bakerstreet | WHAT A DAY

It was Poe's turn to get hand-smacked with a manipulator claw and BB-8 went right back to lockpicking the cuffs, or, rather, just throwing the magnetic bolt, but even that took a little bit of skill and the right tools, something that the droid reiterated in apparent exasperation.

That was enough to have Finn smiling, at least a little, because while he'd been on the receiving end of that tone before, he hadn't ever heard it turned on Poe, and that alone was amusing.

He unfolded from his seat, however, clasping Poe's shoulder for a moment on the way past, "I'm going to go get the medi-kit." Because giving him a quick scan wouldn't be a bad thing, even if it didn't turn up anything worse than having been knocked around a little.

"Hey!" Poe gave his droid a look, although it wasn't half as serious of one as most anyone else would have gotten. "Give me a break, BB, it's not like I asked to have these slapped on me." His attention shifted at the touch to his shoulder, Poe lifting his head to look up at Finn a moment, offering a flash of a small smile. "Yeah, okay."

Normally he would be inclined to insist he was fine. He'd been through worse -- they both were well aware of that -- and as such, anything less than that didn't merit attention. Except he didn't have a need to put up his usual front of bravado and confidence with Finn. It still crossed his mind sometimes, out of habit, and his walls didn't fall with the drop of a hat, but he always had an easier time letting down his guard with Finn and just being himself, particularly when it was just the two of them. BB-8 didn't count in that as the little droid already knew his secrets and had seen him in most every mood or emotion possible.

He turned his head, watching Finn go until more chatter came from the droid, and Poe turned his head back around. "You've got a point. When we get back to base we should see if there's a programming upgrade for this sort of thing." Further beeps had Poe rolling his eyes but a smile was breaking out on his face. "No, I don't plan on something like this happening again, but it won't hurt to be prepared."

When the cuffs at last dropped off his wrists he breathed a loud sigh, not hesitating to rub at his wrists. "That feels so much better. Thanks, buddy."

Finn returned not long after with the kit, already popping the scanner off of the side of the case, "You going to insist on doing this yourself or are you going to let me?"

It wasn't that Finn would really object to Poe doing it himself, he just wanted to make sure that it was done thoroughly and the readout wasn't ignored if it came up as anything even potentially serious.

Not that he really thought it was going to, but given as how he had no idea what had happened between Poe's warning comm call and actually catching up to him, he wasn't going to take any chances on head trauma, either.

When Finn returned he looked at him and held up his hands in a little 'surrender' gesture. "You can do it, not gonna hear a protest from me." Partly because Poe felt like he lost the right to be stubborn about any of this when he managed to get himself temporarily captured.

That didn't mean he liked it though, even if it was necessary. He'd never really been a good patient; there had been more than a couple times over the years where Poe played off an injury as not bothering him as much as it really was, or outright didn't mention one, if he knew that the truth would get him grounded until he healed up. Like some said, easier to ask forgiveness after the fact than sit around worrying and not take action.

In this instance Poe did his best to sit still and let Finn do what he needed to do, holding back any grumbling or urges to stop him. Eyes on the other man, Poe was quiet for a minute or two, and then, "Back in the alleyway, did you... hear me? I kinda tried to tell you what was happening but I wasn't sure how to do it." He absently bit at his lower lip, feeling a flicker of nerves as the adrenaline was finally starting to fade.

He thumbed the scanner on, giving Poe's face and head a quick sweep, relaxing only when it came up with minor contusions, which was to be expected, he'd probably have a hellacious goose-egg before long from where he'd been clocked, but there was no sign of internal swelling or skull fracture, which was really all Finn had been worried about.

He shook his head at the question, "No, I mean, not like I can hear you right now." His brow furrowed, chewing over what else he wanted to say even as he powered the scanner off and snapped it back into place, "But I still knew? I think. It felt like knowing something and not just guessing."

He gave a little shrug then as he fished a painkiller patch out of the medi-kit and offered it over, just in case Poe wanted it, "Were you... I mean, were you going to tell me sometime? Or were you going to keep it a secret forever?" Coming from anyone else that would have sounded like an accusation, and it likely would have from Finn too if he hadn't sounded so tired, his own adrenaline spike all but gone.

Poe made a thoughtful noise at the reply. It sounded like his effort had worked to some extent, which ultimately was all that mattered. That Finn got the intention behind what Poe had been trying to say even if he hadn't gotten it in words. Although Poe didn't know if he should chalk it up to luck or actual success. Maybe attempting to practice this stuff would actually do some good... not that he knew the first thing about that. It'd involve telling Rey at least, assuming she couldn't sense it from him and was just being polite by not asking him about it, and things might get awkward fast from there.

The question pulled him from his thoughts that threatened to wander off, and he accepted the patch for a change, moving to shrug out of his jacket to apply it to one arm. "I didn't... it's not like I didn't want to tell you." he began. "I was just trying to wait for the right time. I mean, it's kind of a weird thing and I just..." Poe sighed, running a hand through his hair as he looked away. "Honestly, for a while I was trying to ignore it. I thought if it went away then no one would have to know."

That much made sense at least, Finn had had moments of that himself as far back as he could remember, wanting to be the same as everyone else in his class and in his squad and never really managing it no matter how hard he pretended, how hard he ignored things that didn't feel right.

This was different, though, and the next question, almost without letting himself think about it first was: "You know what would have happened if the First Order had figured it out before I helped you escape, right?" Finn didn't know himself, not for sure, the same way he didn't know if they had found out, and for a brief moment all he could think of was Poe garbed in black and storming a battlefield at Kylo Ren's side. It was a vision that made his skin crawl in the worst sort of way, and likewise one that he shook off as he added: "I don't know either, but it wouldn't have been good."

He stiffened reflexively at the mention of that whole moment in time, still looking away. "I don't think there was anything to figure out right then." That was one of the things he had been debating and wondering about since he consciously realized he was able to use the Force; when exactly it happened. Something that was difficult to pin down considering everything else that had been taking place. "It wasn't... I couldn't do things before, so I don't think there was anything out of the ordinary to be noticed. The droids certainly wouldn't have picked up on it."

But that wasn't really the concern. Because Poe's mind could follow the same path as Finn's. Had followed that path, at least once, as apparently the creativity of his nightmares knew no limits.

"This didn't start until after all that. Until after Ren..." His eyes narrowed at the floor and he swallowed against the familiar anxiety trying to take hold in his chest. "Anyway, I never... back there was the first time I've tried to actually do anything."

That answer was enough to have him blinking again, puzzled, brow creasing and expression shifting back and forth in minute little twitches.

What he finally said was: "That can happen? You can just... catch it? Like a cold?" This was brand new information for him -as many things were- because they'd always been taught that someone had it or they didn't, not that it was something a person could develop at any time.

He sat back down then, still facing Poe, still trying to puzzle that one out in his mind and not coming up with anything that made sense.

"Look, I don't know, okay?" he snapped, finally looking at Finn. He didn't mean to snap but it was all such a touchy subject for him, and the fact he hadn't told anyone yet wasn't helping. Flying blind in the traditional sense wasn't a problem for Poe but here... here it was just a mess. "Maybe he did something to me while he was digging around inside my head. Up until then I thought Force users could do that little Jedi mind trick thing, not full-on feeling like knives ripping through my mind."

Poe took a breath, belatedly realizing his tone had become sharper, and he sank back against the seat, rubbing his hands over his face. " 'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you." The apology came out muffled behind his hands and they eventually raked through his hair before dropping to his lap.

"All I know is that things felt normal before and they're different now. I don't know why. I wish I did." Often he thought about and wished his life, or at least the things he felt, could go back to how it was before the mission on Jakku had gone sideways. Except then he'd never have met Finn. Maybe it was the universe's way of trying to balance out the hell he went through. "I mean, Rey wasn't always strong in the Force, right? They probably would have come after her if she was. So maybe it's like that." It seemed as possible of an explanation as anything else.

Edited 2018-06-03 08:37 (UTC)

He shook his head a little at the apology, clasping Poe's arm again for a moment, "It's okay, I should have realized I was digging." He was getting better at knowing when he was asking questions that were probably too personal, but clearly he wasn't entirely there yet.

He gave a little shrug then, mind already turning over possibilities, "Maybe that is how it works, you've got to catch it from someone else, it's just that most people who have it get it early from a relative and that's why everyone thinks it's hereditary." Truthfully he didn't have any better idea than Poe did, he only knew what he'd been told, and that wasn't much.

"We can talk about something else, though, if you want." Or, more accurately, if Poe didn't want to keep on the same subject, but he figured Poe would realize that and he didn't have to say it outright.

The touch helped him to settle, a little, though it didn't really do anything for the bit of guilt he felt for snapping at Finn. On top of the guilt he already felt for needing to be rescued. He knew the other man wasn't trying to upset him, nor could he be blamed for his curiosity. Poe knew he'd be curious and looking for answers too if the tables were turned.

Poe fell quiet for a few moments, looking at his hands. "No, I mean... might as well, I guess. I should have said something sooner. I wanted to, I just... didn't know what to say or how to say it. Or how you'd take it." he added, lifting his gaze to look across at Finn. "I don't even know how I feel about it, or what I should do." Well, he did have a few ideas on what he probably should do, but he didn't like any of the options. Telling Rey or Leia wasn't something he was keen on doing for different reasons. Of course, now he might have to.

As that particular realization sank in -- that oh yeah, he'd done something kind of noticeable with the Force in a room filled with random people -- he cursed and shook his head. "I'm kind of screwed, aren't I? Doing what I did in the cantina, people are going to talk. Especially if anyone recognized me." Which meant there was the potential for their friends to find out even if he didn't tell them, so he almost had to. And anything that made it to the Resistance tended to make it to the First Order too. Poe couldn't even try to stop the icy chill that ran down his spine at the very thought.

He nodded, looking solemn, "That's definitely the kind of thing that will spread. Probably best to tell the General when we get back if no one else." Finn had faith that she'd know what to do, if there was any way to control what information got out, or even how to deny the story outright, if at all possible, though he doubted it would be.

Especially since it was also the kind of thing that would undoubtedly add a couple of zeroes to whatever number was already on Poe's wanted posters.

There was also the possibility -one that Finn hadn't quite realized before- that Poe might have to find someone to train with now, too, and he wasn't entirely sure what he thought about that, and he didn't even want to say it out loud, realizing how selfish it sounded even just inside his own head. It wasn't as if he had any real claim to Poe after all.

"Yeah. Yeah, you're right. She'll know what to do." he agreed, even if he didn't sound totally keen on it. Leia always had answers; he might not always like them, but he could never deny the wealth of knowledge and experience she had. If anyone might have an idea of what he should do or how to best address the situation he had inadvertently created, she would. Poe just hoped she wouldn't be cross with him for not telling her as soon as he realized (or was forced to realize) what was going on with him. Although if anyone could understand keeping quiet about sensitive topics, it would probably be her as well.

Sinking back against the seat, Poe tried to distract himself from the uncomfortable fact that sooner or later his least favorite people in the galaxy were going to hear that he could use the Force. Except most of the other thoughts presently in his head weren't really all that more positive. When the hell did his life get so complicated?

"You know, you did pretty well at pretending to be a bounty hunter." Poe remarked. "If I didn't know you I would have been convinced." Despite the noise in his head he was able to flash a sideways grin at Finn. "We should probably hold onto that plan. In case something like this happens again. Not saying it will, but... better to be prepared, right?"

"We're just lucky that Tcho is still apparently alive and free to run the Dawn Army." He shook his head, "Unless they've moved on to a different faction, but I doubt that." A shrug then, "I'm just saying, I'll have to research anybody I'd be claiming as an employer, same tactic might not work a second time if I claim somebody who's dead or in prison, depending on who knows about it."

He managed a smile in turn, "And if people keep adding zeroes onto that poster of yours, it's going to keep happening. Always a good idea to have a plan to spare just in case."

"And we're lucky you actually know that kind of stuff and where to find out about it. I mean, I know of the bigger groups that most know." Like who they just had the misfortune of dealing with. "But past that, not so much. So any plan of mine would mostly involve trying to talk or shoot my way out of it." Nor he didn't have a problem admitting that. It wasn't like it was a secret by any stretch of the imagination; most everyone in the Resistance knew by now how he usually tended to tackle problems.

He sighed, idly scratching at the medicated patch on his arm. It had been one thing to know there was a bounty on him. He'd joked about it with his squad back in the early days of the Resistance when a bounty first popped up. Not so much of a laughing matter now. And knowing that it would only get worse...

"How high do you think it'll need to go before someone closer to home decides to try?" There's none of his usual humor in his voice. Almost something bitter and... not resigned, but close. "After all, they say everyone has a price. All those zeros will start looking like a worthwhile risk to someone eventually."

Poe was a hopeful person but he was also (somewhat) realistic after all the tragedy that had struck the Resistance. The thought someone they lived and survived with might one day turn on him was heart-breaking, but perhaps the saddest part was he could almost understand certain motivations. Money couldn't replace a person, but it could get supplies and ships and support. There was often a point somewhere along the line where a single life didn't outweigh the needs of the cause. He could see how someone could convince themselves they were doing something wrong for the right reasons. Granted, Poe didn't have that in him, to turn on an ally or a friend or family, but he'd seen it happen. He'd been victim to it before. For all he knew, that was something the First Order was hoping for themselves. That someone in the Resistance would feel desperate enough to try to turn him over to the enemy.

Finn's brow creased at that question, mostly because it hadn't even occurred to him that the bounty would get high enough that one of their own might try to cash it in, and after a moment of half-stunned silence he said: "We're just... we're not going to let that happen, alright?"

He shook his head, "As long as the First Order holds the bounty, they aren't going to turn it over to the Resistance. You know what would happen if someone on our side tried to turn you in? They'd accept two Resistance officers and not having to pay anything out, that's what they'd do." Of course, convincing someone else of that might not be so easy, as he knew it was something Poe already knew, or could logic out easily enough, "Besides, they're nearly as scattered as we are, now, they'd have to dig deep to get even what's already being posted."

Of course, if a crime syndicate or another player offered a higher bounty than the First Order currently held, all bets were off, but he wasn't letting himself think about that at the moment.

[ Sorry for the slowness, work has been killing my brain lately. -.- ]

Poe lifted his gaze from the floor to look at Finn, brows slightly raised in a sort of 'how are we going to do that?' type of look. What he actually said though was, "Yeah. We won't let that happen." However, he couldn't quite summon the conviction to make his tone sound convinced of that. Too much negativity in his head at the moment, too much worry and noise. Doubts crept in easier after all that transpired on the Raddus, even if Poe could usually keep them at bay or brush them off in short order. But sometimes... sometimes he wondered if it was something else too.

"I know that, but anyone willing to try probably wouldn't be thinking that clearly. Desperation makes people do crazy things." Sighing again, he shook his head slightly, as if he could shake off the thoughts plaguing him. "And I know I shouldn't worry about that, that I should stick to believing that our people will always do the right thing and not cave under the pressure, but it feels like I need to be realistic too. Hope got us far but I shouldn't let it blind me either."

"I let it today. With this..." he trailed off, vaguely gesturing. "We just need the resources so badly, it felt like an acceptable risk to believe someone was on the level with us and wanted to help the Resistance in such a major way. The thought that it was all a ploy, that it was just a set-up to try and cash in on a bounty... that never came close to crossing my mind." he admitted. After a pause he reached out, a hand covering one of Finn's and squeezing. "If something happened to you because of my being blind to the danger, I would've never forgiven myself. That's why I did what I did. I felt something was about to happen, that you were in danger. I had to do something, even if it was just take the shot that was meant for you."

[Don't sweat it, sometimes the brain just ain't there, or the words dry up, it's no big deal, I will happily backtag forever]

Finn laid his other hand atop Poe's, clasping it warmly between his own hands for a moment, "I'm glad you did, we wouldn't be having this conversation if you hadn't, but we also wouldn't be if you hadn't managed to stop it, either. So maybe no more stupid tricks, okay?" A little shake of his head followed, And the rest of us thought it was a legitimate offer, too, Poe." He replied, "You weren't the only one who didn't see it." Which Finn supposed didn't really make it better, though that was what he was trying to do, "And when I said we wouldn't let it happen I mostly meant me, because I will personally punch anyone trying to sell you off right in the face."

It was difficult to say for sure if that was another attempt at trying to make Poe feel better or if he actually meant it, and knowing Finn, it was entirely possible that it was both, especially as he added: "Which would probably be the second-best court martial I ever earned."

[ <3 And same for me with backtagging. Especially when it comes to these two. ]

He finally, finally cracked a smile. Not so much at the reassurance that he hadn't been the only one not to consider that the meeting was a set up -- which was true but likely wouldn't keep him from beating himself up over it for a little while -- but at everything else. Because the thought of Finn clocking someone trying to hand him over for his bounty was definitely worth a smile.

Poe would do the same of course. In a heartbeat. They had each other's backs and that's just how it was.

"I think I can guess at the first." he remarked, giving Finn's hand another squeeze. "And hey, Leia didn't court martial me for... everything, so you'd probably be safe. Also. You know asking me not to do anything stupid is kind of like asking me not to breathe, right?" Poe's smile widened to a grin as he looked at Finn, some of the tension in his body at last beginning to lessen.

"Yeah, I know." Finn was smiling as well, or, rather, trying to keep his smile in check and only mostly managing, "And technically I haven't actually gotten the first one yet, since that would require going back and that's not an option."

Also he wasn't entirely sure what the punishment for defection was, since he couldn't think of a time it had actually happened, and he wasn't going to be the first one to find out, either. But he figured Poe knew that, or most of it, or at least suspected a good deal of it, but it didn't really matter in the long run.

He shrugged then, "We've still got some rehydrator packets if you're hungry, and clean water if you aren't, but you should probably get something in you either way with that on." A nod towards the painkiller patch, "It'll dry you out."

"Definitely not an option." Poe agreed, his smile lingering but the sentiment no less serious. They would both be staying far away from the First Order's clutches, at least if he had anything to say about it.

The mention of food and water forced him to think about how he was feeling. While the pounding in his head had lessened it was still there, although a more manageable level of pain, and the ache in his side had lessened significantly as well. More than anything though he was simply tired, mentally and physically, although more the former if he were to be honest. Using the Force was mildly exhausting, but Poe imagined a lot of that had to do with him not knowing what the hell he was doing.

He sat back and stretched, wincing only slightly. "Water's probably a good idea, yeah. Honestly I'm just worn out more than anything. Who knew getting briefly captured was such hard work." he joked, running a hand through his hair.

"It's the short captivities that are exhausting, the longer ones at least give you time to work out an escape plan." He unfolded to his feet, clasping Poe's shoulder once more as he stood, giving no indication as to whether that statement had been a joke or not as he moved off to get a water pouch, twisting it open before he handed it over. Not that he didn't think Poe could open it himself, but because it was reflex to do so.

He cracked one open for himself as well as he dropped back into his seat, "So how much of this are we actually going to tell the General when we get back?" Making sure they were going to be telling the same amount of the story was always a good thing to work out beforehand.

That remark made Poe's gaze follow Finn for a few moments before he shook his head. It was probably just a joke. Probably. He accepted the pouch with a quiet 'thanks' and took a long drink, thirst fully making itself known now that he had water in front of him. Funny how that worked sometimes.

Leaning back against his seat, his free hand rubbed at the back of his neck as he considered the question. Not talking about it at all obviously wasn't an option, and leaving out the Force-related bits (as much as he might want to) wasn't an option either. They could potentially fudge the truth, make it not sound as bad as it was, but... was it really worth it in this case?

"I suppose we might as well tell her all of it." he finally said reluctantly. "Not that I want to, but if I have to tell her about... what I did, then she should probably hear all of it. I know the General wouldn't want to hear the truth from elsewhere." And Poe was already wondering if this would be another slap-worthy incident.

He relaxed considerably, glad to know that they weren't going to try keeping any of it from her, mostly because he was pretty sure she would have known anyway, though whether she asked or not would really be the question, because while he was fairly certain that sometimes she didn't ask because she felt it was better if she didn't know, he doubted that this would be one of those times.

"Okay, okay, we can do this." He wasn't scared of the General, not really, but he respected her, and didn't want to break that respect somehow.

A little flicker of a smile followed, "And hey, at least this time if she gets mad about it, it'll have to be at both of us." A shrug, "Worst case scenario, we both get exiled somewhere."

WHAT A DAY

Not as much as he probably should, no

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