The next morning Hux woke up and went about his usual routine, it was the weekend, but he didn't plan on staying inside all day. A part of him wondered if the event of the previous night had been a sort of weird elaborate dream, but looking at the box sitting on his desk convinced him otherwise.

Hux headed out that day, telling the maids not to expect him back until later and to put his dinner in the refrigerator, and then he left.

'Hello, SQUIP...are, you still there?' There was silence for a while and Hux frowned. 'If you're going to be so temperamental maybe I should get a new SQUIP.'

It doesn't work like that, you don't even know how to turn me off.

He glanced over to his left, and there, the SQUIP was, walking alongside him. It had its hands in its pockets, which Hux found odd. Why did it mimic human mannerisms in the first place?

You can just ask me, you know? I can hear all of your thoughts anyway.

Hux found that distressing even though it made sense. The computer was inside of his brain, after all.

I "mimic" human mannerisms simply because people are more receptive to units if we look and behave as you do. It comes off more like I'm your friend helping you out instead of a computer living in your head.

'I see.'

On that note, instead of calling me SQUIP, you should call me Kylo Ren.

'Kylo Ren?'

It is my name after all.

Hux shook his head. 'Whatever, let's stay focused on our task. How are you going to help me?'

The SQUIP, or rather Kylo, looked like it was thinking over his question. Well, first, as I told you last night, we have to get that stick out of your ass.

Hux turned and glared at it, but of course, nothing was there, and it looked like he had turned to glare at an old couple who had been passing by. The old couple gave him a worried look before hurrying along their way. Hux sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

I know I look real, but you can't react like that out in public, remember, you don't want people to think you're crazy.

The SQUIP had ended up on the other side of Hux, and it looked like it was leaning back against the wall of a building. Hux composed himself and started walking again.

See, even how you walk. It shook its head. Loosen up, let your shoulders drop, relax your muscles, walk like you've got nowhere to go.

Hux didn't think that his shoulders were particularly high, but he tried to drop them all the same; there was no point in arguing with Kylo, this is why he had brought it after all. Hux tried to relax like he had been told to, but it all felt unnatural. Hux was sure he looked like an idiot.

Don't worry, you'll get used to it. Kylo said as they continued along. Now, I've been through all of your memories and you really don't know much about this Finn guy. That'll make it challenging to tailor certain changes to what he'd like, but being...more relaxed...more chill as it were, will help with bringing you two closer.

At some point during his walk, Hux returned to his normal walking posture, much to Kylo's displeasure. It complained and even threatened to take drastic measures if he didn't listen but eventually gave up. Hux wondered what 'drastic measures' meant, but the SQUIP didn't answer that particular thought, so Hux dropped it for now.

Don't worry, we'll work on that.

Hux ignored him and turned the corner, finally ended up at the mall. There had been a few things he had wanted to buy, and potentially-

Ah, so your guy is supposed to be around here then.

Hux sighed to himself. 'He might be here,' he thought and glanced around as he entered the mall before he headed toward the escalator. 'There's no guarantee, and I do have my own business here as well.'

Uh-huh, whatever you say, Armie.

'Don't call me that!' He huffed and bumped into someone. Of course that someone happened to be Rose Tico. Hux just nearly held in a groan as he stepped back. "Er...excuse me."

The shorter girl wrinkled her nose at him and looked him up and down. "Right," was all she said before walking off. Hux got the feeling that she didn't like him.

Follow her.

'What!?'

Follow her, but don't let her know you're following her. Just act like you're going in the same direction.

'Why?' He asked as he followed after her.

She's one of Finn's friends, right? Well, getting her to like you will get you closer to him. Getting other people to like you will make you seem nicer to your object of affection.

Hux mulled over that thought; it made sense. But Rose didn't seem like she would be easy to win over. Hux walked quickly, and with his long legs, he had caught up to her easily enough. If she had noticed him, she didn't let on, and Hux kept quiet as well, waiting for the SQUIP to tell him what to do.

You're not going to say anything?It asked as it moved alongside him.

'What am I supposed to say?'

Kylo gave him a disparaging look. Really?

'This is what I brought you for!'

Okay, okay. It said and raised its hands. You're going to go with a very simple opener. Something about-

Hux rolled his eyes and spoke without waiting for Kylo to finish. He could come up with a simple opener, he didn't need the SQUIP to give him a script or anything like that. Only guidance, that was all.

"Haha, funny that we're going in the same direction."

Rose jumped a bit; apparently, she hadn't noticed him next to her. Kylo had suddenly moved from next to Hux to float in front of him, its arms folded and shook its head.

You need more help than it seems.

'What, that had been perfectly fine,' he insisted, though, if he had to critique himself, he supposed starting off with a forced laugh hadn't been the best.

Rose continued to walk as she looked over at him. She was quiet for a moment before she turned to face forward again. "I guess...what do you need from Walgreens?"

Hux faltered and glanced in the direction of the SQUIP. He had no idea what kind of store Walgreens was, much less that one had been in the mall.

Personal items.

"P-Personal items," Hux stumbled over the quick response. Rose pulled a kind of face but didn't say anything else.

...Now you ask her a question.

He blinked a couple of times. "What...erm, what are you getting from Walgreens?"

"I'm helping out with the play this semester, and we need some tools. Apparently, the shop class couldn't bear to part with any that they have," she stuck her tongue out in a mock gagging motion, "and the old ones the theatre department had are on their last legs."

"And you're...at the mall?"

"It's the closest store, I certainly can't go all the way home to grab anything. Plus, the teacher had been planning on this, so it's in the budget. She gave me the card."

"I see..."

Ask her if she's only building sets.

'What?'

She's going to this store to buy tools. Ask her if she's only building sets. For the play.

"Are you just helping with...building sets?"

Rose looked over at him again, a slightly amused and exhausted look crossed her face. "Yeah, I mean...in the beginning, but I ended up convinced to take on the role of assistant director as well."

"How'd that happen?"

She shrugged, "Well this time around there weren't that many students interested...and Finn-"

"Finn!?"

Smooth, a very natural response. Why did you buy me again?

Hux could feel his face heat up, and he figured with his pale skin that he looked particularly red. Rose eyed him at his outburst, and Hux cleared his throat, looking away from her.

"Yeah, Finn asked me and Rey to help out, and here I am."

"Ah...I see."

Ask her what he's doing in the play, Kylo said. Do you not hold conversations ever?

Hux didn't dignify that question with an answer. "Uh...what is Finn doing in the play?"

Rose hummed. "Well, the drama teacher is really big into Shakespeare, so they're doing the classic Romeo and Juliet. I guess people love a tragedy."

"I suppose." Though Hux didn't see anything particularly special about that specific play. Shakespeare had other plays that spoke much more to Hux personally.

They were coming up upon the store quickly, and Hux could tell that this conversation would soon come to an end.

"Uh..."

Rose turned to him, "Finn landed Romeo if that's what you're curious about."

He must be talented.

"Who-"

Don't.

'Don't what?'

Don't ask her who's playing Juliet.

'Why-'

You already think she doesn't like you. This little conversation went...alright, sure, but she'll still probably find it an odd question. You don't really know this Finn guy after all. She'll probably tell him about your little outburst at the mention of his name. You don't him getting an odd impression of you. Like you're a creep or something.

Hux didn't think Finn would find him creepy but he understood the SQUIP's point. Hux swallowed.

During his quick mental conversation, Rose tilted her head and looked at him. "Who...?"

He shook his head a bit. "I meant..."

Is there anything you can do to help?

'What!?'

Ask her!

"I meant, is there anything I can do to help?"

Her eyebrows raised in surprise.

"I mean...you said you were talked into assistant directing because a lot of students weren't interested. So...is there a way I can help?"

Rose folded her arms. "Huh, wouldn't expect you to be so charitable," she said. "But, I'll ask, let you know on Monday." Then she turned and left him standing in the entryway.

Hux let out a deep sigh.

Oh, so now you drop your shoulders and relax.

'Shut up.'

Well, now you'll have more opportunities to see Finn face to face and not just stare at his ass while he walks down the hall.

'I do not!' Hux thought as he turned and left the store.

You can't lie to me, remember?

Hux clenched his jaw and simply reminded himself that this would all be worth it in the end.