Hey! Thank you for coming back!
Thank you for the likes, and kudos. And my amazing LACR… I love you! But you already knew that!
As usual, these two are surprising me… I hope they are to you too… please let me know what you think, even if it's just a heart or two or a sad face…
Oh! I get to be part of an anthology that's raising money for Ukraine! They are in preorders now, and it will be released on March 22! If you want more information, let me know! I'm excited to be a part of this! I'll also be pulling "One O'clock in the Morning" and "Haymitch's Bar and Grill" as part of my contributions to the charity. I think the world will like those two little stories, don't you? and of course I'll be reposting them when I get them back in several months.
"You're being really quiet this morning, Rey." Her butler, Charles Putney Orion the third, or Threeipo they call him, remarks the next morning. A quirky Englishman who's about fifty of medium size and bright blond hair, he loves to wait and pamper his mistress. Since it's Saturday, she's still in the nightie she wore to the club last night, under her robe of course. For some reason, she doesn't want to take off the last piece of clothing Master saw her in—
Or touched.
"It was a busy week. I'm ready for a day off."
"You work too hard, if I do say so myself. You need to hire another assistant."
"You're probably right." Jannah is still out on maternity leave and the feeling Rey got from her last email—she's probably not going to come back. "Or at least promote someone." She takes a long sip of her tea. "Hey Threeipo? Would you see if you can find someone?"
"It would be a honor. Would you like for me—"
"No, it can wait til Monday. That way you can enjoy your day off tomorrow and start fresh. Are you almost ready to go?" On Saturdays Threeipo only works until ten or so. She even feels guilty for working that couple of hours until he let her give him one of the apartments by her. Then she doesn't worry about him so much not having any free time.
"I am. If you chose to stay in, which I think you should, your food is ready. Just remember if you feel so brave to try to cook, please turn the stove off. Or better yet just come get me." He tutters around his kitchen.
"Go—have fun. I might go to Maz's after while and see her and chewy."
"Oh yes, that works."
"And maybe go read a book in the park."
"That does sound nice," he chirps.
"You just don't want to have a messy kitchen."
"Who me? Could be." He smiles. "Bye, Rey."
"Bye Threeipo." She waits for the door to click behind him. Then she sits back and exhales the breath she feels like she's been holding since last night.
Is it bad that she wishes Master was here? Eating these perfect eggs with her? Giggling with her over something that happened to them that week.
Throwing her on the table and finishing his breakfast in between her legs.
"As if. I wonder if we could scene that at the club. I bet Cassian would love that." She snorts. "And here I am talking to myself. I need a dog and a long walk around the island." Her stomach still feels funny thinking back to last night, but she needs to do something else besides staying here, sinking into the pit of despair.
She finally stands and heads to her shower all while wondering, what is Master doing today?
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Kylo Ren, or Master as Kira affectionally thinks of him, is currently growling into his cell. "You know what? I really don't care. You fucked it up, so you fix it!" Before he slams down his phone. He drags his fingers through his too long hair because why would the COO have time to do anything like go get a haircut?
"Why am I even here?" He mutters to his empty office. He knows why he's here. he needs to keep busy, so he doesn't call Cassian and beg him for Kira's address. Because it would be so tempting to spend the morning in between her legs until he memorized the rest of her.
He'll text Cassian to see if he knows if Kira has plans for this evening at his wonderful establishment.
He spins in his office chair so he can look out the window. The Skywalkers have owned this building since his grandfather built it in the seventies. One of the tallest in its day, it's still one of the tallest at an even hundred stories, he sits in the corner office on the nineth floor overlooking Central Park.
New leaves greet his weary eyes with a wave of green. This is always his favorite time of year, and he can't help but to wonder what his Kitten is doing this morning. Is she down there enjoying the new spring day and all its possibilities? Is she going to sit in the meadow and enjoy the sounds of new life and the city and the weird but wonderful music it makes?
But then something in the sky makes him draw his eyes up. Just a bird but it disappears behind the bane of his existence on this Earth. It represents everything he hates and that he works to destroy. Not to mention the young COO at its helm.
The Palpatine building.
All of his offers have been declined, hell, she won't even agree to a meeting with him. Yes, he wants to buy so he can destroy everything with the Palpatine name on it. He's prepared to make her quite the offer. Hell, she could take her managers that the private investigators told him were her friends from NYU—and go buy them each their own private island.
Anything to erase the Palpatine name in the business world.
It also helped that Rey Johnson didn't even use dear old gramps moniker.
Yes, one day and one day soon, she was going to have to have a meeting with him. So, he can, to quote a favorite movie of his, make her an offer she can't refuse.
Just as long as Rey moves far away, he doesn't care what she does. As long as she leaves Manhattan all for him.
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"I'm going to go to Maz's. Do you want to go?" Rey asks as she looks for something more comfortable that the heels and business suits she wears all week. "We should do more casual days. But yoga pants days, not jeans."
"No, I have someone coming over—" Rose answers.
"Who's coming? Paige?"
"No—" Rose's voice is entirely too wispy. "It's a friend."
"Poe and Finn?" She guesses and tries not to feel left out.
"No you've only met him a couple of times—"
"Rose! Is it Red? Is he coming over?"
"He's coming in about an hour."
"Really?" Rey squeals. Rose is not a submissive person. And while Rey wasn't worried that she wouldn't find anyone to love her, she just wants him to be the right guy for her bestie. "Do I finally get to meet him?"
"Maybe next time? It's still so new—"
"I understand. You have fun and I'm just a phone call away if you need me."
"What's wrong?" Rose asks.
"Nothing," she says as she wills the tears in her eyes not to fall. "Call me later."
"Alright, Rey."
She doesn't miss the concern in her friend's voice as the phone goes silent. Her tears stream down her cheeks as she sinks onto the bench in her closet. "What's wrong with me?" She asks her clothes. "I know, this must be some kind of sub-drop." She wipes her eyes. "That's what's wrong with me. Not enough after care." Her laugh is harsh in her empty apartment. "What I wouldn't give for Master's phone number about now."
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"I can't do anything else today."
"Ren—" Hux claims the leather chair in front of his desk.
"It's not like I can make them answer my calls. This whole deal is starting to leave a bad taste in my mouth like a hour with a two bit whore."
"And you know what that feels like?" Hux chuckles.
"Shut it, asshat. It's Saturday morning, no one else is wanting to work. I'm going upstairs."
"You know it's alright to take a day or two off. I won't tell snoke."
"Yeah, Snoke can kiss my ass. There's a reason why I'm still in charge and he's in Los Angeles." He looks up to meet his friend's eyes. "What are you doing today?"
"I guess you could say that I have a date."
"A date? With whom? Do I know this lucky lady?"
"No, you don't. We've been talking for several weeks. I guess we're taking it to the next step?"
"That's good, really good." Kylo stands and Hux mirrors him. "Let's get out of here, and no one returns until Monday morning."
"Sounds good to me," Hux adds.
They walk to the elevator. It's Kylo's private one, so always waiting for them. Hux pushes 99. As the executives of the company, their penthouse apartments take up the entire 99th floor.
Which is nice for those midnight calls from Japan.
His front door swings open and his butler, Arnold Charles the second, or Artoo Kylo's always called him, greets him, "Good morning, Sir. Aren't you home early?"
"I am. I'm going to try my damnest to relax today—and yes, you can still have your time off. I'll see you Monday morning."
"Will you be alright until then?"
"I will be. Go Artoo. I'll be ok."
"Alright, Sir."
While he buzzes about doing his Saturday tasks before he takes his days off, Kylo walks back to his room. His closet is as big and as full as Rey's. At first, he reaches for his usual sweatpants, ready to spend the day on his couch watching Galaxy Wars— or call Cassian to see where his little Kitten is—but maybe, he'll put on some jeans and go to the park. Perhaps he'll see her there?
Or at least take a nice long walk to get his mind off of how much he wants her right now.
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"There's my favorite waitress!" Rey hears as the bells on the glass door chimes above her. The little diner off-off-Broadway was one of her sanctuaries growing up. This is where she came to get away from Grandfather.
And it was the first money she made for herself.
"Maz! My favorite business mongrel." Her favorite stool is empty, almost like it's waiting for her. But she still asks, "Can I sit?"
"Of course, my dear." Rey smiles as Maz comes around the counter for a hug.
She can't remember her own mother, she was so young when she died. And Rose's mom, well she didn't touch anyone but those she considered hers, which for Rey, that was only every once in a while. But Maz—Rey counts her as hers. Always ready with a smile, a touch and good job my dear when she needed it. Rey loves this little lady so much. She's even offered to buy the restaurant so she can finally retire.
With a wistful smile Maz always says, "Maybe next year."
"How's my favorite COO?"
"Don't remind me. Somedays I wish—well it doesn't matter what I wish. Can I have a patty melt?"
Maz flops a menu down in front of Rey. "Chewy talked me into it—"
"He did?" Rey looks over the plastic encased paper. "He did!" For years Chewy, Maz's new husband but line cook forever- has been trying to get her to add more food to the menu. Sourced from local upstate farms, it makes Rey smile to see organic stuff on the diner's menu. "I love it. alright then, whatever Chewy thinks I'll like off the new menu. Just no onions please."
"Did you hear that Chewy?"
A low rumble comes from the back that Rey learned a long time ago meant that yes, he heard everything.
Rey doesn't miss the scrutiny that comes from Maz. It's been a while since she's been in, and she knows that her old boss worries about her. "How are you, really doing?"
"I'm ok. It feels good not to have to be in that office today. The business is growing. Poe, Finn and Rose have lots of ideas for their departments. Skywalker corp won't leave me alone—"
"Skywalker? I know you know, but you know that Snoke owns them now? Or he's at least on their board which is never good. Why do they want Palpatine?"
"I have no idea." She looks down at the napkin she keeps folding and unfolding. "But they want everything, even the building." Her laugh is harsh. "Let's sell everything and go buy an island in the Bahamas? You can finally open your tiki hut bar."
"Oh dear." Maz pats her hands. "Someone who doesn't know you wouldn't have an idea that you're not kidding. Heavy is the head that wears the crown—"
"Yeah, well this head doesn't want the crown or anything else. You know I actually dream about being normal. A husband. Kids one day. The little house in the middle of nowhere—"
"You're so not a suburban person," Maz chuckles.
"No, a middle of the woods one. Surrounded by a million acres. What do I do?"
"My dear—the belonging you seek is not behind you but ahead of you. Your Prince is coming—" Chewy rings the pick-up bell behind his wife. In a moment Maz is setting before her—well something wonderful. "That is Horseradish-crusted roast beef, with smashed potatoes and roasted green beans with mushrooms."
As soon as she takes the first bite, Rey knows—"this is amazing!" she says with a mouthful of food.
"Eat my dear," Maz chuckles. "We'll talk later."
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Restless as hell, Kylo is out doing something he hasn't done in years, he takes a walk down Broadway. He has to smile at the memories of doing this same thing with his mom and dad.
The buildings haven't changed, just the weekend tourist crowd walks beside him and not the local one. But when he sees the David Letterman or Ed Sullivan, his mom insists on calling it, theater, he takes a right before he reaches it. And sitting there, where he last saw it like the diamond in the rough he knows it is, is Maz's Kanata.
The bell above the door heralds his entrance into the diner. For once it's only half full and the owner isn't at the counter to yell out his name like she does to his dad.
And for once he's glad.
Because sitting there at the counter is someone—nah it can't be her, can it?
His heart leaps to his throat making it hard to swallow, but then it feels like it's going to gallop out of his chest. He can't move, willing her to speak, to say anything to see— long chocolate hair. She's dressed like a native New Yorker on a Saturday morning, all in black from her t-shirt to her jacket to her yoga pants.
Even black ballet flats.
"Excuse me sir," he hears behind him as the bell chimes again, this time not for him.
"I'm sorry," he apologizes to the tourists as he steps aside for them to enter Maz's. But when he looks back towards the stool she was perched on—his heart falls. She's gone.
All that's left is an empty plate and her tip at the edge.
But where did she go? He looks around, almost frantic to see if he can lady with rich chocolate brown hair that looks a lot like his Kitten's. Maybe it was her shape? The way she carries herself?
"Ben?" A familiar growl comes from the back, and he looks up to see his Uncle Chewy as he walks out to meet him. "What are you doing here, son?"
"I decided to go for a walk and ended up here—" his voice is muffled as his adopted uncle pulls him tight into his chest.
"Come and sit. Maz will be right back. She had to walk one of our old waitresses out. Hey, honey," Chewy's still rich Louisiana accent echoing through the diner. "it's just one big family reunion today."
Chewy's new wife comes rushing out, catching Kylo in a hug. "What are you doing, kid?"
He lets his adopted family lead him to—well the same stool she was just sitting in.
Something deep inside him demands that he takes a deep breath upon sitting. Rich and earthy, she's not wearing perfume of anything—
"What's wrong?" Maz asks.
"It's nothing, just been a long week. Mom told me that you made a new menu, tell me how in the world did you teach that redneck that you let cook for you fix something else and is it any good?"
Chewy's growl and Maz's laughter is exactly what he needs in this moment. Now if he had Kitten sitting beside him on this other stool—then his life would perfect. Oh wait, add to that list that he finally owns the Palpatine building and all that.
Then his life would be fucking perfect.
But first, he takes his cell out and starts to text-
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She's not sure why she sneaks out the back, but she does with a giggle. It feels like she's doing something wrong, but she's a grown woman. But it still makes her feel young and silly. She quickly hails a taxi. "Good afternoon," the older gentleman greets her.
"Hello," she answers. She even feels happier than she has in a while. Evidently, she needed to get out of chez Palpatine. "Just drop me off at the sheep meadow, if you would, please."
"That's a lovely place to spend a Saturday."
"It's one of my favorites. I have a new book to read." She supposes she could have went out on her motorcycle. But it's good to rest too. Just as the driver pulls to a stop, her cell buzzes in her pocket. But first she hops out.
She steps onto the sidewalk and pulls her out the cell. The butterflies erupt in her stomach when she sees Cassian's name. Three swipes and she reads, "Your new master is wondering if you have plans to come to my amazing BDSM club this evening."
"I was thinking about it—"
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"She's thinking about it." The text reads.
"Huh—" he says out loud. Luckily no one is close enough to hear him. He texts, "Well please tell my kitten that I would very much like to see her tonight."
"Your bison burger with sweet potato fries." Maz sets his plate before him.
"Thanks, it looks really good but don't tell Chewy."
"I heard that—" Chewy rumbles from the back making Kylo along with Maz the and the other customers within ear shot chuckle.
About the time he takes another bite his phone buzzes on the counter beside him. A quick glance tells him everything he needs to know.
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She tries to sit on her favorite park bench, she really does—but now that she knows that he wants her she can't focus on who is falling for whom. With the excuse that she needs to rest, she hails another taxi.
"Palpatine building, please." As her taxi pulls into traffic, she has to bite her lip to keep herself from giggling. "I wonder what he has planned for tonight," she murmurs just under her breath. and she knows the perfect outfit to wear for him.
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He should hail a taxi, and just as he starts to whistle for one, he spies a little shop that he's never seen before. Just as he dismisses it, something in the window catches his eye. He walks the twenty or so feet to the store's window.
At first, he's fixated on the colorful piece of leather then something else catches his eye. "This is exactly what I need," he murmurs as he opens the door.