TIE fighters, officers sporting the classic grey attire went about their usual routines in various command blocks, while infantry stormtroopers clad in white armor fell into their assigned ranks: each standing at the ready for orders or readying to attend their daily trainings. Being a General of the First Order had been more than a dream of his since early childhood years; however, it was an honor that had been paid for with a price. For years he had served under the brutal command of his father, Brendol Hux. To say he was an abusive man who was an understatement. The young Hux suffered day in and day out, under his father's command who continuously undercut Armitage due to their shared bloodline.

Armitage's mother had been a lowly custodian within the First Order while Brendol was a General in upper ranking command structure. Brendol had not been kind to the woman censuring her for fighting for her son's right to his name. A fact that Brendol had taken out on Hux from childhood and beyond. For any other sentient in the galaxy the lowly lineage of a bastard son would have been overlooked, but with a commoner parentage Armitage had been forced to prove his capabilities all that much harder. He would have done anything to make his dream a reality, including the scheming of his own father's death with the help of Captain Phasma. Now it would appear that Armitage had everything he desired within his grasp. All except for one thing...

The scavenger, Rey.

While she may have been considered a nobody, no one of consequence other than a sand urchin in life, to Hux she would have been more than qualified to stand by his side. Not only did he consider her of impeccable taste, but it wasn't every day that a woman with such intelligence to match her outward appearance and a fire in her that he loved to stoke. He imagined the things that they could accomplish together if she were to consider joining him within the First Order. Picturing the crisp, black uniform of superior rank on her lithe toned figure he closed his eyes; visualizing his hands on her waist as she would approach him in their quarters after an exhausting shift. The almond colored strands of hair peeking out from underneath her First Order hat. A peek at the sun kissed skin of her neck. Or the way her jacket would fit perfectly snug around her breasts.

The sound of a throat being cleared abruptly interrupted Hux's thoughts. Snapping his eyes open Hux redirected his attention towards the approaching Lieutenant Mitaka. "Excuse me, sir," the squeaky sound of Mitaka's anxious voice always seemed to get under his skin. Like a small beetle crawling beneath the dermis. "The Supreme Leader requests an audience with you immediately."

Chin held high, Hux acknowledged Mitaka's report with a curt nod before swiftly striding off towards his chambers, where he could accept the communique in privacy. Removing a single black glove, he pressed the palm of his hand to the biometric scanner to activate the door to his private quarters where the grotesque holographic form of Supreme Leader Snoke was already waiting.

"General," the unpleasantly cold, tranquility of Snoke's voice echoed throughout the confined chamber, "how are preparations proceeding with our latest project?"

A smug grin spread across Hux's tightly pursed lips. "Everything is proceeding as planned, Supreme Leader," he haughtily retorted. "However, there has been a slight delay in shipments. Our most credulous supplier is - missing at the moment." It pained him to admit that he hadn't seen where Rey had run off to, just that she was no longer at her post at the market in Niima. Finding her gone had been a swift punch to his gut, and it certainly complicated matters on their business end.

"The girl -" Snoke's tone remained indifferent; however, even as a hologram Hux could feel his incensed gaze boring right through him, "- is now in the hands of the heir to Chandrila."

Hux, now caught off guard by the revelation of the scavenger's whereabouts, tried to contain his befuddled expression, "Sir?"

Snoke's face remained impassive, but underneath the facade Hux knew a storm was coming; and it would be directed at him for not keeping better tabs on the desert rat. "There has been an awakening in the Force, General. Something that may not be discerning to you," Snoke continued as he pointed a shrewd, spindly finger towards Hux, "but with her now in the custody of Lord Ren now makes matters more pressing. If Ben Solo returns to claim his throne it will begin to turn the tide against us and destroy everything we have worked towards."

Hux bit the inside of his cheek as he glared back at the hologram in front of him. The mere mentioning of Ren's name was enough to pop a vein through his forehead, simply for the fact that Snoke had always spoke highly of Ren's abilities. Praising his remarkable qualifications to become an impressive leader of the First Order; Hux was certainly not about to let his years of strenuous labor within the Order vanish into the void over some petulant noble. "I can assure you, Supreme Leader, we will find the girl," Hux confirmed with poise. "Trackers are placed on every vessel that comes to port in Jakku. We have reasons to believe that she left on board a stolen Corellian YT-1300F freighter."

"Find the girl, General. For your sake, I suggest you do not fail me again," Snoke's warning came off as serene, but the General knew better. With his jaw tightly clenched Hux nodded stiffly at the holographic figure before him as the connection ended.

His icy blue eyes still remained focused on the location where the holograph had once been before straightening his jacket with a huff. Taking out the com device he immediately hailed the first person he could rely on getting the job done. "Captain Phasma," he spoke in a mildly composed tone even though internally he was seething with rage, "I have a mission for you."

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Rey regained consciousness at the feeling of warm sunlight kissing her face; unable to recall the last time she had slept so peacefully in one night. The first thing she expected was to wake up on the stone-cold flooring of the palace's prison chamber; rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she blinked trying to make sense of the unforeseen surroundings. Brows furrowed, she ran her palms along the soft, cushy surface underneath; she was on a bed.

How did I even get here?

Ruminating on the previous night what followed her proposal had remained a bit clouded. The last details she was able to recall were the screams and cries of Finn, begging and pleading with her not to go through with the arrangement. Now she was lying on a bed that looked like it could fit five other people her size. The luscious mattress was cushioned with a luxurious cream-colored coverlet, and rows of pastel floral pillows propping her head from underneath. The bed itself was unlike anything she had ever seen. Sturdy wrought-iron posts rose to the cathedral ceiling at each corner of the bed's frame with sheer white fabrics draping the framework. Warily, she rose to her elbow getting a better glimpse of the massive headboard, trimmed in country shades of cream and blue.

Her eyes roamed the room, mouth slightly agape as she admired the arching brick framework of the cream-colored walls in which divided the sleeping quarters from a lesser in size sitting area: furnished with a beautiful white chaise lounge strategically centered in front of a massive window. Positioned across from her was a dramatic, antique vanity complemented by a small, wooden sitting stool. Stationed alongside was the doorway to a connecting fresher, and a modestly similar wardrobe in the far-right corner. Gathering the audacity to consider her newfound surroundings, Rey swung her feet over the bedside onto the bluestone flooring, allowing her eyes to better marvel at the beauty of the interior she now resided in. With caution she leisurely made her way to the window, glimpsing through areas of the pane that were not frosted over to better observe the picturesque landscape. Intrigued, she peered up through the glass, noting the sun's position in the sky meant it was late morning but far closer to midday than she normally slept.

How long had she been out?

A light diminutive rapping at the massive door to what she now assumed were her chambers brought her back to the present. She flinched at the sound as her head snapped towards the door. The pounding of her heart echoed through her ears as Rey apprehensively strode across the room; searching for her own voice whilst dreading the one that would respond, "Who is it?"

A small, kind voice Rey had not anticipated replied from the other side, "Maz Kanata, my dear."

While the voice wasn't low and distorted from the prior evening, she hesitated before opening the door. Peeking out between the door's edge and frame she nearly missed the tiny female standing before her. Maz's prudent yet gentle eyes remained encased behind a pair of large goggled frames; her hands revealing a small in size plate consisting of assorted finger foods, including fruits of all colors, shapes and sizes along with a small portion of purple jelly-covered bread. "I assumed you would be hungry after such an eventful evening," Maz wistfully stated with a wink. Checking the hallway to be certain no one else remained present Rey motioned her head for the woman to enter, quickly closing the door behind her.

"I'm sorry," Rey spoke softly, idly twiddling her fingers in hopes of easing her discomfort. "I wasn't expecting such generosity," she gestured a hand out referring to the room. "I still can't recall how I wound up in here in the first place," creasing her brows at the hazy recollection, Rey failed to notice the amused expression play across Maz's face. "Aren't I supposed to be a prisoner?" she asked while cautiously taking a seat on the edge of the bed.

Remembering the plate of food, she had been holding, Maz sat it on the coverlet before offering a sympathetic smile. "Dear child," she spoke before cupping her tiny hands over Rey's. "You are no prisoner here. I would like you to think of it as being more of - our guest."

Rey grimaced, her pursed lips playing out to a frown while eyeing the tiny woman; trying to make sense of Maz's previous words, "But - but I thought he said..."

"Lord Kylo Ren is actually the one who expressed the notion that you have more adequate living quarters for your extended stay," Maz gently interrupted. "The emphasis of last night's events must have caused you to black out, so he ordered you to be brought here."

Kylo Ren, so that was his name?

Perplexed as to his reasoning, Rey deliberated as to why he would provide her with luxury over the brutal treatment Finn had received. None of it made sense if she was to be honest with herself, but then again, she certainly couldn't deny the comfort and luxury of this current arrangement when compared to the harshness of the holding cells.

Rey's thoughts were interrupted by Maz's tender voice once again, "Since I am here, Rey, I wanted to inquire about your clothes being washed. We don't have any replacements readily available at the moment, but we can certainly look into getting you some new every day attire while you're here."

Rey smiled expressing her gratitude at the woman's generosity. Her hands remaining clasped in her lap, she glanced downward before nodding, "I would like that. Thank you."

Maz smiled contentedly in return. "The fresher is through there," she gestured with her hand towards the doorway near the vanity. "I'll retrieve your clothes here while you're washing up. A droid will return your garments once they're finished, but in the meantime, there should be some garments in the wardrobe for you that may be a bit small but adequate until we can clean your things and return them to you."

Rey smiled gratifyingly as Maz ambled her way towards the door. Gripping the handle Maz turned to face Rey once more before taking her leave, "Rey, it really was a pleasure to finally meet you."

It wasn't until the door had shut that Rey finally acknowledged the growling in her stomach, diverting her attention to the plate of food beside her. Her mouth watered as she considered the variety of foods before her. After a short deliberation she plucked a grape from the pile; moaning subtly she closed her eyes to wallow in the sweetness of the flavor before swallowing it. Fruits were considered a luxury item for those who were fortunate enough to obtain them on Jakku, to now finally having them at her leisure. Filling her mouth with a few more grapes and reaching for the loaf of bread she strolled over towards the wardrobe, opening one of its dual doors to reveal multiple nightgowns spun in a variety of colored silks.

Slowing her chewing she ran her fingers along each nightgown; marveling at the cool, delicately feminine textures that each had to offer. Rey never once imagined herself wearing a nightgown of any sorts but considering her lack of attire these would have to do for now. Reaching for a short black one she strolled over towards the fresher, flipping the light on to reveal more luxuries the quarters had to offer. Dual sinks and vanity were positioned to the left of the entrance, but it was the massive walk-in shower to the left of the room with an elegant claw-foot bathtub crosswise from it that caught her eye. Biting her lip, her eyes reverted between the two before indulging in the latter. For the first time in her life Rey didn't have to worry about anything - other than her skin pruning.

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"I swear, I will fucking kill you for this, Dameron," Kylo snarled as he and Poe made their way towards the eastern chambers, most specifically, Rey's. A poised grin spread across Poe's face at the nervous twinge in his friend's voice. Had it been any other time he would've taken the threat more seriously. However, this time it was not the mighty Kylo Ren talking - no, this was Ben Solo incapable of hiding his insecurities behind the mask. The mere fact that Kylo was even considering following through with this gave Poe hope that Ben's light had not been completely snuffed out.

"You may," Poe shrugged whilst remaining assertive in his tone. "Then again you might actually thank me for this one." Briefly turning his head to glance at Kylo walking beside him, Poe stifled a chuckle at the growl he overheard through Ren's mask. "Come on, worst case scenario here is that she could say 'no,' but she may come around eventually," he surmised knowing that deep down if she could only see the man beneath the monster that compassion would certainly bloom.

"Eventually isn't exactly an option for all of us, Dameron. In case you haven't noticed the current state of the crystal, time is running out," Kylo retorted, his voice coming across as serene but Poe could hear the faintest touch of sadness behind it. "If you're capable of recalling yesterday's events, I didn't exactly give her the best first impression."

"Then let her see the real you, Ben," Poe replied, nearly begging him to put his façade aside.

Firmly seizing Poe by the arm Ren stopped short in the hall. "This is the real me, Dameron," Kylo snarled. Although judging by his tone Poe wasn't entirely sure who he had been trying to convince more: Poe or himself. Poe grimaced, permitting every evident sign of optimism into a frown. Releasing his grip Kylo continued his way down the hall, inaudibly grumbling out, "Let's just get this over with."

Clenching his jaw Poe watched his friend carry on ahead of him; rolling his shoulder back he tenderly massaged the spot on his arm from which Kylo had grasped previously before eventually falling in suit behind him.

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Cocking her head Rey studied the person in the full-length mirror of the fresher, all the while twisting her mouth into a variety of expressions. To say the garment was 'revealing' would have been a bit of an understatement, with the precariously thin shoulder straps and plunging neckline she soon discovered that very little covering of her breasts; revealing far more cleavage than she cared to share. Scowling at herself she tugged further on the hem-line in hopes of covering her already half exposed ass cheeks which only served to pull the plunging neckline all the further south. Realization settled in that this was one battle that couldn't be won, with such unforgiving material. Rey placed her hands at her hips with a defeated huff. Turning from side to side while marveling at the way the obsidian gown clung to her figure, she couldn't shake the unpleasant feeling of being completely, and utterly, exposed even though she was thankfully alone.

With a disgruntled sigh she made her way back to the sleeping quarters, feeling the cool bluestone flooring beneath her bare feet as she took a seat in front of the vanity. Grabbing the brush that had been placed on top she began vigorously brushing at the knots in her dampened hair, wincing occasionally at the ones that pleaded for more attention. Running her fingers through her hair, Rey regarded the reflection in the mirror; perceiving the woman she saw in the present as compared to what she had been the previous day.

Just outside her chambers, Kylo stood for what felt like hours before he managed to push his nerves aside to knock. Out of all the things he had been forced to do in his life, this one was by far approaching the top of the list as the hardest thing he ever had to do.

What in the hell is wrong with you? Mentally cursing himself while clenching, unclenching his fists.

It unnerved him that he remained completely frozen – nervous like some insipid schoolboy at the idea of asking one simple question when he had been more than capable of committing far worse deeds in the past. His heart began to race the moment he found his fist rising to the door and knocked, but the sheer sound of silence remained on the other side of the doorway. A feeling of relief fell over him before he finally heard a muffled, dubious reply, "Yes?"

Ren felt every muscle in his body contract at the smooth yet tentative sound of her voice. Pushing aside the growing nervous tension in his chest he finally gathered the strength to choke out his request. Although, it came out more as a demand rather than a question, "You will be downstairs in one hour."

Rey's heart fluttered at the sound of the familiar, modulated voice outside her door. She studied the wooden structure as if it were Kylo and not a door she wasn't sure if she was more baffled by the request, or angry that he even had the gall to ask. Allowing curiosity to get the best of her, Rey's voice trembled in her reply, "Why?"

Observing from his stance down the hall, arms crossed over his chest with a shoulder leaning against the wall a baffled expression played across Poe's face. His amused reaction of a snort drew Kylo's attention back to him. "Seriously? What was that?" He whispered with his hand gestured towards Ren. "You need to ask her, don't tell her!" He added, enunciating each word in hopes to better prove his point.

Growling under his breath Kylo returned his attention back towards the solid, wooden structure in front of him; desperately wishing he could disappear before making a bigger fool of himself than he already had. Fists remaining clenched at his sides he tried to approach the topic a little more delicately this time, "Would you please join me for dinner this evening?" He cocked his head back at Poe's direction as if to silently ask 'better?' Poe in return acknowledged him with a satisfied grin.

Rey snorted, completely appalled at the thought of being in the same room again with the monster from the night before. "Dinner? With you?" She asked incredulously. Kylo didn't have time to answer before she continued to skewer his request rather expertly. "First you take me as your prisoner, and now you want me to have dinner with you?" Rising from her position at the vanity she strode across the room to the door as if it would make the least amount of difference, "Are you insane?" she finished as her voice rose in disbelief.

Helplessly watching from afar Poe witnessed the brewing storm as it progressed from bad to dramatically worse within seconds. Ren's fists clenched even tighter, his chest heaving in deep, heavy inhales of breath as the fury finally approached its peak. Beating his fist on the door again Kylo felt his composure completely crumble before bellowing out his demand, "You are my guest," he spat before continuing, "and you will join me for dinner!"

Rey's indignation flamed as her self-control was now completely out the window, Rey pounded her frustration back on the door, "I'm not hungry!"

"I'M SURE YOU AREN'T!" He bellowed angrily. At this point the nose of Kylo's helmet was practically pressed to the door. "You will eat with me, or you won't eat at all!" He proclaimed

"It wouldn't be the first time I've been denied food!" she spat out, inadvertently revealing something far deeper and sadder about her life before coming to Chandrila. Incensed even more at herself and him for her moment of vulnerability she continued, "I'd rather starve than eat with a monster like you!"

Poe should have anticipated Kylo drawing his lightsaber, yet for a split second he remained certain that Ren would be able to contain that last ounce of composure before the brewing rage met the closest piece of furniture in the corridor. Running his hands down his face Poe dug his fingers into his eye sockets to relieve the growing pressure as if it could've changed the events that just unfolded.

"Fine, then," Ren snarled. "Go ahead and starve for all I care!" Disregarding Poe's presence Kylo stormed past him down the corridor, striking his saber at the occasional inanimate objects that had previously not been subjected to his temper. Running his hands through his hair with a foiled groan in pursuit, Poe strode off towards the servants' quarters; his tunnel vision making him oblivious to the passing service droid with clothes in its arms.

An equally goaded Rey stomped across her quarters with a discouraged grunt.

Who does he think he is?

Mentally quarreling with herself as if it would provide the answers she was seeking. Crossing her arms over her chest, another knock at the door brought her attention back from the on-going dispute in her brain. Throwing her head back with a groan in frustration she marched back over to the door.

"I said I wasn't - " the sight of a blue service droid stopped her short of another rampage, causing a blush of embarrassment to flush across her cheeks.

"I'm sorry, miss. I was just told to bring you these," the droid replied in a detached, impassive voice before handing her the clothes in its hands. Rey accepted them with an apologetic smile before closing the door. A horrified, knowing expression crossed her face at the realization that if Kylo had been on the other side of the door, he would've received more than an eyeful of her revealing attire.

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Kylo spent the remainder of the afternoon meditating in his hyperbaric chamber, desperately seeking some sort of resolution to the on-going conflict in his mind. For years it had always been the constant struggle of finding a sense of belonging and acceptance for who he was, for what he was – an equal balance of both the light and dark sides of the force. Yet with no sense of where his loyalties should lie. He could recall the times when he had overheard his own parents expressing their concerns over his growing powers, fearing that in time he would share the same fate as his late grandfather - a monster.

That was what the girl - Rey - had called him as well: a creature in a mask, an irredeemable monster. The irony of it all was that they were right; he had become exactly who everyone feared he would be while remaining wholly lost and alone in the midst of his own darkness. Going over the previous events earlier that day he knew that what his staff had expected of him was nearly asking for the impossible, but what disgusted him the most was the fact that he had believed them.

Furthermore, he failed at every attempt to push all thoughts of the girl residing to the east of his chambers from his mind. At one point he tried seeking her out in the force. The beguiling warm golden hues of yellows and oranges in her force signature highly resembled that of the morning sun rising in the East, drawing him in. A single radiant point of light that seemed to pulse and beckon him forward so that he could banish the darkness he had for so long surrounded himself in.

Brushing slightly at the edge of her mind he sensed her fear - fear of what was to become of her, fear for what had happened to the thief - Finn, and her fear of him.

Scowling at himself he pulled away, once again leaving him alone within his turmoil. Running a hand through his hair he closed his eyes, calling upon the force to pull himself together before placing his helmet back over his head. Before even exiting the hyperbaric chamber he sensed the all too familiar presence of his former master.

"Now is not the time for one of your teachings, Skywalker," he snarled, not once directing his attention towards the old Jedi as he approached the balcony outside his quarters.

Whether the company was needed or not, Ren felt the presence of his uncle drawing closer until, he too, had joined him on the balcony. The old Jedi remained silent for some time, crossing his arms over his chest while carefully contemplating his words as both men stared into the growing darkness of the wintery, Chandrila evening. The awkward silence was enough to fuel Kylo's growing aggravation before Luke finally decided to speak, but all the while treading carefully with his words.

"Ben, every day that crystal grows closer to its shatter point," Luke's voice remained tranquil, but Ren could hear the hint of concern as well.

"Did you come here to state the obvious? Think some carefully worded pearl of wisdom is going to save my soul? If so, I'm not interested," Ren snapped, his patience rapidly growing thin.

Luke deeply inhaled before turning his solemn glare towards his nephew, "Are you really that set on accepting what is to become of you once that crystal is dust?"

At this, Ren finally snapped his attention towards his uncle. "Can you honestly stand there and tell me that my future is undecided? This - " he gestured a hand towards the jar containing the crystal, "All of this is hopeless. I've accepted this because it is who I am, who I was meant to be."

Luke remained unconvinced, and had he not known any better he could have sworn he heard a crack in Ren's voice. "Amazing," he spoke tranquilly, " everything that you just said is wrong."

Kylo stood silent, his fists clenched tightly at his sides before wordlessly storming from his chambers. Even at its vastness in size the palace suddenly felt equivalent in perimeter to that of a holding-cell. Making his way towards the catacombs there was only one place where no one would ever consider him to go; he rarely went outside the citadel's walls, but suddenly the rose gardens seemed to be the only place he could seek the solitude he desperately desired.

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It had been hours since Rey last heard anything from anyone after the earlier confrontation with Kylo Ren. The singularity of her confinement to her chambers was beginning to take a toll over her. She was growing restless, bored, and the growling in the pit of her stomach was becoming unbearably harder to ignore by the minute. Sure, she'd gone without food before. But when she knew such appetizing food was somewhere within this expansive palace she knew she wouldn't be able to resist for long.

After feeling like she had worn a path into the stone of her chamber's flooring from her unremitted pacing, Rey decided to push all humility aside and venture out into the palace's interior. If Rey was to live out her life here she may as well see what else lie beyond the chamber's walls.

Cracking her door open she peaked around the framework, making sure no one was around before quietly stepping into the dimly-lit corridor; completely unaware as to where she was going. Carefully she silently made her way down the hall, following the rows of wall sconces before she reached the balcony's railing at the end; overlooking the impressive grand staircase she had recalled seeing the night before. Beyond the stairwell revealed none of the palace staff was in the local vicinity to see her make her escape to find nourishment. It didn't take long for her scavenger instincts to kick in and felt the imploring need to explore.

Upon making her descent from the stairwell Rey hung an immediate turn to the right in the lobby. The interior lighting had been no different than that of the previous night, but the radiant glow of the moon emerging through a doorway prompted the first room for her to investigate. Cautiously she peered past the doorframe Rey had not expected to see the magnificence before her; where the rest of the palace had perceived a bleak, poignant atmosphere this room had remained entirely set apart from it. The dome-shaped architecture of the space had been enclosed with massive windows; rising from the marble, russet tiles while bowing at the peaks. Granite stone pillars rose midway around the circular enclosure while exquisite textiles and drapes hung from the bordering framework, complimented with a massive chandelier hanging centralized from the ceiling.

Aside from the room's monstrous size what seized her attention was the view beyond the windows: the translucence of the evening sky had been painted with billions of stars, flickering ever so slightly against its black canvas. The snow fell in thick, heavy flakes of white fluff against the iridescent glow of the moon; giving off an almost surreal, dreamlike aspect to it all. Too heavily engrossed in marveling at the night sky, Rey had been unaware of the approaching figure from behind.

"I never expected to see you out and about so soon," the kind masculine voice had caused Rey to jump out of her trance; her focused now shifted to the approaching dark-haired figure. Hands clasped behind his back Poe offered her a genuine, welcoming smile, "You must be Rey?"

Remaining leery of the newcomer Rey tucked the stray strands of hair behind her ear, crossing her arms over her chest before vigilantly replying, "I'm sorry, if I'm not supposed to be in here I can go."

"No - no you're fine," Poe interrupted, reassuring with a smile in hopes of easing her anxiety. "I'm Poe Dameron, Captain of the palace guard," he stated before offering his hand in a friendly notion.

Rey glanced downward at his hand briefly, contemplating his intentions before returning the gesture whilst offering a refreshing smile in return.

"This place is beautiful," Rey finally spoke admiringly, letting her eyes roam the extent of the empty room they currently both occupied.

Nodding in agreement Poe replied with a hint of recollection in his tone, "It's been years since this ballroom has had any sort of sentient occupation." Unable to resist the stunned expression on Rey's face, Poe smirked before continuing, "Believe it or not, there was a time when many gatherings happened here. Dances, celebrations..." his wistful tone faded, lost in the nostalgia.

Amused, Rey quirked a brow at him, snorting lightly at Poe's previous statement, "Dances? I find it hard to believe that your master held any interests in such affairs."

Poe managed a short laugh at that, furthermore portraying a glimpse of sadness across his handsome features. Crossing his arms over his chest Poe's voice remained most assuring, "For what it's worth, Ren and I go way back. While he may come across as jagged around the edges there's much more to him than what he's willing to lead on. Once you're able to see past that, I can assure you that he's not as bad as he portrays himself to be."

Rey grimaced at Poe's words; unable to comprehend how the man behind the mask could harbor any ounce of goodness within him. Based on the few encounters she'd already had with Kylo Ren, she could only decipher him as being cruel, malicious, and unkind. In her current foreseen future Rey had absolutely no intention in getting to know him. The sound of Poe clearing his throat brought Rey back from her thoughts. "Anyways, are you hungry? We still have plenty of food available from earlier," he smiled at her piqued interest upon hearing the word 'food.'

Rey had been so engrossed in her exploration that she completely forgot all about her rising hunger; the reminder now made the growling in her stomach return with a vengeance. The sudden offer from Poe enhanced her fermented ease, but then remembered Kylo's previous words upon declining his offer. The recollection of the day's prior events sent her back to days at the orphanage: when Plutt would physically harm any children who had intentionally disobeyed him.

Biting her lip Rey hesitated before speaking, "I am hungry, but I don't want to cause any trouble between you and your master. He made it sound pretty clear that I wasn't to eat after rejecting him."

Cocking his head at her Poe considered Rey for a moment before shaking his head, "Ren may be angry and impulsive, but I can assure you that he would never let anyone starve to save his own pride."

Rey contemplated over Poe's certainty in his words, watching his facial expressions for any sign of hesitation: she found none. Offering a grateful smile, Rey nodded in acquiescence to Poe's offer.

Poe led Rey down the main corridor towards the vicinity of the dining room, taking the opportunity to catch glimpses of any passing rooms that may have remotely compared to the stunning beauty of the ballroom. All of the chambers remained either closed-up or had been too dark to make out any visibility of the interior. She made it a point to continue her exploration during the light hours of the day rather than at night. As they approached the dining room Rey heard a few muffled voices coming from within its vicinity; she was relieved to see the familiar face of Maz Kanata alongside the exceptionally tall, harry form of a Wookiee and BB-8.

The Wookiee had been the first to acknowledge Rey's presence, vocalizing his salutation with a series of friendly roars and grunts in the Shryiiwook native language.

Rey smiled in return at the warm welcome, "Chewbacca? I'm Rey."

Chewie replied with a couple grunts, which roughly translated to, 'I know.'

A kindhearted smile appeared across Maz's face. "I'm so glad that you decided to join us," she gestured towards the seat across from her at the lengthy dining table, "Come, sit."

Still feeling doubtful of the danger she may be putting them in, Rey hesitated before the Wookiee mimicked Maz's gesture, encouraging her that she was in no danger of any wrong doing. Not wanting to insult them Rey finally took her seat across from Maz. A rather petite woman came out through a hinged door kitty-corner to the dining table, carrying two large silver platters with an assortment of foods.

Upon seeing the newest guest in the dining room the young woman beamed an overly contagious smile, "You must be Rey? I'm Rose!" Sitting the trays down at the center of the table Rose didn't hesitate in dashing over to meet the newest arrival. Rey couldn't help but chuckle as Rose approached her, the young woman's face full of star struck amazement, "I have heard so much about you, Rey. We're so happy to have you here!"

Rey couldn't help but wonder exactly how much the staff knew about her, but she took into consideration their more than generous hospitality. Other than the earlier happenings that day, Rey began to wonder if the palace would not be such a bad place to live after all. The group continued the exchanges of small chatter, making Rey feel as if she had been a part of the household for years rather than mere hours. Eyeballing the food ahead of her Rey sampled some portions of freshly baked nerf ragout and cheese soufflé along with some grey pudding-like entree she couldn't recall the name of - whatever it was, it was delicious.

Whilst enjoying the sweet, savory flavor of red Corellian wine. Poe remained seated at the end closest to Rey, conversing with Maz over a few details of important political matters that held little to no significance for her to hear. She had been too engrossed in the food on the table, eating until her heart's content before feeling she couldn't take another bite.
It wasn't until the mentioning of Ren's name when Rey finally shifted her focus towards Poe. Biting her lip, she decided to ask what had been on her mind since their conversation in the ballroom earlier, "You mentioned that you and Kylo have a history together, how so?"

Maz and Poe both exchanged similar knowing glances at each other while Chewie moaned what Rey considered to be a solemn whimper in Shyriiwook. A soft expression crossed Maz's face as she cleared her throat, encouraging Poe to answer. Creasing his brows, Poe focused his attention at a spot on the table whilst contemplating over the right words to say.

"Ren and I have been friends since childhood; back when he used to go by another name," he stated, pausing for a second to consider Rey's expression. Poe now had earned her fully undivided attention. Running a hand through his hair Poe leaned back in the chair, crossing his arms before continuing on, "he had always dreamed of us going to the flight academy together. We were both - are both - remarkable pilots, if I may say so myself," he finished, smirking humbly at his own remark.

Rolling her eyes, Rey snorted at hearing Poe toot his own horn.

"Anyways," Poe paused briefly, carefully assessing over his words, "when the time came, Ren made the choice to stay behind and attend his uncle's Jedi Academy in order to further his force training."

The Force?

Rey had always heard stories throughout her childhood about the Jedi and their miraculous abilities: a power that enabled them to control people and make things float. Suddenly, the prior evenings events of witnessing Kylo's captivating abilities all started to make sense. Furrowing her brow in consternation because none of this added up to the man she was currently imprisoned by, she glanced down at her hands in her lap. Uncertain she fidgeted with her nails as she tried to absorb the information she was hearing. A moment passed before she looked back up at Poe, "So he's a Jedi? The Jedi are real?"

Rey watched Poe's gaze go from passive to solemn within a matter of seconds. It then occurred to her that the Jedi in holo images never wielded red lightsabers. "What happened to him? What made him become so cruel?" she pressed, uncertain as to why she had a sudden spark in curiosity to know more about the man behind the mask.

As if she were able to perceive Poe's receptiveness on the subject, it was Maz that chose to speak up, "That, my dear - is a story for another time, but indeed one that is not ours to tell."

Rey scowled at the sudden cliffhanger of Poe's intended narrative down memory lane. It was clear now that she wasn't going to be getting any answers tonight - at least not from them.

---------------------------------------

After dinner and excusing herself from the rest of the staff, Poe escorted Rey back towards the grand stairwell.

"Just remember," Poe said as they walked through the corridor leading to the main foyer at the bottom of the stairs, "the palace is considered your home now, so you are free to go wherever you like."

Rey smiled in reply all the while taking in her surroundings, eager to commit the route to her memory.

Poe stopped for a moment, seemingly remembering some vastly important detail. "I mean, anywhere except for the West Wing," Poe added quickly, his voice growing serious and tenuous. A warning in his tone that was not to be taken lightly.

The sudden change in Poe's tone of voice piqued Rey's curiosity. Quirking a brow, she turned her attention towards him, "Why? What's in the West Wing?"

Shrugging his shoulders, Poe appeared to struggle with finding a believable excuse, "Nothing, really - mainly junk and extra storage space." He explained grasping at straws to dissuade her from venturing there. If she was disinterested then surely, she'd stay away.

Rey remained unconvinced and furthermore pressed on, "Then why would it be forbidden?"

"You ask a lot of questions, don't you?" Poe retorted, deflecting her question. He crossed his arms over his chest, and widened his stance indicating he wasn't going to budge anymore on the subject.

Rolling her eyes, Rey huffed in annoyance at the fact that Poe clearly was trying to avoid every question she had. As they finally reached the bottom of the main stairwell Poe relaxed his stance, extending one arm towards the stairs, "Anyways, you know that your quarters are straight up and to the left. It was a pleasure to have met you, Rey," Poe added with a sincere smile.

Rey returned the kindness and moved to ascend the stairs in front of her. Poe watched her the first part of the stairs and then as she disappeared into the left corridor, leading to her chambers. Rey waited for a few moments before peeking back out to see that Poe had left his post and returned to the kitchen with the rest of the staff. Intrigued by Poe's determination to dissuade her interest in the West wing, she refocused her attention to the wing opposite her. All she had to do was turn around and return to her chambers and she would be safely alone for the rest of the evening. Her curiosity however had other ideas as she bit her lip, considering the more reasonable of the two options before heading to the stairs leading to the West Wing.