"Does this really have to be a big to-do?"
"You only touch your soulmate for the first time once!" Rose flitted around the suite with a huff. "It has to be perfect."
She'd been like this ever since the results from the agency came in.
Dreamy. Moony. Abuzz with romance.
1/
"You only touch your soulmate for the first time once!" Rose flitted around the suite with a huff. "It has to be perfect."
She'd been like this ever since the results from the agency came in.
Dreamy. Moony. Abuzz with romance.
1/
Certain in her path.
Anxious to get on to the next phase of her life.
So here they were.
Soulmate ceremony and wedding all rolled into one.
Rey was surprised a baby shower wasn't somehow slipped into the festivities.
All thanks to capitalism and modern soulmatism.
2/
Anxious to get on to the next phase of her life.
So here they were.
Soulmate ceremony and wedding all rolled into one.
Rey was surprised a baby shower wasn't somehow slipped into the festivities.
All thanks to capitalism and modern soulmatism.
2/
With the rise of testing agencies touting near 100% accuracy in matching soulmates, the market followed.
Some couples preferred quiet, private affairs.
While others...wanted what Rose wanted.
The perfect grande beginning to a life with the person you're meant to be with.
3/
Some couples preferred quiet, private affairs.
While others...wanted what Rose wanted.
The perfect grande beginning to a life with the person you're meant to be with.
3/
That first touch, imprinting the faint soulmark upon their partner's skin.
The romance of branding each other with their love and promise of forever.
Rey snorted at the thought.
Because permanence had never been in the cards for her.
4/
The romance of branding each other with their love and promise of forever.
Rey snorted at the thought.
Because permanence had never been in the cards for her.
4/
At the end of the day, she was happy for her best friend.
Really.
After just six months, there was no doubt Rose and Hux were absolutely perfect for each other. Even if they'd never laid hands or lips upon each other's skin.
5/
Really.
After just six months, there was no doubt Rose and Hux were absolutely perfect for each other. Even if they'd never laid hands or lips upon each other's skin.
5/
She wouldn't be standing in a sunlight-colored chiffon bridesmaid dress if she didn't believe the future Tico-Hux's had a lifetime of love ahead.
A knock at the door sprung Rose from the chair she'd been fidgeting in, the soft woosh woosh of her dress following each step.
6/
A knock at the door sprung Rose from the chair she'd been fidgeting in, the soft woosh woosh of her dress following each step.
6/
The mystery guest Rose tugged into the suite was almost as tall as the door frame. And so big, the little bride-to-be could barely get her white-gloved arms around him.
"You made it!"
A minuscule smile folded into the dimple at his cheek.
It was kinda cute.
7/
"You made it!"
A minuscule smile folded into the dimple at his cheek.
It was kinda cute.
7/
"Rey, meet Armie's best man, Ben!"
Rose's chatter went a mile a minute. The morning mimosas have clearly worn off.
"He's been out of town for a bit, otherwise we would have introduced you sooner, but I'm so glad you're both here for me and Armie's special day! "
8/
Rose's chatter went a mile a minute. The morning mimosas have clearly worn off.
"He's been out of town for a bit, otherwise we would have introduced you sooner, but I'm so glad you're both here for me and Armie's special day! "
8/
They almost run into each other with the force of Rose's excited ushering, but Ben was a master of his size, quickly correcting himself to stand in front of her.
She's reminded up close just how tall he is.
So tall it irritated the crick in her neck to look up at him.
9/
She's reminded up close just how tall he is.
So tall it irritated the crick in her neck to look up at him.
9/
"We're starting soon. Hux said and I quote: 'When you're ready, I'll be the one at the end of the aisle.'"
His voice was like soft honey, glazing over the high tension filling the room.
Rose swooned to the mirror for final touch ups, leaving them standing awkwardly alone.
10/
His voice was like soft honey, glazing over the high tension filling the room.
Rose swooned to the mirror for final touch ups, leaving them standing awkwardly alone.
10/
"It's nice to finally meet you, Rey."
His paw of a hand extended forward.
"Nice to meet you too, Ben."
She would've been shocked at the smallness of her hand compared to his, were it not for the tingling sensation wrapping around where the tips of their fingers touched.
11/
His paw of a hand extended forward.
"Nice to meet you too, Ben."
She would've been shocked at the smallness of her hand compared to his, were it not for the tingling sensation wrapping around where the tips of their fingers touched.
11/
It was a thousand things all at once.
Terror. Clarity. Shock. Safety. Fear. Need. Loss. Right. Wrong. Home.
For a moment, the world slipped away.
Time stopping.
Like existing in a vacuum.
Just the two of them.
Rey and Ben.
Until she heard Rose's voice. "Almost done!"
12/
Terror. Clarity. Shock. Safety. Fear. Need. Loss. Right. Wrong. Home.
For a moment, the world slipped away.
Time stopping.
Like existing in a vacuum.
Just the two of them.
Rey and Ben.
Until she heard Rose's voice. "Almost done!"
12/
And Rey jerked back to reality and away from Ben, grasping her hand as if it had been incinerated.
Maybe she'd hallucinated it. Maybe her mimosas hadn't worn off. Maybe this was her psychotic break.
But one look at Ben and she was horrified to realize it was all too real.
13/
Maybe she'd hallucinated it. Maybe her mimosas hadn't worn off. Maybe this was her psychotic break.
But one look at Ben and she was horrified to realize it was all too real.
13/
There they were. Faint enough to miss if you didn't know what you were looking for, but clear enough to confirm her worst nightmare.
Light, white-ish lines from where their fingertips had first brushed.
/14
Light, white-ish lines from where their fingertips had first brushed.
/14
Rey sucked in a breath.
And it somehow seemed sweeter. Lighter. Like she could gorge herself on oxygen alone.
Ben dropped his wrist, inhaling deeply through his nose, like he too could sense a shift in the air.
A flush bled from the tips of his ears down to his cheeks.
15/
And it somehow seemed sweeter. Lighter. Like she could gorge herself on oxygen alone.
Ben dropped his wrist, inhaling deeply through his nose, like he too could sense a shift in the air.
A flush bled from the tips of his ears down to his cheeks.
15/
"I'm ready!" Rose stood at the door with her bouquet.
The eager, blissful smile she'd been wearing for months cemented on her face.
And the gravity of the situation came crashing back down on Rey.
This was Rose's day.
She couldn't ruin this.
16/
The eager, blissful smile she'd been wearing for months cemented on her face.
And the gravity of the situation came crashing back down on Rey.
This was Rose's day.
She couldn't ruin this.
16/
To have to share your soulmate day with someone else, let alone your maid of honor, seemed like a cruel, cosmic joke.
Panic bloomed in Rey's gut, rising up through her throat, the truth threatening to bubble out.
Don't say anything. Don't say anything. Don't say anything.
17/
Panic bloomed in Rey's gut, rising up through her throat, the truth threatening to bubble out.
Don't say anything. Don't say anything. Don't say anything.
17/
Her soulmate's dark, unreadable eyes couldn't confirm if he'd be an ally or enemy.
"Guys? You okay?"
"Never better." Ben found his voice first.
It settled over Rey like a weighted blanket, carefully piecing back the remnants of her world that shattered only seconds ago.
18/
"Guys? You okay?"
"Never better." Ben found his voice first.
It settled over Rey like a weighted blanket, carefully piecing back the remnants of her world that shattered only seconds ago.
18/
"Then let's get a move on! I've got a soulmate to meet, if ya know what I mean."
All she could do was stare at the marks on her hands–their hands.
It was an out-of-body experience when Ben looped his arm through her own.
"Believe me, Rose, I understand completely. "
END
All she could do was stare at the marks on her hands–their hands.
It was an out-of-body experience when Ben looped his arm through her own.
"Believe me, Rose, I understand completely. "
END
#ReyloSpiritWeek Wednesday - Soulmate Marks
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