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1.The setup: A scene or sequence identifying the exterior and/or interior conflict

2. The Meet: The inciting incident brings man and woman together and into conflict

3. Turning point: A new development that raises story stakes and clearly defines the protagonist’s goal; most successful when it sets man and woman at cross-purposes and/or their inner emotions at odds with the goal

4. Raising the stakes: A situation that irrevocably binds the protagonist with the antagonist

5. Second turning point: stakes reach their highest point as the romantic relationship’s importance jeopardizes the protagonist’s chance to succeed at his/her state goal—or vice versa—and his/her goal shifts.

6. The Dark Moment: Wherein the consequences of the swivel decision yield disaster and either the relationship and/or the protagonist’s goal is seemingly lost forever

7. Joyful defeat/Resolution: A reconciliation that reaffirms the primal importance of the relationship; usually a happy ending that implies marriage or a serious commitment, often at the cost of some personal sacrifice to the protagonist 

STAR WARS EPISODE IX, BITCH  

But even the way Kylo shakes his head when he says ‘you’re nothing’ - It’s like he’s simultaneously negating the statement as he speaks it. The sentiment is so repulsive and unthinkable to him, that anyone could view Rey in such a way. Then he says ‘But not to me,’ and his whole face changes, taking on that determination and fervency, and you can literally see his eyes changing with his desperation to make her see what bullshit that sentiment was. 

“But not to me” is not a statement that pressures or manipulates. It’s completely devoid of politics and to me does not at all equate to ‘come to the dark side.’ It’s spoken like they’re the only two people in the whole world. Nothing outside of them matters, and there’s not a single other thing on his mind other than the all-consuming need that he feels for her. This was probably the most shocking moment of the entire film to me, because I was NOT a Kylo fan going into it and I didn’t think he’d be capable of emotions this pure. I say ‘pure’ because “but not to me” is - if anything - a statement that reveals HIS OWN weakness more than her own. The balance of vulnerability and resolve when he spoke it betrayed that this was not a moment when he felt in control. Sure, he was trying to make her see that if she joined him, she would never find reason to question her self-worth again… but the way he’s practically TREMBLING when he speaks it belies the fact that he’s probably the more vulnerable of the two of them in this moment. 

As we know from how this scene pans out, Rey is not dependent on Kylo’s belief in her worth. Once she comes to terms with her past, she has plenty of strength through her decisions in the present to know her own path. I think it’s incredibly telling that Kylo’s declaration and offer here was not enough to persuade Rey to abandon her convictions; YET, Kylo says all this directly after abandoning his own loyalties and killing Snoke - Most directly because of his need to protect Rey and keep her with him. It meant everything to him that he believed Rey valued him for him, regardless of his past or his power (the aspects of him that seemed to have guided everyone else’s manipulation of him up to this point). Knowing that in one way or another, he mattered to Rey - that she reached her hand out to him of her own volition, and came to his side that day - that alone inspired his most shocking and admirable display of strength to date when he threw off Snoke’s influence. It took her belief in him for him to find that inner resolution he so painfully lacked.

All of this is basically to say I find it ludicrous that people misread the true balance of power in this scene. He says “But not to me,” and he means it so, so honestly - much more than he could ever say in words. She has kindled inner strength in him he didn’t know he possessed. She has changed everything for him. She is literally the most powerful force he has ever known. 

Greetings young one, have you just watched The Last Jedi and are in need of fanfics for your thirsty reylo soul? well here’s the fic rec for you! 

The Chasms Between Us   by slight_Ichatrina_obsessed_sleepyfangirl

Rated: Mature 

Four days after the events of the battle on the planet, Crait, Rey finds herself alone in her compartment attempting to deal with the darkness.

Get A Little Closer, Let Fold  by fettuccine_alfreylo

Rated: Explicit 

In his mind’s eye, he conjures up a vision of her: on her bare back beneath a starry sky, her hair fanned out around a blushing face, her chin lowered to her chest so she can watch him. You don’t have to be alone anymore, he tells her, I’ve got you, now. Let go of everything else and I’ll keep you safe.

aka, FORCE FINGER BANGING

touch by Emetic

Rated: Explicit 

“I’m sorry,” Rey says suddenly, as if she has a choice in when or where their new mental link will act up. She somehow doubts that Ben knows, either, judging by his sincere attempt to cover himself with his hand.

Clutching thin air by tinylittlebrain

Rated: Explicit 

Once again, I can’t really summarize this due to spoilers. If you’ve watched TLJ and need a fix, then here is another.

Unbidden by Perry_Downing

Rated: Explicit 

All The Stars,They Must Burn by Ambrosia

Rated: Teen 

Poison in Paradise by Enalith

Rated: Mature 

WARNING: This story contains “The Last Jedi” spoilers.

“Death does not scare me. The unknown does.”

Tied Tight by riot3672

Rated: Explicit 

Rey and Kylo are enemies, but their force bond remains. And, late at night, the constructed hatred slips into idle conversation, memories, musings, and questions raised between the two of them. One night, when the sexual limits of the force bond are tested, there’s no going back…

The Storm by thewolfgirl

Rated: Explicit 

Rey had come crashing into his life like a tidal wave, like a torrent, and his blood was still rocked by it, pulled toward her like a moon.

Balance by CaptainArwenPond221B

Rated: Teen 

The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi Reylo fanfic recommendations. 

Pre The Force Awakens

Stories that take place during or before the events in TFA. These are AU’s which have Rey and Kylo/Ben meeting before TFA. Events of TFA may or may not take place within the stories.

Don’t Leave Me by YumKiwiDelicious

In My Ten Years by brittlelimbs

Ja'ak by Trebia

Like Young Gods by diasterisms (Sword of the Jedi Series)

Ten Years of Rey by Articianne

Together We’ll Be Legends by Scribomaniac (Broken Bridges Series)

What She’s Worth by g_girl143

Within Monsters by AnonymousMink

Post The Force Awakens/Pre The Last Jedi

Stories that take place during or after TFA and were started before The Last Jedi’s release. Some stories may include canon from The Last Jedi.

Balance by NotSoJollywood

catastrophe by day dreaming dreamer

collect first, think later by thefudge

Dark Prism by whythokylo (OpalElephant)

don’t open your eyes yet by day dreaming dreamer

Equilibrium by RayShippouUchiha

Forms by Trebia

He Knows He Needs to Stop by Perry_Downing

Interstellar Transmissions by LovelyThings, ricca_riot

i saw you in the wild (you were nervous, you were furious, you were very sure-footed) by diasterisms

Morning in the Burned House by diasterisms

PREY by KagamiSorciere

In My Bloodstream by EllieCarina

It’s Better If We Just Pretend by Ellensama

landscape with a blur of conquerors by diasterisms

Seldom All They Seem by ambiguously

Set in Stone (Counterbalance) by The_Falcon

Shatterpoint by diasterisms

Sky Marked Souls by AnonymousMink

Slow Burn by Des Darling

The Danse Macabre by Rellie

The Death of Kylo Ren by nymja - (Crossroads Series)

The Moon, the Sun, and the Star Inbetween. by Silvershine

The Proof of It All by machinewithoutfeelings

The Stormtrooper’s Handguide On How To Handle An Insufferable Boss by cazzy

The Wolf by Smutmaker_heartbreaker

To Kingdom Come by diasterisms (Sword of the Jedi Series)

Thwarted by Perry_Downing

variations on a theme of you by diasterisms

Post The Last Jedi

Stories that take place during or after the events of The Last Jedi.

Unbidden by Perry_Downing 

Ashes, Ashes by Alania 

Footnotes by Camucia

Gravity by NotSoJollywood

The Bond That Ties Us by moontear

you’ve helped me find my way (through the wild and wonders) by TheJGatsby 

World In My Eyes by sasstasticmad 

ashes in our wake by anythingtomakeyoustay

AU - Alternate Universe

Alternate universe stories. Most don’t take place in the Star Wars universe. Example, modern AU, medieval AU, supernatural creatures AU. 

Because You’re There by diasterisms

i heard your castle sighing by bam_cassiopeia

Mirrorbright by diasterisms

Nine Lives by on_my_toes

Satan Wears A Rolex by AquaWolfGirl

Siren’s Song by DragonWhiskers

The Down and Outs by AnonymousMink, Rellie 

The Girl and Her Dragon by Thelittlescrimshaw

The Only Exception by CartoonJessie

The Seventh Bride by destinyofamerath

The Vampire of Starbucks by AnonymousMink

The World In Its Dark Grace by tyrantsandcreampuffs

This post will contain extensive spoilers for The Last Jedi - consider yourself warned!

Before the release of The Last Jedi, very interesting language was being used to describe the connection between Rey and Kylo Ren. Rian Johnson called them “two halves of our protagonist”, and the Star Wars Databank described their “intertwined destinies” and mutual fascination. While the period prior to the film’s release saw fandom wars waged over the implications of these descriptions and what they meant for the characters going forward, The Last Jedi has finally given us some answers.