→ } ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰɪʀsᴛ ᴏʀᴅᴇʀ

but he has POTENTIAL .

            ❝  LOOKING FOR SOMETHING ?  ❞   unexpected visitors weren’t something out of the ordinary to ben. especially in this business. it’s usually how good paying customers found him. an expected gaze is given to the stranger within the dim lit cantina, shifting a little in his booth as if he owned the place.             a sigh is exhaled, his shoulders deflating as he raised a hand in question. his brows furrow, rubbing a light hand over the faint scar on his face.  ❝  i haven’t got all day, so you might as well make it quick.  ❞  he urges, needing to get to another shipment later in the day as soon as possible. 

he hadn’t been staring long-- not openly. he’d been subtly watching, of course. from the dark corner, glass after glass of wine, he had come to the conclusion that this boy was who he was looking for. and he was but a boy. perhaps not much younger than himself, but debonair features cause pause in Hux’s observation of maturity. many more mature individuals, especially in this career choice, had hard lines and the mottle of aged flesh to match. this one, albeit etched with a scar or few, still seemed to harbor that boyish demeanor. 

it simultaneously amused and annoyed the General.

having moved himself to the other’s booth, sliding smoothly into the seat opposite with hands already busying themselves pouring another glass of wine, Hux settles in lazily-- not entirely in character for the officer, but he had been very generous with his wine this evening and he was feeling rather... relaxed. mind you, a politician was meant to harbor a particular disposition when presenting a proposition. “ perhaps. ”

his tone is lazy-- tongue fat with the relaxation of a few too many drinks.

a smirk touches the General’s features at the impatience of the boy across from him, body shifting to sink just a tiny bit more before he’s shoving himself up to a better seated position-- as if reminding himself that this is a business deal now, and he isn’t in the company of good friends. mn... friend. singular. Hux sips - if you could call it a sip, he more than gulps his drink back - his wine, resting an elbow on the table between them and playing with the rim of his glass with his free hand-- index finger circling the glass before he puffs a sigh in return. impatient brat.

“ i need Telezan. ” something he could probably buy elsewhere? absolutely. but he likes to deal under the table-- Hux prefers to deal with those who would less likely exploit him, considering his status. “ and Stimpills. a large, " pause; for effect. that, and bringing the point home. he needed a bloody lot. “ quantity. ” 

An anxiety rolls within Hux the moment he realises he’s -- FAILED, Armitage. You weak-willed boy. Swallowing thickly with brows creased and shoulders tense, he tilts his head at the comment tossed his way: Snoke wishes to speak with him? “Excellent.”

But of course, it isn’t excellent. Not in the least. He can’t let anyone see that, however. He has a reputation to uphold; a name to keep respectable, despite recent shortcomings. His thoughts are swiftly cut off at the holo of the Supreme Leader himself-- feet kicked out from beneath him when he begins to explain himself by some unseen force. He falls with a yelp; incredibly unlike him, and far too high pitched for his liking.

With body stiff, he’s unable to break his fall-- and as such, a sickening crunch echoes in his head and an immediate headache has the audacity to throb in his temples and behind his eyes. His mouth is no longer dry at least... as the blood pooling on his tongue due to a bitten lip is enough to spill out over said fattened lip and down his chin and throat. The iron taste has him growling, and yet as he adjusts the subjugated position on his knees, his eyes are downcast; abashed. 

His nerves are burning with shame. He can handle a lashing, and he can handle discipline... but in front of his crew? There was only so much loyalty and respect remaining within his officers, Hux assumed. This wasn’t going to help his case. The General waits until Snoke’s mangled mug disappears from his view, and Hux is left slumped and staring at the vast spans of space ahead.

That is, until another body is stepping in his direct line of sight.

At first, he assumes it’s Ren come to pester him and mock-- but he realizes after a quick moment that this wouldn’t be the case. What would be the case, however, is one of his knights. Quick to make a mockery of the redhead without justification. There was reason this time, unfortunately. A growl tears through him, despite his position still kneeling on the floor. His body is sore, but he isn’t willing to admit that as he forces himself to stand on unsteady legs. “What could you possibly want.”

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“ He’s not seeing anyone right now ? “ The apprentice tilts her head to the side, dark eyes boring into the General. After the Resistance fled Crait, Blake had been expecting to be greeted by her master once he returned to the Finalizer, but she was greeted by Hux instead. And she was informed that Kylo Ren had shut himself away in his chambers. 

        “ Did he say why, General Hux ? “ She wasn’t present when they attacked the Resistance base, her master ordered her to stay behind on the ship. She wasn’t happy about it but she knew better than to argue with her master … well, argue with him when he was in such a … unhinged state. 

@todisorder | starter call 

his lips tighten to form a thin, white line. it’s all he can do really, to keep himself in composure before the girl-- and she is but a girl -- so as not to let it known he’s in excruciating amounts of pain. his otherwise rod-straight posture is hunched just-so, an indication of the pain in his sides and lower back-- his chest didn’t feel too great either, because why wouldn’t it? one isn’t expected to get up and shake it off after being thrown like a children’s toy during a tantrum.

and that’s exactly what it was, wasn’t it? a mere tantrum, thrown by the galaxy’s largest toddler.

“no,” he finally hums in response, tone steady albeit a little strained with the force of keeping himself in pristine shape. one thing he could appreciate, and that was one very simple and little thing about the girl, was her respect for his title was not entirely lost. at least, it appeared to be so-- he had gone hearing nothing but HUX for a time now from Ren, and they weren’t particularly on friendly terms. especially not now. “and no. he did not tell me why. one assumes he’s throwing another tantrum.”

the officer has all intention of biting out the words, but they stutter slightly-- the burning in his lungs causing him to take pause with a wince as he arches his back a bit. he tries to conceal it, he really does; but it’s a moot attempt. all he wants to do is sit down. “if that will be all, young one?”

as    usual,    ren    isn’t    all    that    aware    that    he’s    interrupting    something.    there    had    been    something    he’d    wanted    to    ask    the    general,    of    course,    but    his    attention    has    been    caught    by    the    view    from    the    window.    the    vastness    of    space    has    always    been    something    that    has    taken    him    aback,    even    back    when    he    was    just    a    child,    travelling    with    .    .    .    well,    travelling.    seeing    it    all    for    himself.    no    matter    how    far    he    has    come,    no    matter    how    much    he    has    seen,    he    has    not    seen    ALL.    and    now    he    is    in    the    unknown    regions,    LIVING    a    reality    not    mapped    out    by    any    astronomer.    THEY    ARE    HIDDEN    ;    SHROUDED    ————    and    it    is    beautiful.    it    is    so,    so    beautiful.

he    turns    to    the    general    when    he    hears    him    speak.    ❝    YES.    ❞    his    voice    is    distorted    by    the    vocoder    of    his    helmet    and    still    he    does    not    remove    it    ———-    but    still    it    is    obvious    that    he    has    missed    the    vitriol    in    hux’s    tone    almost    entirely.    ❝    i    wanted    to    make    a    request.    ❞    not    any    request    that    hux    has    the    power    to    grant,    but    he    finds    it    polite    to    ask    anyway.    his    gaze    falls    back    upon    the    stars. 

❝    i    wonder    if    the    stars    stare    down    upon    us    as    we    stare    upon    them    in    turn.    ❞    his    head    tilts    as    if    he’s    in    thought    for    a    moment.    ❝    i    will    be    away    for    a    few    days.    i    was    hoping    that    you    would    be    willing    to    accommodate    and    i    wanted    to    ask    if    you    would    prefer    i    take    my    unfinished    reports    with    me    or    if    i    should    continue    them    when    i    return.    ❞    he    honestly    doesn’t    care    much    about    the    response.    he’s    long    become    used    to    ridiculously    boring    paperwork    by    now.    

the distortion in Ren’s tone is hit or miss with the General. at times, he much prefers it-- he would remain perfectly content never putting a name to a face, nor a voice to a face. in the rare times he had had the opportunity to see the young man without his helmet, Hux had always been taken by his young features and wavering voice. it was a morbid fascination -- certainly. how could someone so young be so burdened. 

Hux could laugh at his own thoughts; the redhead was much a sufferer of the same fate. far too young to be burdened with such weight on his shoulders. a reputation to uphold. a name to keep.

the General shifts his heels a bit to fix his stance, lips parting and a sharp inhale indicating he was about to speak and grant permission to ask something of him-- but the words that come from the other next has the lithe officer stiffening. there’s something entirely human in the comment. something almost innocent and tinged with an awe that Hux remembers from his youth. stars, he thinks the same things now... but he isn’t willing to announce said thoughts out loud.

he’s a philosopher, certainly, but more of the “armchair philosopher” type.

it takes a moment for Hux to realize he’s been staring-- the tilted head of Ren is fascinating to him in a way, as this was a rare moment of PEACE that the General was unabashedly thrilled to be a part of right now. he hasn’t the chance to respond as Ren begins to speak once more, though he does tear his eyes off the hulking figure next to him, turning his eyes to the glimmering floor beneath his boots instead as he listens. 

strange, how civil this conversation is-- and yet, not unwelcome in the slightest. far be it for Hux to deny the simple fact that he was tired and he wasn’t in the mood for anything but civilities. pursing his lips in thought, he has to consciously resist the urge to jut his bottom lip out a touch in the form of a pout. strict and meticulous with his own paperwork, it was always depressing to hear of unfinished reports... but Ren had been honest with him, whether it was a conscious decision or not, and Hux very, very, very subtly admired that. “yes, i will. and you may finish them when you return. i suppose there isn’t any rush on those in particular.”

and there wasn’t; not really. it could wait a few days, as much as Hux didn’t like it-- it wasn’t the most important thing on his mind. especially not right now. after a pause, making certain there wasn’t anything else that needed to be discussed, Hux shifts away to circle behind the larger man. he settles in on his other side -- the view provided from this angle is better, and though he relaxes a bit once more, his hands are still clasped behind his back tightly. “i’m not often privy to ridiculous thoughts such as stars having a consciousness.”

a satisfied sigh escapes the General as he relaxes his posture, shoulders slumping only just-so to allow himself some room to breathe. it’s rare now-a-day to find the time to truly relax-- a moment to himself to reflect on his decisions, the decisions of the crew, the decisions of Ren. the sneer that paints Hux’s features just at the thought of the other man is a product of his life involving the hulking beast. he has to consciously remind himself that now is a time to wind down-- not get wound up. especially over an annoyance that he’d managed to escape: for now.

before him, the spans of space is never ending, and the lithe male finds himself physically relaxing as a calm washes over him. the blinking stars against velvet black has his head tilting, cerulean blues darting over washes of colour in the form of nebula and galaxies far off. far be it for Hux to ignore the nagging at the back of his mind as he looks on contently: he would rule all this one day. the stars and suns and moons. the galaxies and the--

echoing boot falls pull the General from his reverie, body tensing in a startle as he’s caught off guard and brows furrowing with a glare. he could recognize those heavy steps anywhere; how could he not, when it usually meant irritation and destruction in their wake?

his muscles ache with how tense he’s grown already, chin tipping up as he attempts to pull himself together quickly in Ren’s presence. and the presence is close-- nearly next to him now. Hux swallows thickly, eyes only leaving the scenery briefly to flit over the bulkier form of the man next to him: sizing him up, attempting to sense his intentions before hearing them. turning his attention to the stars before him once more, the man inhales slowly before finally parting chapped lips to speak. “what is it i can do for you.”

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