OOM: In Gotland with Bodhi and Galen

[ostro_goth]

 It is the very height of summer now, so the fields are turning golden, the young animals in the meadows are nicely grown and running around when they are not stuffing their faces with the abundant grass, and the people are busy in the gardens and in the workshops and among the granaries.

One of the children points up at the procession coming down the barrow-hill, and then everybody is running up to meet them.

Comments

[galen_erso]

"I am glad they chose to come and live with us," Galen says, walking towards the main building again. People are still sitting outside, but by now have grown quieter.

[imthepilot]

He buries his face in Myrrh's fur, taking comfort in her purring warmth. He's embarrassed to have caused such a scene and not sure how to make up for it.

[galen_erso]

It's Gotho who gets up to meet them a little bit away from the tables; by now, Teja and Adalgoth are improvising on their harps, riffs and rhythms that should be impossible on such instruments, just as Heavy Metal should have been impossible on celli. And indeed, this is fierce music from the future they are playing.

"I am sorry, but the smaller children dozed off," Gotho says, "and then my husband and the King started egging each other on to do whatever it is they are doing. So I suppose you will have to wait for the rest of the Lay of the Rogue One until your next visit."

[imthepilot]

"No, I'm the one who should apologise. I'm sorry I kept the children up." Bodhi sets Myrrh down next to Kyber so seems rather glad to have his humans back. "There were- parts of the story Galen- didn't know."

[galen_erso]

Galen sits beside Bodhi.

"I thought so," Gotho says. "Very dark bits the story touched on. It needs lots of love and patience to put those behind you, in any one's story."

[imthepilot]

Bodhi reaches for Galen's hands, squeezing softly.

He nods to the musicians. "They seem happy?"

[galen_erso]

"They are happiest when they can make a terrible racket that stays just barely on the side of music," Gotho says, fondly.

[imthepilot]

"We all have very different tastes in music. Most people would hate the Twi'lek beat poetry but I like it. It's about the only thing I can sing."

[galen_erso]

That earns him a curiously raised eyebrow from Teja, even though he is still jamming fiercely.

[imthepilot]

Bodhi shrugs, "I'm not sure anyone else would enjoy it."

[galen_erso]

"I do," Galen says.

"And we would at least want to listen and see whether we do," Adalgoth adds.

[imthepilot]

Bodhi takes a sip of wine to wet his dry lips, adjusting his position so he can tap on the table to give himself a rhythm.

He sings only in Twi'lek, avoided the embarrassment of the words being understood. He forms the face-paced rhymes as a stream of consciousness, saying what coming into his head woven into the complex beat.

[galen_erso]

Galen is the only one who understands parts; the others listen, tap softly on the table, or snap there fingers; then Teja starts improvising along with it on his harps, following the syncopated rhythms effortlessly.

[imthepilot]

There's something cathartic about the rhythms, singing his hopes and fears and doubts and desires in a bouncing stream. Teja's harp adds a new and wonderful layer to the song.

He reaches a natural end, smiling with breathless relief.

[galen_erso]

There is cheer and applause all around, and answering smiles. "This is a good way of song, half poetry, half battle-cry," Teja says. "I do not know the words, but it sis sound like a challenge to the world."

[imthepilot]

Bodhi chuckles and bows his head in thanks. "If it is a battle cry, I'm not sure who I'm fighting. Except perhaps myself."

[galen_erso]

Galen closes fingers around Bodhi's hand, between them.

"And a world that would oppose you, in which you need to make a corner formyour own use," Teja suggests.

[imthepilot]

Bodhi nods and squeezes Galen's hand. "A corner I'm glad to share."

[galen_erso]

"A corner best inhabited together," Galen agrees. "It us so good to be free again, and with Bodhi."

[imthepilot]

Bodhi blushes warmly and brings Galen's knuckles to his lips.

"I'm sorry. What were you playing before we came in?"

[galen_erso]

"We were just testing how far our harps would go," Adalgoth says, and Teja adds, "With sounds borrowed from the music of the future."

[imthepilot]

"It wasn't music from this time? It sounded- enjoyable to play."

[galen_erso]

"It is!" Teja declares, dark eyes flashing g with his oft-hidden fiery temper and fierce enjoyment of wild, dark things.

[imthepilot]

"Play some more?" He asks, shifting to lean a little on Galen.

[galen_erso]

Teja and Adalgoth look at each other, nod, and then they start -- rocking out, there's no other way of calling it. Their music is fast and wild and intense.