Rey has a Cinderella moment, while Ben gets caught on a walk of shame. But while one's playing a part, the other has more going on behind the scenes than anyone realizes. It's Galactic Concordance Day, Ben's birthday, and Rey's about to meet Senator Leia Organa, what could go wrong?


Rey was spending entirely too much time on Coruscant lately, but given that half of the Aristos with credits in the galaxy filtered through the city on a regular basis, it made sense. Maker forbid they have to go without their spice supply for even a second longer than necessary. She supposed it kept Maz in business, but she also resented the shit out of them for their excess. Listless, beautiful, selfish, and cruel—that pretty much summed up Aristos in her mind. Most of them anyway.

Ben Solo's not listless, but he sure is beautiful. Is he cruel? Is he selfish? Rey wondered to herself as she and Finn traveled to a rented room to get ready for their assignment. She shouldn't be wondering about any of that, but part of her wanted to find out what really made Ben tick. Was he as terrible as all the other Aristos she'd met?

Rey sighed and caught Finn's attention. His eyes flickered over to her as he navigated their rented airspeeder through the Coruscant skylanes. "What you thinking about, pumpkin?"

Normally, she'd chew him out for using that nickname, but she was too high strung to even notice. "I don't know. This all just seems so… Strange? I mean, of all people to keep running into, why Ben Solo?"

Finn turned his head to give her a quick look of confusion. "What do you mean? We saw him once at Dev's… unless."

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck, Rey thought to herself. She most definitely had not told Finn about her run-in with Ben during their last job, and absofuckinglutely had not told him that he'd had her pressed up against the wall of the Starbird, legs wrapped around his hard waist, tongue down her throat. Yeah, definitely missed telling him about all of that.

Finn hummed thoughtfully. "Keeping secrets?"

"Only a few," Rey replied cryptically.

"I hear he's a great lover."

"Evidently."

Finn grinned but wisely kept his eyes on the zooming traffic. If Ben's sex-holo was anything to go by, he was a remarkable lover. Though it must have been hard for him to trust people when they were always vying for the next big piece of gossip. Probably kind of lonely, now that Rey really thought about it.

Rey stared at the Coruscant skyline, chilly air rushing over her skin and through her hair as Finn flew along. The whole city seemed to be buzzing with excitement and apparently everyone needed to get somewhere because the air traffic was insane. It was a good thing Finn was a patient pilot because Rey thought she might pull her hair out at the stop and go flying.

Despite not liking the city or the planet very much, she had to admit the skyline was remarkable. The buildings stood like giants reaching for the stars and it was amazing to think of how many billions of sentients lived in one place. It was beautiful to look at from afar, anyway, but once you got closer or into the lower levels, the real ugliness always shined through.

"Hear he hates his Name Day, though," Finn added after a beat, bringing Rey's thoughts back to Ben.

"Really? I don't even know when mine is. At least people remember his," she grumbled.

Finn shrugged. "Guess having to share it with one of the most important days in the history of the galaxy gets tiring."

Rey hadn't considered that. Though she knew more about his parents now, she really couldn't think around how hard it must be to live up to that kind of legacy. Being no one, while lonely, did have its perks in that nobody expected shit from Rey. She could live her life free from the burden of expectation, but Ben?

How much had been thrust upon his shoulders? What was it like growing up in that world? Rey shook her head and tried not to think about it. Difficult or not, he had the kind of opportunities she couldn't even begin to dream about, and the last thing he needed, or probably would want, was her pity.

"Think there'll be alcohol at this party?" Rey joked, shifting the conversation.

Finn laughed. "After Dev's? You really lookin' for trouble today, or what?"

Rey grinned. "Trouble's my middle name."

"Well, you're in the right city, then. In Coruscant, if you're not looking to get into trouble—or looking out for it, you're doing it wrong."

Trouble always found its way into Rey's life, and she'd just have to wait and see whether the kind of trouble that was heading her way in Coruscant would be the fun kind or the kind that made her want to lose her mind. If Ben Solo was involved, she expected the latter, but at least she might get a kiss… or more out of it.

She tried not to feel hopeful about any of that because she should not be thinking hopeful thoughts about Ben Solo, but it was hard when he was such a remarkable kisser, and so hard and fit and muscular and tall and…

Fuck, Rey grumbled internally. She really couldn't just forget him. Or get him out of her head at all. Why did all paths seem to lead back to Ben?

Maybe the galaxy is trying to tell you something, she thought, but that was a stupid thing to consider.

All the galaxy had been sending her way since childhood was bullshit, so it would be wise to assume that she'd be getting more of the same with Ben. Rey tapped her foot irritably as Finn flew them closer and closer to their destination. Anticipation, excitement, dread, all warring within her as they floated along.

Yeah. Coruscant was going to be some kind of trouble.


Finn navigated them safely to the hotel in good time, especially given the state of the city's traffic, and the hotel was absolutely not the rundown shack Rey was expecting it would be and, also to her surprise, it was on the upper level of the city. As Finn and Rey slipped from the speeder, a waiting droid jumped in and took control of their craft. Rey and Finn stood and stared at the hotel as the droid navigated the speeder away for parking.

"Well, this is a little nicer than normal," Finn said with a laugh. The hotel and surrounding area were full of sentients, and the whole city seemed to be bustling. Rey hefted her pack onto her shoulder as Finn led the way into the crystalline entrance of the hotel.

"Yeah, this is… Wow," Rey breathed as she took in the view. She was used to the kind of money Aristos flashed around, with their gaudy homes and tacky clothes, but this took Aristo and cranked it all the way up to something inconceivable.

At her visible shock, Finn explained, "Really is a different kind of assignment. Things are shifting in the galaxy and spice doesn't bring in the kind of currency it used to—not with the syndicates trying to get their cut too."

"Yeah, but upper-level accommodations? I can't even imagine how much this would cost."

More credits than I'll ever have in my life, she added mentally. It was a stunning building, as most of the upper-level constructions were. The hotel's skyscraper stretched so high into the sky that Rey wondered whether the top levels needed artificial atmospheres and gravity.

"Friends of Leia's own the property and because we're working for her, apparently we get the friends and family discount," Finn joked.

"Seriously?"

Finn shrugged before stepping into the lobby. "That's what Maz implied. C'mon, let's get ready. We don't have much time left."

"Do you know where you're going?" Rey asked as she trudged along behind while trying not to get caught up at the splendor before her.

"I've got the room info in my datapad, and the keycards."

"You really gotta start communicating better, Finn," Rey chided. Rey liked to be in control and, in Coruscant, she always felt a little bit out of control and not knowing the whole situation wasn't helping.

"You have your datapad, right?" Finn asked as they slipped into a transparisteel turbolift. Finn produced a keycard from his pocket and slid it against the sensor before the 'lift was off.

"Yeah, and I read the briefing. But none of this was in it."

Finn shrugged. "You know Maz, she has her ways."

Yeah, and she trusts Finn more than she trusts you, Rey reminded herself. She hadn't been with Maz for that long, so it was to be expected, but it still rankled her. Rey stared out of the elevator and watched as the tip tops of the city came into view. It was a breathtaking sight, but all it did was make Rey feel small and anxious.

I'm a nothing and a nobody in a city full of somebodies. I can't fuck this up. She really needed the credits, especially if she ever wanted to get out of this life, so she'd do whatever she needed to do to make a good impression and, hopefully, that meant Maz would get more contracts guarding rich Aristos for her.

They came to a stop so seamlessly that Rey barely felt it. The doors chimed as they hit the right floor, sliding open to reveal a long hallway that smelled like fresh purple passion flowers. The scent was probably synthetic, but nice regardless.

"Where's our room?" Rey asked.

Finn checked the directory. "Follow me."

The hallway seemed to go on forever, stretching on an on for so long that Rey almost suggested they jog, but eventually, they stopped in front of gilded double doors.

"This is it," Finn announced before tapping his keycard on the panel.

The doors hissed softly before sliding open to reveal the room, which more like a suite than a room, and could have encompassed her own quarters back on Takodana at least five times over. Floor to ceiling 'windows revealed the city to their eyes. Rey had a peek around the suite—full kitchen, what looked like two bedrooms, a sitting area, and probably more within the individual rooms.

"This is nuts," she marveled before walking over to the windows. Leaning forward, Rey pressed her head against the cool 'glass and let herself fall a little. The world of Coruscant buzzed before her and it felt like she was floating within it as it passed her by.

Finn let out a low whistle as he explored from somewhere behind her. "Man, credits can't buy happiness, but they might get you close."

Rey snorted against the 'glass, little puffs steaming out from her nose as she answered, "Yeah, let's just get ready and then get to where we need to be."

They were meeting up with a representative for Leia at some public park on Coruscant—one of the few remaining green spaces on the largely synthetic planet.

"You're the one with your head in the clouds—literally," Finn shot back. He was in the second bedroom, the smaller one, from the looks of it.

Quick as a flash, Rey was off the 'glass and into the main bedroom, tossing her pack on the massive sunken bed before calling out, "Dibs!"

The view was similarly spectacular from the main bedroom, but it also had a full couch and sitting area, as well as a walk-in closet, which she wouldn't need, and a wall-sized mirror, which she might.

Finn peeked his head in from the sitting area. "You little shit," he said amiably. "Fine, but we're using your 'fresher." He pointed with his chin to the absolutely massive refresher that was attached to the room.

"Well, damn," she said, taking it all in.

The whole place was decorated with an understated kind of opulence, but it was obviously a décor that was curated with care. Art hung on the walls and Rey had enough of a passing interest in art to recognize some pieces—probably prints from famous artists, but lovely. It was beautiful, but she tried not to get attached as she spread her things over what was probably an expensive, creamy satina duvet.

"You have our clothes?" Rey asked while fishing through her things.

"Of course. They're hanging in my room—there's some sort of garment steamer droid that's taking care of them."

"Well, isn't that convenient?"

"Fuckin' Aristos, eh?" Finn said with a shrug.

"Fuckin' Aristos," Rey agreed. "I'm gonna use the sonic. Give me a few minutes?"

Finn nodded. "Yeah, after the traffic smog, I need a shower too."

"Race you?"

Finn looked aghast. "You know I never rush with my routine."

Rey rolled her eyes. "Okay, come in when you're finished, then."

"Sure thing."

Sighing, Rey grabbed her nightclothes to throw on after the sonic, made quick work of all of that, and popped out of the 'shower feeling a lot better. Until she realized that she'd have to do her hair up.

Rose had shown her a pretty easy style—a kind of roll that was fastened with her charged pins, but Rey had only been able to practice once before she and Finn needed to set out. Still, she did an okay job and Finn would be able to fix up what she'd not been able to perfect as he was much better with this whole 'not looking like a slob' thing.

With her hair nearly done, Rey decided to start with the makeup. She took it out of the bag Rose had lent her and spread it all before her, which was a mistake. The sheer number of makeup instruments before her was daunting. She had no idea where to start, and if she didn't know where to start, she'd not get her makeup done in time to get to the event, and if she didn't get to the event, Leia wouldn't pay Maz, and if she didn't pay Maz because of Rey, Rey'd get fired and then…

Reaching out, she picked up a sponge and tried to remember what Rose had shown her.

Foundation? Or what came first… concealer? Oh fuck, I'm so fucked.

Rey stared into the mirror and only her annoyed, super stressed face stared back at her. Shit, shit, shit. Rey was going to cry, and Rey did not cry. She hated this shit. It was entirely out of her element. She liked to look at other people's makeup, not have to fuck around with it herself. This was insane. She'd never be able to pull this off, which meant she'd never save up enough credits to get out of the spice running business and she'd be poor and alone forever and…

Rey sniffed just as Finn popped into the room, half-dressed and already looking great. He took her in, hand frozen in front of her face, eyes wide and red-rimmed, expression hopeless.

"Pumpkin…," he started.

Rey swallowed thickly, too upset to even get pissed about his damn nickname. "I just… Rose showed me, but I can't do this, Finn! It's too much—there's too much. What was I supposed to do about the colors and in what order? I just—what is all this shit? What is it? I'm going to get it all wrong and stand out for looking like a fool—" Rey spiraled as Finn reached out.

"C'mon, gimme that. I'll help you," he said while softly taking the sponge from her hand.

"Aren't there droids that can do this kind of thing?" Rey said glumly.

"Yes, but they're out of our price range, so you'll have to settle for me," he said with a wink.

Rey's shoulders slumped, and she tried to breathe as Finn pulled her closer. "I don't hate makeup, I just haven't had much need for it. And these Coruscanti assholes just wear so much of it. Rose tried to lay it all out for me, but I just…"

It was a lot. All of this was a lot. She wasn't used to being anything other than what she was, and what she was was a desert rat.

"I used to have a hard time with it all too, but you get used to it with practice," Finn assured her while guiding her to the little hover-chair.

"Is that how you got so good at it?" Rey asked, sniffling a little as Finn settled her into the chair.

"Yeah, and Rose likes those makeup holos, so I watch along with her. Helps me keep up appearance for when I have to make nice with the Aristos."

"Clever," Rey offered.

Finn beamed charmingly. "And don't you forget it."

Rey watched as Finn took a little electronic concealer stick, which he hovered over the skin under her eyes.

"You need to get more sleep," he commented before switching to the other eye.

"Nightmares," she admitted, but it wasn't just that, even the good dreams haunted her and made it hard to sleep.

"I know the feeling," Finn offered as Rey realized that she didn't really know that much about the man. She was getting closer to Rose, but there was still so much that she didn't know about the two of them. Maybe, if things worked out, and she didn't have to make a break for it from Takodana, she'd get to know them better.

But, somehow, she doubted it. Rey tried not to think about the future while Finn helped her with makeup. The little machine whirred cheerily in his hand while a micro-spray of cosmetics spread on her skin. After the makeup was applied, Finn blended it with the sponge before picking up a container of foundation and manually applying blotches to her skin, before smoothing that in with the sponge too.

"I remember hearing that the secret to wearing makeup is to make it look like you're not wearing any at all, but on Coruscant, that's bullshit. If you don't look like you're wearing makeup, it's noticeable. They love their glitter, glimmer, and gloss—but it all changes with the seasons and affiliations," he explained as he went through the laborious process which he'd eventually have to do for himself.

"This is a whole lot of bullshit, Finn."

Finn shrugged. "It's how they identify themselves—who they're running with, who they support. Makeup is political in many circles, Coruscant included."

"So, green, blue, and silver?" Rey asked while gesturing to the eyeshadow palette.

"House Organa's ancestral colors."

I guess that explains my dress too, Rey thought as Finn made his way through shadows, glosses, and glitters as he painted her face.

"The gold?"

Finn's hand hovered in front of her face as he smiled. "Not sure. Might be from Leia's husband's side."

"Red stripe on the lips?"

"To honor Naboo, I think. Part of Leia's familial history."

Rey sighed. "And what happens if you wear the wrong makeup?"

Finn gently grabbed her chin between his fingers and tilted her head back. "Could be taken as some sort of slight at worst, at best, it'd be embarrassing."

"But for someone like me?"

Finn winked before reaching over to grab some shimmer. "I wouldn't worry about it. We're nobodies. We'll barely warrant a second glance."

That was actually reassuring. If she thought about it right, makeup could be used as a kind of mask because no one would recognize her the way she looked right now, she was certain. Rey stole peeks of Finn's work as he transformed her face, and she barely recognized herself. The blush made her cheekbones stand out, and the eye shadows made her hazel eyes almost look green.

Just when she thought he was almost done, Finn reached over to grab a little compact and pulled out a small black disk, which he immediately tacked to her cheek.

"What's this?" she asked as he lightly powdered her face. The mark was high on her left cheek and, if she was being honest, reminded her of Ben's own beauty marks, which immediately annoyed her because Rey remembered again that she'd also have to deal with him at the event.

Finn paused and took a moment to survey his work before answering. "Hmm? That's so they know you're Leia's."

"I thought we were supposed to be avoiding attention?"

Finn nodded. "We are, and this will help. The Senator is popular and many of her supporters will be wearing the same sort of mark on their face. In the crowd, you'd stand out without one."

With the finishing touches of Rey's makeup completed, Finn got to work on himself, so Rey made herself useful and went to make sure the garment droid was doing a good job of steaming their formal wear. After the droid finished, Rey laid out Finn's clothes before taking her own glimmering dress back with her to her room.

It wasn't much of a dress in that it was much less than she was used to wearing, but the layers of her skirt would hide her weapons and the slit made sure they were easily accessible. Hopefully, she wouldn't have need of them, but it was better to plan for the worst and hope for the best.

The deep v in the front and back of her dress concerned Rey, but there was some shimmering fabric that stretched between the two pieces that should hold it all together. Rose had offered her some tacky tape that was meant to hold her all in, but the dress actually fit her body well enough without needing to stick the fabric to her skin.

Finn crossed paths with her in the middle of their suite as she went to change.

"Almost ready now," he called over his shoulder before the door to his room slid shut.

Once she was back in her room, Rey hit the panel to close the door for some privacy. With that done, Rey slipped from her loose clothes and into the dress. She'd thought she might need Finn to help her pull all together, but she'd been able to twist herself around and do it on her own—and got it on without disturbing her hair or makeup.

Not wearing anything in the way of wrappings on her breasts was strange, but she'd at least managed to find some underwear that was serviceable because like hell she was going to work commando, the dress was distracting enough.

Sitting on the hover-chair, Rey slipped her navy, knee-high boots on and then began the arduous process of strapping in her weapons—blaster holstered high on her thigh, vibroblade in her right boot, charged pins in her hair.

And then, it was all done, and all she had to do was wait for Finn and try to control her anxiety. Rey hazarded a glance into the huge mirror in her room and she looked… well, she didn't look bad at all! Except for the fact that she looked nothing like how she normally did.

In another life, maybe this would have been normal? she thought to herself, but Rey had a hard time imagining any life where this would be normal. The forest-green of her dress contrasted nicely with her rosy skin and freckles, while the silver accents along the edge of the slit drew attention to her long legs, which she wasn't entirely comfortable with, but it'd have to do.

With a few minutes to spare, Rey popped out her datapad and connected to the 'net, to scope out the goings-on of Coruscant and definitely not to check the gossip holos. Okay, so maybe just a quick peek to see what everyone was wearing and who was going and—

There's Ben Solo, Rey thought while skimming her favorite gossip holonist—Galaxy Glitter was just a pen name, but they always seemed to have the latest gossip and, considering it had become something of an addiction for Rey, she basically owed them her life.

Decadent and dashing Ben Solo was caught slipping from the Royal this morning, dressed in barely more than a smile. Happy Name Day, indeed—to us! Who he was with and what he was doing last night in the infamous hotel is debatable, but we want to be the kind of sentient that has Ben Solo looking that messy in the morning. We're open this weekend, Ben!

An image of Ben, looking bedraggled and stupid hot, flickered out of the holo. Barely clothed was right! Dressed in loafers and a bloodred robe that was only just holding on courtesy of the tiny cinch at his waist, his hair was long, mussed, and his makeup was most definitely smudged. Whatever he'd done last night, he must have had one hell of a time. The story continued:

His mother, Leia Organa, was spotted near the city center preparing for Galactic Concordance Day, though a smaller, private party is expected later at Leia's Coruscant penthouse in honor of her salacious son. Exclusive, invite-only, and you know the drill, insiders with photos are encouraged to contact me while the rest of the galaxy sits and waits to hear more!

As ever, stay gorgeous! And if you don't have anything nice to say, send it to us first!

-GG out!

I wonder what Ben would think of me in this… she started to think, but immediately cut that train of thought off. The last thing she needed was to worry about what he thought of her! He was a silly obsession, nothing else. His opinions didn't matter. And, fortunately, Finn's voice from the other side of her door called out, asking if she was decent, which would be a sufficient distraction from more thoughts of Ben Solo.

"Come in!" Rey answered as she stood. The entrance to her room shifted open with a soft hiss and revealed her comrade.

Finn looked painfully handsome in a silver and green striped overcoat with nothing underneath but his shimmering, dark brown skin, which was more skin than Finn usually showed. Paired with bold, patterned pants that were in the same shade of green and silver as his jacket, a wide belt was hitched to his waist and swung as he walked. Long dark gloves reached to his elbows, and the whole look was capped off with silver boots; he looked like an Aristo.

"This is Coruscant," he said with a shrug at Rey's surprised look.

His makeup was perfect and with the silver highlights, his black eyes popped. He had a similar stripe on his full lips to Rey—blood red and audacious. It would make it easy for anyone to tell who their allegiance was with.

"This is Coruscant," Rey reluctantly agreed. "Ready?"

"Better be," Finn said with a wink.

Weapons on, datapad checked once, twice, thrice, she and Finn finally made their way towards the city center to face the rest of the Galactic Concordance Day.


Author's Notes: I'm fucking laughing because Galaxy Glitter was just the first thing that came to my mind and then I went and typed –GG Out! And I realized that GG is the same initials as Gossip Girl, which I guess this is kind of a little homage to that in some ways so HAHAHAHAHA my brain is wild and I am very tired lol. If anyone is curious, I'm basically working my way through the Balmain 2016 Fall Menswear campaign in regard to high-fashion in this story because I love it to death. The end lol.

I'm having a little bit too much fun with this, so the chapter got a bit long but! Convenient for you that the next two are mostly worked out. Can't wait to have some fun with Ben in the next episode—and Leia, who after years of working in politics and a certain Force-sensitivity, doesn't miss a god damn thing. RIP Rey! Blah blah technically speaking most speeders will have auto-nav, but I'm head canoning that Finn likes to fly on his own, when possible. Any mistakes are my own, my precious.