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And even though she didn’t join him, Ben canonically is the youngest Supreme Leader/Emperor ever. Like, he managed to kill Snoke and take the throne at only 29.

Palpatine didn’t become emperor until he was 65, and Vader never held the title despite the fact that he tried to by telling Luke to join him. I’m sure Snoke was already looking like a raisin by the time he became Supreme Leader also.

If Rey joined Ben, it would’ve been the first time there were two rulers of equal power. It would’ve been canon that at 19, Rey was the first and youngest empress to ever rule.

Both of them ruling together literally would’ve made galactic history and they would’ve changed things for the better.

“Ben Solo... how dare you.”

“I...” Ben stammers. “I’m sorry, I know I’m a little rusty, it’s probably not very goo—”

“HOW DARE YOU KEEP THIS FROM ME!”

Ben’s confused frown morphs into a shy smile. “Oh.”

She walks over and sits down next to him on the piano bench. She straddles it so she’s facing him and looks at him eagerly.

“Play something else.”

“What do you want to hear?”

Rey smiles. Her eyes heavy with love and affection. “Everything.”

Seriously,  if the author gives you 10, 20, 50 >100k of your OTP then should find time, energy and courage to write “Thanks. Nice work.”

It’s easy and simple, and it will bring great joy to the author.

Fics aren’t free. The authors pour in their sense of humour, their fears, trauma, fantasies and kinks in the fanfiction. It takes time, enegry, inspiration. Wrists get hurt and eyes get tired.

And all they ask in return are a few nice words!

By Blood and Flame: A Reylo Witches College AU

Rey can’t go to her professors with this spell. She needs help, though, needs someone to do the spell with her, and she needs the best because it’s tricky. Dangerous.

There’s a boy on campus. Powerful. Mysterious. He’s admired and envied, feared and loathed, depending on who’s talking, but for all everyone knows his story, no one seems to really know him. And Rey… Rey has been curious about him for… well, for longer than she wants to admit.

She’s not sure if it’s good or bad luck that he’s the perfect person to help cast her spell.

(Because I’m bored and full of shipping feels) (Feel free to use them!) (Some of these turned out thirstier than I intended lmao)

“I’m not saying I love the cat more than you, but…”

“Don’t look at me like that! I found this trust exercise on google, it can’t be that dangerous.”

“I made you dinner but it kind of set on fire…”

“I could lick it off you? – Oh god please forget I said that.”

“Would you believe me if I said this isn’t what it looks like?”

“It’s a treasure hunt, duh. But the prize at the end is me. Good luck.”

“You are so weird. God I love you so much.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?”

“It’s three in the morning… what are you doing?”

“I actually thought you were going to kiss me – shit, did I say that out loud?”

“You know you’re the only person I would do this for, right?”

“I didn’t know you could miss someone this much… look what happened while you were gone!”

“-Because I’ve got an interview, so I’m gonna need something to cover the mark you made on my neck last night.”

“Please? It’s never the same when I do it.”

“Because I love you. Oh… wait… was that not clear?”

“As if I could ever enjoy this without you.”

“Did you hear that? Oh wait, it’s just what my undying love for you sounds like.”

“I really wanted this to be romantic, but now I’m kind of worried it’s just creepy.”

“I can’t believe how lucky I am right now.”

“Can you just kiss me instead please?”

“I literally don’t think I could be any more turned on right now.”

“I love you but you’re going to have to fight me for it.”

“I had a dream like this once. I hope it goes in the same direction.”

“This is going to sound crazy but you’ve got to listen to the whole story, okay?”

“I fall in love with you even more every single day… Are you blushing?”

“Is this… a date?”

Hey!! I haven’t read that many 50s/60s AUs, but here’s one that I know of.

- 50s/60s AU - 

Next Door on Sunset Street by Mallie3 (E, WIP) - For some strange reason, Rey’s husband, Hux, is always absent, so one night she decides to visit a local bar. There, she meets a tall, handsome youth named Ben Solo. 

- TROS Fix-It Fics -  

i kill giants by diasterisms (E, WIP) - This fic takes place a few months after Exegol. Ben Solo is miraculously alive, and together he and Rey work together to take down a threat to the galaxy -- one even bigger than Palpatine’s return. Thea is one of my favorite authors on AO3, and all her works are incredibly fascinating. 

you’ve got to hide your love away by SpaceWaffleHouseTM (E, 40k) - After returning from Exegol, Ben and Rey realize that he isn’t exactly welcomed by the Resistance in spite of his turn for the light and what he nearly sacrificed for her. Together, they decide it’s best to keep their relationship a secret. Absolutely beautifully written besotted Reylo!!! I love this fic.

The Lost Prince of Aldernaan by fettuccine_alfreylo (E, WIP) - TROS...but if Rey Palpatine killed her grandfather, seizing her place in the throne and raising a second Galactic empire. I really like this fic because it puts an interpretation on what I’ve always wondered if Rey struck down Palpatine. Oh, and Dark!Rey is always *chef’s kiss*.

Cosmic Love by starwarringavengers (E, 74k) - I got hooked onto reading this fic once it said that Rey wasn’t related to Palpatine, as she shouldn’t. This fic features Empress and Emperor Reylo, one of my favorite tropes ever. It ignores TROS completely, and starts by Rey taking Ben’s hand in the throne room. 

Love Like Ghosts by yours_truly_commander_shepard - This follows the end of the movie, where Rey is on Tatooine. Ben finds her, just like he always does, but this time as a force ghost. This fic made me cry.

second time’s the charm by Space_Samurai (T, WIP) - This fic is defintely one of my favorite TROS fix-it fics, because the plot is so different than any other I’ve read. Ben travels back in time from Exegol to TFA Jakku -- to find Rey.

As The Force Wills It by kira_khaleesi (M, WIP) - Follows exactly how I thought TROS was going to go before Palpatine was revealed to return -- Hux is unhappy with the Supreme Leader’s leadership and is quietly planning a coup. Meanwhile, Rey struggles to balance her *conflicted* feelings for Kylo Ren and her newfound family in the Resistance.

I want to get a little cheesy here first and say that the fic writers are the backbone of this fandom. They’re the ones who picked up the pieces after TROS shattered our hearts, the ones who took it to themselves to give Ben and Rey the happy ending they deserved. So to all the fic writers: thank you.

1. If you had to change the pairing’s very first meeting, how would you change it?

Hmm, I’m gonna go somewhat small scale and say I wouldn’t change the initial scene too much, but I’d have loved to see after kylo carries rey onto the transport because can’t you just picture him laying her down all nice and gentle? Or omg maybe he just keeps holding her. And then when they get back to the ship maybe some of the storm troopers step in like they’re gonna take care of moving her but Kylo’s like no touchy boys and carries her onto the ship and carefully puts her in the interrogation room himself. Then he patiently hangs out and watces her till she wakes up, wondering why he suddenly feels more at peace than he has in longer than he can remember. 😍

2. What song fits your pairing the most?

Ughhh it’s so hard to pick, there’s so many I’ve found for them recently! Ok but here’s one great one- Are You With Me by Nilu

20. What made you decide to ship them?

In hindsight I’m ashamed to say that I didn’t ship them when seeing The Force Awakens. I didn’t get it until I saw The Last Jedi. When I did I was a little shook lol and it totally made me want those two together so bad. I was so upset when the throne room scene ended the way it did lol!

21. Favorite genre for them? (Angst, fluff, etc.)

Just a few of my favorites. All of them are 10/10 in my book (or in my reylo fic spreadsheet)

Songs of Innocence, Songs of Wisdom by cosmogonika. (217k, post TLJ canon-verse, E). I can’t summarize this in a way that does it justice. It is wild and twisty and beautiful. This is definitely a “complicated but worth it” fic. So rich in canon and mythology. If you’re looking for plots galore and a long ass pain train (with a happy ending of course!) this is your fic.

The Witch in the Wood by HarpiaHarpyja and Inmyownidiom. (138k, fantasy AU,  E). In which Knight Kylo accepts the task of rescuing a princess from an evil witch assuming it will be a simple task. Amazingly, everything he thinks is wrong. I loved this. Sure there was some angst and trauma and few people died but, you know, this is mostly a lovely little Ghibli-esque story about two idiots living in a tree house together and talking to animals and falling in love. It’s magical. And hilarious. Bonus: Poe is a squirrel. 

Now It’s Time (To Learn) by sasstasticmad. (86k, modern AU, E). Featuring aspiring doctor Rey who is very interesting in examining 100% organic Chandrillan Beef kindergarten teacher Ben. Relatively angst free. Its happy and funny and fluffy and smutty and I love it. Good vibes. 

Already Home by AttackoftheDarkCurses. (81k, modern ABO AU, E). In which rey connects online with her soulmate Kylo Ren at the same time that she’s begrudgingly moving in grumpy librarian Ben Solo. I’m a slut for anything you’ve got mail-esque. This is such a great rom-com trope story and I loved everything about it. (If you’re in to Rom-Com fics, Attack literally has a Trope-y Rom-Com/HEA collection and they’re all amazing.)

The Food of Love by LovesBitca8. (60k, modern AU, E). Featuring musicians Ben and Rey and a cello scene that’s sexier than I ever thought possible. So well written. I don’t even understand the technicalities of music but I understand that Ben is SMITTEN with Rey and that’s really all that matters.

A Sky Full of Stars by KyloTrashForever. (23k, Modern AU, E).Featuring conversations between Astronaut Rey on the international space station and Professor Ben Solo back on earth. The fluff is off the charts and I loved this in disgusting amounts. KyloTrashForever has an extensive catalogue and it’s all incredible.

Conscience and Unconsciousness by Pontmercy44. (47.3k, While You Were Sleeping AU, E). You don’t need to have seen the movie to love this fic. It’s hilarious and one of my all time favorite fics.

A Study in Movement by violethoure666. (52.1k, modern AU, E) Featuring a slightly autistic investment banker and a stripper who are entranced by each other. This fic is lovely and funny and so so enjoyable, I’ve read it three times.

One Shots

five drinks Ben Solo has never tried (and one that’s his favorite) by TourmalineGreen. (4.9k, canon-verse, T) In which Poe is shook when he finds out Ben has never been drunk and wants to remedies it immediately. The characterization is so good and I loved this.

so long, my adversary by like_a_dove. (9k, modern AU, E). In which Rey is snowed in with her grumpy coworker who she has a crush on despite him hating her. It’s funny and cute and I love a good resolved misunderstanding enemies-lovers.

light carries on endlessly by lachesisgrimm (olga_theodora). (6.1k, Hades/Persephone AU, M). In which Ben/hades is punk ass bitch who doesn’t know what to do when a pretty and living girl decides to move in. It’s perfect.

The Space Between Stars by L_awlietxoxx. (10.6k, canon-verse, T). In which Ben waits in the World Between Worlds and sees his and Rey’s lives together. Happy ending, I promise! During the (rare) times I accept TROS as canon, this is exactly what I imagine happens afterwards.

Drawn to the light of your burning sorrows by Kyriadamorte. (7.9k, AU, M). I will admit it, I laughed by way through this because it was just such a surprise and so bizarre. But I was actually admittedly really into it. It was a really strange delight. It’s a mothman AU.