Thanks for reading this silly little story.

The title 'Join Me' is the drama of this fic. Kylo makes his pitch to Rey again and again. Then, he gets the pitch himself at the end. The story ends with Kylo deciding to haunt Rey in the Force as he continues to press his case going forward in the afterlife. Why all these overtures? Because 'choose your side' is the classic SW melodrama that underpins the epic morality tale of Light versus Dark. And it's precisely what Kylo wants to end. But, he fails. And then, he ends up promoting the conflict himself going forward. Ah, the dramatic irony.

Sorry, but there's no new ideas here. I have written Rey as a Palpatine before (natural granddaughter in Ghosts of the Past) and I have written her as a child of the Force (Versions of You). She has been Dark (Versions of You) and Dark-ish (Fulcrum). Here, she's Dark through and through and that has deadly consequences for Kylo. Obviously, this won't happen in the official story. But I think the idea of Rey going Dark as Kylo becomes more Light is interesting.

Kylo's attitudes and political ideas in this fic exist in his characterization in Versions of You, Son of Darkness, and Tied on a String. Probably in other fics, too. I always envision Kylo as a mix of cynicism and good old Skywalker altruism, but with an angry chip on his shoulder. He's the hero in his own mind, even if his actions speak otherwise. And no, he's not redeemed. That doesn't mean he's all bad, mind you. But redeemed seems to require a deep sorrow and need for forgiveness that my Kylo is never going accomplish. There will be no atoning for sins with Kylo Ren. I also refuse to make him some sweet lovey dovey pet to morally superior Rey, or some sad figure broken with regrets like Luke. Blueenvelopes rarely gives her characters their moral comeuppance. My bad guys often get away with their evil deeds (Fulcrum!). This is probably the closest I get to punishing Kylo, and I want you to hate it. I want you to want Kylo to live because he is truly a man poised for greatness whose chance is cut short.

Dark Lord Vitiate, the Sith Emperor, made his way into my Reylo tales as the ultra-old, ultra-manipulative bad guy/good guy in Versions of You. In that fic, he wants to balance the Force (for reasons explained therein) and he is something of a Reylo shipper. Here, he appears as just the regular bad guy. He also looks a little different than his previous appearances—he's more like the actor Matt Smith who is rumored to have been cast as a young Palpatine. Vitiate is also my plugger of plot holes, since I write him as the master of disguises. He's everyone from Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas to Snoke to Darth Plagueis in my recent fics. This is the first time he's Sidious. In Versions of You, he is Sidious' master.

I have Vitiate on the mind because he's the main character of the fic I am finishing currently. Why is Vitiate the master of deceit and disguise? How has he lived this long? Why does he create the Force bond Kylo and Rey? How did he learn to resurrect people in the Force? It's all in Taking the Veil, the story of the reclusive Sith Emperor who isn't really a Sith and who doesn't fit well into the repressive, hierarchical Empire he has created.

Anyhow, the point is that this story is all classic blueenvelopes ideas rehashed in a different context. And this is why I need to stop writing Reylo. I just don't have anything new to say. And I refuse to write Reylo sex romps and non-Star Wars alternative universes. It has to mean something, or it's not worth my time. And that means it's not worth your time either.

I really hope Episode 9 feels satisfying. It doesn't need to answer all the questions—I hope it leaves some things open and maybe starts some new ideas. Look, I'm a passive Marvel viewer. I won't call myself a true Marvel fan (I just can't get into it), but Marvel is unavoidable as the mother of boys. (As I write this, my first grader is running around the house brandishing the Nerf Thor hammer he got for his birthday last week). Still, I personally found Endgame to be very satisfying. I'm hoping TROS can accomplish something similar. That it can feel like a conclusion and a new direction simultaneously.

Obviously, Episode 9 won't end like this fic ends, even if Kylo does die. However it ends, I really hope we get more than a thematic retelling of Return of the Jedi with a reprise of a cackling Darth Sidious. And to do that, I think there has to be a recognition that redemption to the Light Side is not the goal. Any victory for the Light is a setback for balance. And any victory for the Dark Side similarly promotes the same cycle of conflict. Kylo Ren—for all his bad acts—seems to be the only character in the saga yet who could actually embrace balance. If Darth Sidious really is our big baddie (and it's not a misdirect/red herring/disguise for someone else), I'm hoping that Kylo has known it for some time so that his "finish what you started" line to Vader's mask makes more sense in hindsight. I feel like that plot could provide a wealth of opportunity to underscore Kylo/Ben's agency. I really hate the notion that some fans have that he is some passive victim of his Dark Side abuser Master.

My wish list for Episode 9 has Kylo achieving balance in some respect. It also has Force ghost Anakin, a Reylo kiss, and the mother of all space battles (LOVE a space battle!). And as a bonus, I would like a callback to the KOTOR/Ye Olde Sith Empire, since that's my current Star Wars obsession. As I keep telling my kids, this is a fabulous time to be a SW fan. Honestly, I'm as excited about the Disney+ shows (more CLONE WARS!) as I am Episode 9. So, if TROS disappoints, I'll live. I was hooked on Star Wars long ago, and I'm far too old and far too invested to move on. Thanks for reading.