with @apotheocis, for arra and rey — you've been a great friend to me. better than a friend. someone i can turn to in my darkest times.
it would be easier, arra thinks, to come right out with the truth. rey wouldn't fully understand what was happening, of course, and may doubt what the jedi has to say... but at least then arra wouldn't be lying to her. at least in this scenario, arra's conscience could be cleared of all charges. instead, rey looks to the other woman like the two are new — like they've only just met a short time ago with the resistence. rey doesn't remember luke and the others; she can't dig that far back into her mind and uncover the reality of her past. you've been a great friend to me, rey says with all the sincerity in the world, and arra feels her chest clench in response. "and you have been a good friend to me, as well," she replies smoothly, swallowing down the bile that builds in her throat. even if she did tell rey the truth, she wouldn't be believed. it's far-fetched. there was a jedi temple; there was an attempt to restore the jedi order... and then? what does she say next? for your safety, luke brought you here? abandoned you?
"you said that when you met me, you felt like you'd met me before." arra springs a curious broach of the subject onto the younger woman, cautious, but optimistic. maybe this will be the better approach — easing rey into the truth herself. "like we've known each other for a long time before this. like you felt safe with me, despite having just met me here on the ship." arra sets a gentle hand on rey's shoulder. "describe that feeling to me. what is it like? that knowing. that familiar sensation."
