Conversations with the dead 2018

[imthepilot]

Bodhi suggests a hike up the mountain. It's starting to get chilly but Bodhi's use to the cold. With the warmth of Milliways' summer, he was almost starting to miss the feeling of cool, crispy air.

Leaving the cats in Teja's care for the night, Bodhi hefts his pack and takes Galen's hand. "Ready?"

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[imthepilot]

Pema nods and puts down her fork, going over to a cabinet. Bodhi frowns, watching as she brings back a little package wrapped in cloth.

Inside are a seven kyber crystals, slender as Pema's fingers and almost as long.

"Grandmother's necklace." Bodhi breathes. "I assumed mum took it."

[galen_erso]

"That is too precious to put to work as irrigation," Galen breathes, impressed.

[imthepilot]

Malika shrugs. "We had to unwire it to smuggle it off-world anyway. She was never precious about them about them. The smallest one use to power our house on Jedha. Until the Empire came and we had to hide them."

[galen_erso]

"The smallest one will be enough to power an irrigation system that waters a garden which can feed you, and leave something to sell," Galen says. "But it would help to have even smaller ones for decentralised control, the way I use them."

[imthepilot]

Pema grins. "Could you draw the designs for me?"

Bodhi chuckles, looking to the older of his two sisters. "And I worried you wouldn't approve of Galen."

[galen_erso]

"Of course I can draw the designs for you, and give you a few quick formulae so you can gauge how much of everything you need per plant and per area of land," Galen says. "The kyber knows when the plants are thirsty, but for that, it needs to be shown what to keep watch for."

[imthepilot]

Bodhi makes a point of passing the plate of buttered honey greens to Galen. "Food first, geniuses. Then rebuilding the world."

[galen_erso]

"We can plan while we eat?" Galen says, taking greens before passing them to Pema.

[imthepilot]

Malika and Bodhi share a knowing look.

Bodhi clears the part of the table nearest his husband and youngest sister while Malika fetches some paper and markers. If you can't stop them, might as well make it easier for them.

Pema smiles and hands the marker to Galen. "So, how does the kyber sense the water levels in the soil. And does it need to be calibrated to specific plant?"

[galen_erso]

Galen eats some greens, and some bread with sauce, before he picks up the market and starts drawing schematics.

"Kyber is attuned to the life force in everything," he starts explaining. "So it registers the aliveness level of living things nearby -- plants, worms, microorganisms, the lot. When you train it for parameters that indicate..."

And off he goes, scribbling and spouting technobabble, while he keeps eating and making sure Pema gets her chance to talk and ask questions.

[imthepilot]

Which she does. Intelligent and probing questions. She leans in, following his drawings and explanations with bright eyes.

Bodhi and Malika clear the table, making more room for them and head to the couch to talk, leaving the geniuses together. Bodhi is so happy, knowing his sisters and Galen get along so well.

{ooc: sorry, weird week.}

[galen_erso]

"For that," Galen says at last, answering a question, "I would need to look at the garden again, and at the source of water."

[imthepilot]

Pema grins and glances out the window. "There's still light? And I know you can't stay long." She offers him a hand but glances to Bodhi.

"Go play." Bodhi laughs, his smile warm and loving when he looks to Galen.

[galen_erso]

So what they see next, through the window, is Galen and Pema measuring the garden, taking notes, and holding up fingers, completely engrossed.

[imthepilot]

Bodhi lets them go for a while, content just to sit with Malika and let them play.

But as the sun sets, he feels a tug at the back of his mind. Something telling him it's time to go.

He takes his sister's hand and heads outside.

[galen_erso]

"... so you see, it's all making sense," Galen is saying. "I wish I could..."

Pause.

"It's time, isn't it?" he says, looking at Bodhi.

[imthepilot]

Bodhi nods sadly, tightening his arm around Malika. "Pema?"

Pema runs into Bodhi's arms and hugs him tightly. "I love your husband. He's clever and kind. You did well."

He kisses the top of her head. "I'm glad you approve." He holds them both tight, nodding for Galen to join them.

[galen_erso]

Galen does, enveloping all three Rooms in his arms.

"You have the best sisters ever," he says to Bodhi.

[imthepilot]

Pema pulls away abruptly, running inside. Causing Bodhi to panic.

[galen_erso]

"I'm sure she's fetching something," Galen says, tightening his arm around Bodhi.

[imthepilot]

Galen is right, even if Bodhi is straining to chase after her.

She comes back with a bundle wrapped in cloth. "Take this with you. For us, please?"

Bodhi sniffs and tucks it under his arm, clinging tightly to his sisters, even as the feeling pulling them back to the bar gets stronger.

Both girls hug Galen too. Malika whispers in his ear to take good care of Bodhi. Whereas Pema thanks him for making Bodhi happy.

[galen_erso]

"I hope we find our way back here, one day," Galen says, taking Bodhi's hand as the pull to go gets stronger and stronger.

[imthepilot]

"One day." Bodhi promises, pushing them gently into each other's arms and letting Galen lead him back.

There are tears in his eyes as they step back into the trees. The pull goes away as soon as they're back in the bar's dominion. Bodhi staggers a little, needing to lean on Galen.

[galen_erso]

Galen holds him close. "We need a goddess," he murmurs. "You have wonderful sisters. I love my sisters-in-law, you must know."

[imthepilot]

"I got to see them again. That's... more than I could ask for. And they got to meet you. I'm just so happy you got on." His eyes are still wet with tears.