Conversations with dead people

[imthepilot]

The bar is too busy tonight. There's too much going on. Too much noise, too many people messing about. And those doll things - Bodhi shudders.

Instead he takes Galen's hand draws him towards the outside door. It's a clear night and cool without being cold. A light jacket and Galen's hand in his is enough to keep him warm.

"I never knew moonlight on water could be so... beautiful."

Comments

[galen_erso]

Galen has a jacket as well, in which he hides one pair of knitted gloves to share later.

"Open water has its advantages, too," he says, thinking of their recent misadventures.

[imthepilot]

Bodhi chuckles and tucks his arm in Galen's. "Much nicer at a distance." He looks up the hill. "That way? It's a nice night and there's enough light."

[galen_erso]

"Teja mentioned a pond with water flowers that way," Galen says. "In a clearing. Do you have any experience with forests, before here?"

Never take anything for granted.

[imthepilot]

"Never." Bodhi answer softly. "The first proper tree I saw was on a training run to Endor. It was... terrifying. I never knew any plant could be that big."

[galen_erso]

"In here, there are trees so large you can curl up in the embrace of their roots," Galen says. "But there are much larger trees on some worlds. Trees where you can fly a speeder underneath their open, arching roots."

[imthepilot]

"You've been exploring here?" Bodhi tends to stick much closer to the bar.

[galen_erso]

"While I was exercising," Galen says. "And once I tested that the magic really works."

[imthepilot]

"The magic?" Bodhi asks, following along as they follow the path into patches of shadow.

[galen_erso]

"That brings you back to the lake if you walk away from it long enough.'

[imthepilot]

"And it works?" There's a brief flare of light somewhere between the trees off the trail to their right. A demon bunny letting off steam.

[galen_erso]

"Yes, it does," Galen says. "But I was glad I came out when I left; I heard later that people had taken a short walk sometimes and returned weeks later. We can risk it now because we're together."

[imthepilot]

"Stars! I don't know what I'd do if you vanished for weeks!"

Find a ship, mount a search. Burn the damn forest down if that's what it took. Because he would.

[galen_erso]

"Teja would feed the cats if we vanished together," Galen says. "So we can risk it."

Holding Bodhi's hand, he cheerfully strides forward. "And that is why I was so glad. I do t want to worry you again."

[imthepilot]

"It wasn't your fault." Bodhi stresses, having to step a bit faster to keep up with Galen. "Not so quick. I still ache from training with Baze."

[galen_erso]

"Oh dear," Galen says. "What did he put you through this time?"

Hearing about his future husband's martial arts training has become an entertainment of its own.

[imthepilot]

"Stretches that involve handstands. For no reason I can tell." Bodhi grumbles, "Other than he seems to think being upside down is fun. It's Chirrut's fault, I'm sure."

He may have made peace with Baze but things are still strained with Chirrut.

The path turns a corner and Bodhi follows it. But glances over his shoulder. The back of his neck is itching.

[galen_erso]

"Everything is probably Chirrut's fault," Galen says without rancour. He has forgiven the man for the painful welcome, but the blind guardian is definitely quirky.

[imthepilot]

"You're right there." Bodhi looks over his shoulder again, sounding distracted. "I think someone is following us."

[galen_erso]

"Hullo?!" Galen calls out, turning around.

He isn't physically brave, but if anything threatens Bodhi, it's quite another story.

[imthepilot]

There's no answer, just the ring of Galen's voice in the trees. Like an ever so slight echo.

Bodhi blinks and shakes his head. "Maybe I was imagining it." And yet the back of his neck still itched. "Show me this pool you were talking about?"

[galen_erso]

"Or whoever it is doesn't want to show themselves," Galen says, not entirely reassuring.

He turns towards a small path between the trees.

[imthepilot]

Bodhi isn't either and walks a little faster, looking for a clear place to look back from.

[galen_erso]

Something rustles in the undergrowth beside them.

[imthepilot]

Bodhi moves to put Galen protectively behind him. "Maybe we should go back."

[galen_erso]

"It's just the wood," Galen says. "Free animals live here."