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

Bodhi pulls him into a long, slow kiss. Tender and loving. "Thank you, for being here. For... making a like with me here."

From:

galen_erso

"Thank you, my love," Galen replies, "for getting that life ready for us, after our lives ended."

From:

imthepilot

"I wish I could say I organised this. I just asked and the bar give it to me. My first room wasn't this nice."

Myrrh pads in, hoping up on the bed to curl in a ball on the pillows.

From:

galen_erso

"She picked the art and everything?"

From:

imthepilot

"I asked for that." He gestures to the painting. "I don't know why, I just wanted something of Jedha."

From:

galen_erso

"I like it," Galen says. "It reminds me of the times when we went there."

From:

imthepilot

"And when my grandmother was alive and the girls were happy." He nods, leaning into Galen. "Better times."

From:

galen_erso

"We will make new good times here," Galen says, "but always remember the old ones -- first painfully, then wistfully, and then with fondness."

From:

imthepilot

"Do you... want to lay down? Or set up your office, or something?" Bodhi asks shyly, trying to hide how close to tears he is. Galen's words touch him so deeply.

From:

galen_erso

"Let's just snuggle up with the cats somewhere comfy, where we can look out at all the green," Galen suugests, leaning in to touch his lips to Bodhi's cheek.

From:

imthepilot

Bodhi nods and takes Galen's hand, calling to Myrrh as he heads back out to the livingroom. There's a deep couch that faces the lake and the garden.

As soon as Bodhi sits down, resting his head against Galen's shoulder, he has a lap full of Kyber. Myrrh follows a few moments later, curling sedately in Galen's lap.

From:

galen_erso

"One cat each," Galen says. "How convenient."

With a hand on the black fur, he relaxes against Bodhi.

From:

imthepilot

"I know this isn't the family you wanted but-" He cuts himself off, unsure what it is he's trying to say.

From:

galen_erso

"I have you," Galen says, "and we can do the things we missed out on in life. And I'm sure the Guardians will come around. Who needs to keep grudges in heaven?"

From:

imthepilot

Bodhi shift to rest his head on Galen's shoulder. "You have a better opinion of them than I do." He says softly.

From:

galen_erso

"I tend to have good opinions of people, unless they really prove otherwise," Galen says. "It probably was a weakness all along, or I'd have seen through Krennic much sooner. Lyra was far better at judging people..."

From:

imthepilot

He takes Galen's hand, twining their fingers. "It's not a a weakness, Galen. It's one of the things I love about you."

From:

galen_erso

"Well, then let us rely on the outlook that in a while, we will mend fences with the Guardians so you can be friends again," Galen says sensibly, tightening fingers on Bodhi's, "even if they never warm to me. I'm not asking for that."

From:

imthepilot

Bodhi brings Galen's hand to his lips, kissing his knuckles slowly. "It can wait. They can wait. We have each other again."

From:

galen_erso

"That is what counts," Galen agrees, "and the basis from which we can now negotiate this new reality."

A process that is far from complete.

From:

imthepilot

Bodhi smiles softly as Myrrh purrs loudly at them. "And our new family."

Kyber is asleep, upside on Bodhi's lap and twitching happily in his dreams.

From:

galen_erso

"Made up of small sentient non-humans," Galen says.

There is nothing wrong with that -- Earth people might think the cats are animals, but for Galen"s experience, they fall within the wide margin of 'potentially sentient' and deserve the benefit of the doubt. Everything else us anthropocentric Empire ideology.

From:

imthepilot

"They're very social creatures. From what I saw on Teja's world." He strokes Kyber's belly gently. "And what I've seen here. Myrrh... saved my life."

From:

galen_erso

Galen had been resisting just that, not wanting to wake the kitten, despite the lure of the pink skin shimmering through the white fluffy fur, so infinitely scritchable.

"That was very good of her, and I am grateful," he says. "How did she do that?"

From:

imthepilot

"She found me, when I-" He shrugs, gesturing with one scarred wrist. "She brought help."

From the sleepily little purrs, Kyber likes his belly rubbed.