imthepilot | Welcome home.

With Galen finally being released from the Infantry today, Bodhi has pulled out all the stops to make sure their rooms are ready. The bar has been very helpful, providing him with everything he needs to make it work for them.

The rooms are large and airy, open planned living and dinning. Thick carpets and warm colours make it homely and comfortable.

The bar has made sure Bodhi's kitchen has all the appliances he's use to and a big pantry. All the lovely hardwood benches and lots of storage.

The bedroom faces out onto the balcony, just as the living room does, giving them a view of the lake and the gardens. There's an office and workshop for Galen too, ready to be set up the way he wants it.

And a bathroom with a water fresher big enough for two, and of all things - a spa bath.

The balcony has been lined with pots, one wall lined with climbing frames, ready for creeps, flowers and climbing legumes. The kitchen window is also lined with little pots of fresh herbs.

Bodhi opens the door for Galen, biting his lip and hoping Galen likes it.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

imthepilot

"There's a scoop in the hoppers the right size. You'd be amazed how much Kyber can consume in a single sitting." He reaches down to tickle said kitten tummy. "And then carry on as if he's never been fed and is starving to death."

From:

galen_erso

"Amazing to see how he turns it into muscle and lots of running," Galen says, reaching out for the little cat.

From:

imthepilot

"And mischief. I'm just glad I've had Myrrh to help me keep an eye on him."

Kyber leaps on Galen's hand, scrambling up Galen's sleeve to curl in the crook of Galen's arm, demanding pats.

"I'm glad he's taken to you. I'm told they can be fickle."

From:

galen_erso

"You mean, he might have been jealous of me and wanted you all to himself?" Galen says, with a smile as he pets the little creature.

"Such a small handful, so much personality!"

From:

imthepilot

Kyber purrs loudly from the crook of Galen's arm. "No, I think he's claimed you as much as me. The test will be how he goes tonight. They usually share the bed with me. And now it'll be all four of us."

From:

galen_erso

"Do they -- will it not shock them to see us making love?" Galen says. "What do they think about that?"

He keeps petting the fluffy red and white creature in his arm while turning his head to touch the tip of his nose to Bodhi's cheek.

From:

imthepilot

Bodhi flushes warmly. "I think... when we're ready we could ask them to give us some space. I think- at least Myrrh would understand. And she can guide Kyber."

From:

galen_erso

Galen smiles fondly. "Can we ask the man they came from how he does that, or would that be too intimate a question to ask?"

You never know what people's cultures allow and what they don't, and Galen is flying blind here.

From:

imthepilot

"We could ask. Teja is... he's a good person. I'm sure he would understand."

He touches Galen's cheek very gently before leaning in for a kiss, just as gentle and a little tentative. "We... have a lot to work out."

From:

galen_erso

"A proper life to start, which we never had while we were technically alive," Galen says, nodding. "So many small things to learn about each other, to starts routines about. But humans are good at that."

From:

imthepilot

"I hope- I can't promise-" He swallows and tries again. "I'm still getting a routine for myself. I haven't really- gotten back into any rhythm since- At least with Teja's people, I just helped out where they asked."

From:

galen_erso

"Now I am here to give you something to structure yourself with," Galen says. "Among other things."

Pause.

"What was the best bit among Teja's people?"

From:

imthepilot

"Yes." And for that, Bodhi is very grateful.

He takes a moment to answer, leaning back against the bench with an arm still around Galen's waist, the purring kitten between them.

"The complete lack of judgement. They didn't care when I'd done. Or how low I'd gotten. Even when it was too much and I just needed to cry, they didn't mind. The children asked all sorts of questions about where I was from and what it was like. But never why I was sad. They just accepted me. A man from the stars who had died and come back from the other side with their king. It never bothered them."

From:

galen_erso

"They sound like good and kind people," Galen says. "How many children were there?"

From:

imthepilot

"They were. Just... living. Simple, happy lives." Bodhi smiles at the memory. "At least half a dozen in that group. It shouldn't like there were other groups, other farms. They reminded me of the packs of kids on Jedha. Only they were all healthy, fed and well loved."

From:

galen_erso

"And they liked your stories?"

From:

imthepilot

"Very much. The adults too. One of them was a singer. He wrote songs about people's adventures. He asked if he could write one about me. About us and what we did. He sang it for me, just before I came back. It made us all sound like heroes from some old legend." He looks into Galen's eyes. "And you."

From:

galen_erso

"So when you bring me," Galen says, blinking rapidly a few times as he looks into Bodhi's eyes, "they will know me already as that man from the song?"

From:

imthepilot

"And they'll know you died a hero." Bodhi answers, "And that I love you."

From:

galen_erso

Galen leans his face against Bodhi's hair and says nothing.

From:

imthepilot

Bodhi just holds him for a moment, unable to form words. Kyber purrs all the louder for being held between them. Then scrambles up onto Bodhi's shoulder to attack his ponytail.

Bodhi chuckles and pulls the kitten back down. "I asked the bar to add an extra room. As an office or workshop. Or whatever you want. I haven't set anything up in there. I figured you'd want to do that."

From:

galen_erso

Galen blinks his tears away and reaches for the little cat to scratch the soft ears. "Both," he says. "Some place where I can learn and make things. That will be good."

From:

imthepilot

"I'm pretty sure there are some bookshelves in there. The bar will copy anything you ask for to a datapad but there's a whole library of paper books too." He says, trying to distract himself from his own tears.

From:

galen_erso

"Paper books!" Galen breathes, leaning in to kiss Bodhi's damp eyelashes. "There must be so much space here, if they can afford that."

From:

imthepilot

Bodhi shudders softly, breathing a sigh at the kiss.

"When you're settled in, I'll show you the library. It's massive. Biggest collection of paper books I've ever seen. Space doesn't seem to be an issue here."