Private Log- Family, Part II
11 Jul 2022Lily Flemmon
Lily approaches the landing site, contacting ATC and getting a pad reserved. the CTAC Pathfinder is a Mamba partly because of its aerodynamics- the craft tends not to be too audibly disruptive to people on the ground. Following approach vectors and staying under Mach 0.8 means the approach takes some time- about 30 minutes. Reentry is no issue, however, since Lily dropped into normal space to a geostatic frame of reference, rather than an orbital one.
Malcom Barrett grins quietly to himself as he checks the power and heat management to make sure everything stays in the green. Entry is a little bumpy owing to the extra drag on the hull, but that's the kind of harrowing he really likes. "Deploying airbrakes in 5...4...3...2...1..."
With a loud rush of wind noise and a hard pull on the restraints, the craft slows to Mach 0.8 just in time to hit the upper troposphere and save the cities below any obnoxious overhead booms. "WOO! I have GOT to get one of these to play with!"
Lily chuckles. "And that was a freefall reentry- just you wait until you feel an orbital one." She continues guiding the craft, getting comfy with how it handles in increasing atmospheric pressure- flying FA off and only using rotational thrusters and airbrakes as she continues the steep glide.
"Oh, and Mal? Don't try this without an atmospheric approach refit on your ship. Like this one... doesn't have."
Mal chuckles a bit, flipping off a few pressure warnings and opening up the radiators to preemptively vent the excess drag heat. "Don't worry. Any company ship that we plan to take planetside often gets that fit. Aurora says Felicity literally won't allow her to leave without one. Only skipped it on the Gambit for weight since the thrusters were already A-rated. Rear fins were good enough for the exotics we were hunting that trip." As the Pathfinder makes a banking curve, he smiles and presses his gut out to keep the blood in his head on reflex. "Haha! This is too good for her though. If she ever gets one of these we won't see her for a week or more!"
Lily chuckles. "I bet. Mind adjusting the interior atmosphere to match the surface here? Slowly. We've got 15 minutes on approach still, you've got plenty of time."
"You got it, boss," he says happily and keys in a 10 minute equalizer using native atmo rather than canned air. "Eh, only about 0.75 higher than cabin pressure. Maybe an ear pop or two, nothing serious."
"For you, I'm more worried about the CO2 level. Breathe deeply."
"Oo. Yeah that is a little high." He takes a deep breath through his nose and out his mouth three times in a row. A knot forms in his stomach as anxiety kicks him like a mule. "Wow. Okay, thanks for the warning. That would have been rough if I didn't know it was coming." He reaches for his chem pouch to see if he has any downers to even himself out. "You want anything for it?"
"I guess I haven't told you about how I train on HR 5451 2, have I? Let's just say I don't recommend a breath holding contest with me."
He pops a diazepam and chews it up to get it in faster, making a yucky sound at the taste before washing it down with water. "Suit yourself, I just don't want my palms sweating all day... Ah, 10 kilometers from Fairwater Spaceport. You want me to handle ATC?"
(Author's note: the diazepam isn't recreational- atmospheric CO2 and other inconsistencies between worlds necessitate as-needed meds for frequent travelers.)
“Did you just… chew that?”
"Yah, it's okay," he says taking another sip of water. "It's not a time release tablet anyway, I just want it to hit fast. I'm good for another six hours probably." He flips on the com as the mellow feeling comes back to him and that slow-gnawing fear sinks into memory. "Fairtide Port, this is Zorgon-Peterson Charlie-Tango-Alpha-Charlie-0-3, under command of Independent Pilot Foxtrot, Lima, Echo, requesting landing instructions. Approaching on Vector 0-4-0-7-5, over."
ATC responds promptly. "Roger that 03, adjust heading to 0-7-4-2-2 to distance 6 Point 2 and swing back for landing on pad 2-7. Be advised, heavy local traffic today. Reduce speed and stay alert, over."
Lily gracefully adjusts her approach and sets her radar display range to maximum, beginning to try to make visual contact with traffic.
“Oh, Mal, can you let them know we won’t need a taxi service? Unless you’re not up for public transit.”
"Ya for sure." He hit the switch. "Fairwater, be advised, cancel Commander overland service. Will be taking local transit, over."
An amused and satisfied voice responds. "Ha. Roger that 03. We don't hear that much these days! Nice to hear some Commanders still know how to blend in and enjoy themselves. Approach is good, you're clear ahead. Be aware, SK Beluga on your 4 o'clock coming in hot for pad 28. Over"
Lily sets down with an almost-horizontal approach, only firing vertical thrusters once the craft couldn't aerodynamically support itself- which happened at a mere 50 meters per second. She's competitive about soft, precise landings, and has been ever since someone said she lands better than a Saud Kruger-trained pilot, and she managed a softer landing than the Beluga, doing a little fist pump when she realized her little accomplishment.
Lily prefers public transit over driving herself or even a taxi, because on public transit nobody is snooty and just about everyone's considerate. Much of the time, people are even kind- whereas even in a taxi, you get honked at and that's about it. She takes a few minutes to change into street clothes suitable for the weather, which in this case means shorts and a tanktop, and a fanny pack for a few things: mainly her comms pad and water. She gets local info on Narisa Wylde, which leads to conversations about food and produce.
Lily doesn't have to fake that she's happy to hear it, it's... comforting to know she and her mom have some things in common.
Mal is in a tank top for the first time Lily's ever seen, and surprisingly he has full sleeve tattoos on both arms down to the wrist. Federal Navy symbols, an "explorer" ringed world, starfields, an image of Quetzalcoatl coiled up his right arm and a Santa Muerte sugar skull on his left deltoid. Normal patchwork cultural and personal symbol type stuff. He takes time to smell the air and soak in the natural starlight day without a suit on as he follows Lily around, making sure to keep one ear open. Even manages to find another Latino Sol expat and strikes up a conversation about the weather and where good food is in Spanish before excusing himself to keep up with Lily.
Lily knows she doesn't need to gather any information, and she's making conversation just because she enjoys it- and because it seems other people do too. By the time she and Mal make their first transfer, locals are having friendly conversations with tourists- something that apparently doesn't happen often.
In the heat and the heavy air, despite the higher CO2, Malcom looks perfectly content in the moment. Ankles crossed, hands linked behind his head. At one point he's listening to all the conversation and watching the smiles when he nudges Lily with his elbow. "Look at that... You bring the love with you everywhere you go, you know that?"
Lily looks around at the people aboard the tram, and realizes that Mal is totally right- these people aren't normally this openly kind to each other. "Wha- uh- Oh... I guess I do now." A slight blush appears on her cheeks.
Nearing their stop, Malcom bids farewell to all their new single-serving friends and exchanges hand shakes and fist bumps with the few other Latinos keeping their culture alive as they leave. He 'accidentally' drops 100,000cr in the driver's lap with a finger to his mouth and a wink on the way out. On the sidewalk he pulls out his tablet and switches to navigation mode, checking their position. "Okay! Looks like we have about three blocks to go... How you want to do this? You want to split up and call me or should I stay with you? Soy contento de todas formas."
"Stay with. Something tells me we could both go for a deli sandwich."
He smiles. "And that's why you're the ideas girl."
Lily begins walking along the sidewalk toward the small grocery store, with Mal following. “You know, if there weren’t people out and about, this would be a lot harder for me emotionally. But being around people, seeing a community, it’s really comforting to me.”
"People can be a community anywhere. It's just easier to see it inside a gravity well most days," Malcom says as they come upon the front of "Surftide Grocery: Co-Op Owned since 3299". He glances down at his tablet then up at the address. "This is the place... You ready?"
Lily looks to Mal. "Yeah, I'm ready. And I'm also hungry, so let's go?
----
Behind the counter is a thin blonde woman in denim overalls and a loose fitting natural fiber t-shirt faded from years of wear. Her hair is kept out of her face by a loose bandana tied around it, letting it fall over her shoulder in long, difficult to manage locks. Hearing the bell chime at the door, she sets down her Galnet tablet and braces herself against the counter, smiling pleasantly. The man's extensive but colorful tattoos and the woman's bright purple hair make them instantly friend shaped to her, and she waves happily. "Hi! Welcome to Surftide! Let me see if I can guess..." She puts a finger to her lips and looks the pair over more closely. "Well... I can tell you're a Commander," she says, pointing at Malcom. "Ollie has that same planet on a patch. And yoooou..." She looks more closely at Lily, cocking her head slightly to the side. "Have we met before? You look a little familiar but I can't place it..."
Lily responds, not letting on who she is just yet. "I don't think you've seen my face before, no. But I am hungry, and both of us are craving sandwiches!"
"Oh! Well let's see what's good in the case today!" Her knuckles knock the counter and she walks briskly behind the deli case bending down to check what's in stock fresh and what's dated and what would pair with what. "Okaaaay... We have a nice falafel pita with hummus that would pair great with the sprouts I just picked this morning... And we have— oh! There's fresh steaks from a free range farm just about 30 kilometers outside the city. I know the farmers and they're very dedicated to the 'one bad day' slaughter philosophy, so if you like your meat with ethics, that's a good way to go. We can whip that up in our Chinchilla tacos with fajita grilled veggies. Let's see what else... For traditional cold cuts, the salami is fresh, the corned beef is just opened today, I can do a sliced chicken breast... Any ideas what you're hungry for?"
Malcom scoffs and holds his hands out as if she offended him personally. "Lady, you are breaking my shriveled little Chicano heart. Is it a taco or is it fajitas? It can't be both!"
"Well it's a tortilla swaddled bundle of joy is what it is!" She says standing up with her hands on her hips. "My farmer friends gave me the recipe. The way they caramelize the onions is just so perfect. I promise, you eat one? You're gonna stop complaining!"
"Okay, okay. I guess if I let this lady's friend give me 'taquito beans,' I can trust your taco-fajita-burrito." He says chuckling.
Lily shoots him a playful look. "Oh be quiet, you loved those. But yeah, I'm also gonna have a Chinchilla. It sounds wonderful."
"Alright! I'll put those in for you! OLLIE! TWO CHINCHILLAS, MAKE ONE OF 'EM AZTLAN STYLE. GUY SAYS HE KNOWS BETTER!"
A male voices comes back. "He probably does, just not about these!"
Lily looks around the deli and over at the aisles briefly. "Should we go sit down, or...?"
Narisa shrugs happily. "Ah, do whatever you like! It won't bother me. Slow day. I don't get many tourists out here." She reaches in and pulls some old salad out of the cooler, dumping the tiny bit left and setting about pulling ingredients for more. "So! What brings you two out this way? How long are you in town for?"
"Just for the day, so far. I might stay longer if there's some major event or revelation or something, but that would mean Mal here having to get used to this planet's air."
"Eh, I got enough chems for a few days, I'm good. We're in town looking for someone actually." Mal says, far too chilled out for subtlety. "Mi amiga is actually. I'm just here for moral support."
Lily gives Mal a side-eye, pressing her lips together trying to hold back a grin. "Well there goes that plan, but... eh, whatever. Hey, Nis- Narisa, what forms of payment do you take?" She pulls out her comms pad, "accidentally" dropping her Commander ID on the counter.
Narisa stops and looks over at the table, locking eyes with Lily. "I didn't... Mention my..." In her eyes, there's a mix of fear and determination as she glances at the badge on the table. When she sees Lily's last name her hand covers her mouth as she gasps. "Oh my dear God. Are you...?" Her second hand comes to her mouth and she screams. Then screams again! Pure shock! Absolute dysfunction! She can't even imagine how it's possible! But those eyes... That little smile... Narisa's eyes start watering up. "...my... Ch-... My little Chinchilla?"
Lily... loses her composure. She probably could have kept it, for a few more seconds, but what would be the point of that? She may as well be sobbing a puddle on the floor. "H-hey mom..."
Shaking both hands in front of her face as her eyes fill up and her face flushes, she chokes out a squeaky sound and just dives at Lily, scooping her up and wrapping her in the most enormous and tight hug you can possibly imagine. No, tighter than that. Can you breathe still? Ok, good. "Ohmygodlookatyoumybabygrewupintoabeautiful WOMAN! Oh my god!"
Lily is just... Crying. holding her mother tight. It's all a bit surreal for everyone, including Ollie, who, hearing the commotion, walks out from the kitchen with two of the wraps named after Lily. "Narisa, is everything... okay...?"
Mal looks up and smiles. "It is if that's my not-a-taco!" He chuckles to try and kill the tension but it doesn't work in the slightest, so he just gets up and walks to the door, flipping the sign to 'closed'. "No, for real, everything is okay. You're Ollie, right? I'm Mal, that's Lily. And that lady you live and work with is her mom."
Ollie looks down at the wraps, up at Mal, back down at the wraps, back up at Mal, over to Lily and Narisa, and then back down at the wraps. "I- uh... I'm gonna go set these down before I drop them." He walks over to a table, sets down the plates, and sits himself down too.
Malcom moves over to the table with Ollie and has a seat. "I'm here because... Of a long and ridiculous story! But basically my uh... Girlfriend, I guess, is her best friend so that makes me kind of a best friend. What about you? How do you know Narisa?"
Oliver lets out a long sigh. "Well, uh, it's probably another big revelation, but... I'm Silas Flemmon's first kid. I used to know Narisa back in my academy days, back before Silas.. used her."
Malcom cringes and wipes a bit of sweat off his forehead. "Yikes. The more I hear about this guy the happier I am I never met him."
Narisa takes Lily by the cheeks and pulls her head up as she steps back, wiping the tears off her eyes and really taking her in.
"You're Lily now, right? My sweet baby! Oh, I always wanted a daughter. Especially after your— ugh, never mind that. I'm so sorry I left. I didn't have... I should have brought you with me, I'm so sorry!"
Lily takes several seconds to process what she overheard Ollie say. "O malákas eíche állo paidí?" ("The asshole had another kid?")
"Mierda, ¿es tan molesta cuando lo hago?" (shit, is it that annoying when I do it?)
Oliver looks up at Lily with a defeated half-smile, and waves. "Geia sou, mikróteri aderfí." (Hey, little sister.)
Lily almost scoffs. "He taught you too, huh?"
Mal looks back and forth between them. "You know if Rory were here she would have the funniest sassy ass thing to say about this whole situation."
Elsewhere in the Galaxy, Rory is punching a man in the face for saying her slave-market brand is an obvious fake.
Narisa shakes her head quickly. "No no no. That man is dead and I don't want to hear his name anymore. I spent almost twenty years watching over my shoulder for him, I'm not giving him free room and board in this moment!" She picks Lily's face up again and looks deep in her eyes, and cradles her body close to her. "I thought I'd lost you. I thought I'd lost you forever! Oh God, my little Chinchilla what happened to you?! How did you find me? And your transition! I've never seen one this perfect before! I mean, of course a mother would say that but holy sh-cow!"
"That... is a very long story. It started with me getting my first Sidewinder at 19 and just. Running away. I found this agricultural starport called Chilton Terminal..."
Oliver interjects. "Did you light his hair on fire?"
Lily gives him a confused look. "Did I- what?"
Ollie: "I'll tell you another time."
Realizing finally that in life one has only this moment, Malcom grabs his Chinchillachimichanga and proceeds to chow down on it.
Lily glances over at Mal. "You know, I was hoping to eat before the big revelations happen, but... oh well." She takes Narisa's hand and the two of them sit down with Ollie and Mal. "So, a few quick facts out of the way: Chilton Terminal is home to an agricultural cooperative, and I was just a gardener trying to figure out my life for a few months. Laying low, my Sidewinder collecting dust in storage. Started by descendants of North American indigenous peoples, actually. Made some really good friends there. A family, really. Went by an alias, and... slowly started to figure out who I was underneath the trauma."
Taking the plate from in front of Ollie and setting it in front of Lily, Narisa leans forward and links her fingers together, propping her chin up on her hands.
"Oh, you want more story? Well, about three months of that before this agent in the Pilots Federation visited- apparently I hadn't been laying quite that low. Silas had been handed over to Archon Delaine, who gave his word that Silas would be continuously tortured. Honesty is that scumbag's only virtue, I swear. But this- Agent Rho, she helped me fudge my legal records and... helped me find a therapist, actually. Wasn't long before I was back in the pilot's seat, headed to New Los Angeles with a provisional Commander's License, and I started pursuing a linguistics degree, making produce deliveries from the Chilton Terminal Agricultural Cooperative, CTAC, to that planet to cover tuition... and fuel."
Narisa leans in, listening intently. Her eyes grow wide at the mention of Archon Delaine and then soften by degrees as she hears how Lily's transition journey was helped along by kind strangers and the sort of education she had always hoped her child would pursue. "Sounds like being your own Commander was an important step for you... I'm so glad you took it."
“I- wow, uh- I guess I never thought I’d hear a biological parent to say that to me. Sure, a few parental figures have, and it gets me choked up, but- you- mom…”
She reaches out and puts a hand on top of Lily's, smiling sweetly, and a little sadly. "My baby, I didn't think I'd ever have a daughter to say it to!"
“Oh, I have so much more to tell you.”
"Well don't wear yourself out. Now that he's dead, I've got all the time to learn about you in the world! Besides, for something this important, we can- Oh, Mal, did you flip that? Anyway... would you like something to drink? I've got all manner of teas and coffees and bottled beverages from apple juice to zucchini kombucha."
“I’m okay for now, but… maybe an iced masala chai later?”
Narisa looks up. "Ollie would you mind checking the cooler? I think we still have some of that really spicy Chai from the Alioth shipment."
He gets up to go check, nodding to Mal with a smile. Mal quirks a brow and kind of grins back. He thought he might have detected a little something in that smile. On the other hand, he's still kinda high. Valium hit a little harder than he expected.
Narisa reaches over and takes Lily's hand again, just so happy to have her there that it's completely overwhelming. "I... I guess I probably have some explaining to do, don't I?"
Lily smiles softly at her, looking into her eyes. “Not much. I remembered the moment you left, and I’m proud of you for getting away. If anyone has explaining to do, it’s me... Turns out Meliae, the system NLAU is in, is also home to a major squadron, the New Pilots Initiative. I joined up and pretty soon I was an actual Commander, and learning to fly as a trader, and soon I was CTAC’s primary courier. I flew a Keelback, and- well, there were still times that I’d get spooked, thinking I saw Silas, and I wasn’t fit to fly back. Had to take shuttles and have my ship delivered home.”
"Oh, come on!" Narisa says, swatting Lily's hand playfully. "That's nothing to explain at all. He was a frightening man. That you got away from him at all is amazing. I've been looking over my shoulder for him most of my life..."
“Well, if that’s the case… I should skip ahead in the story. After I transitioned, after CTAC became a lively and loving community centered around food, people, and incredible feats of bioengineering, and after I sent an open letter to Edmund Mahon mentioning Silas, warning Mahon not to let that happen again because of Sirius… Silas found me. He murdered my best friend, Ronni, and got away… but I went after him. And with help from a good friend in NEWP, I interdicted him, and- well-“ she pulls out her comms pad and brings up the footage on its holographic projector. “I’ll just show you the footage.”
Lily presses play. “Mal, I don’t think you’ve seen this footage yet either.”
Narisa puts her hand up and turns away. "No! No thank you, I might be glad he's dead but I don't enjoy the idea of watching him die. I've only ever seen that once at the scene of an accident. It's an experience I don't wish to repeat if I can help it."
"I could watch it," Mal says confidently. "Rory told me it was funny as hell! ...course she's a stone cold killer. Her humor might be broken..."
Ollie comes out with a jug of concentrate, and sets it down, noticing the holoscreen. “Hold up, what’s this now?” I- wait, do I know that Chieftain?”
Malcom smirks. "I guess you must."
Narisa doesn't share their interest in the"Sweetie, I love you, but I think if the three of you are watching I'm going to go fix myself a cup of tea instead. Do you think five minutes is enough?" Narisa asks, suddenly looking a bit green in the face.
Lily immediately pauses and closes the projector. “Sorry, that was… too much. I will tell you that I killed Silas only moments after he realized it was his own child holding him at gunpoint in his own ship.”
Relieved that there's not going to be any video, she covers her mouth and nods as air puffs out of her nose while she rolls the idea around her head in an abstract way. "There's a poetic justice to that, I think."
“Yeah, there really is. But..." Her face falls. "I still miss Ronni. She was the woman who first came running over to me when I fainted in the garden my first time at Chilton Terminal. And I- I'm sorry. I guess I don't know how to treat a mom yet..."
"Oh, that's not about being a mother, that's just me. I can't stand watching that kind of stuff. I haven't seen you for almost 20 years. You think a little something like that is going to scare me off?"
Lily lets out a small huff of relief. “I- good point.” She looks back up at Narisa and smiles, before locking and re-waking her comms pad, which shows a picture of her and Phoenix. “Mom, this is… Phoenix. My love.”
Oliver leans to get a better look. “They remind me of Selena and I’s kid, kinda…”
"Oh my goodness. They do! Maybe it's that big queer energy about them because they really don't look similar but you can just... See it."
“Wait I have a… a nibling?”
"Oh! Ollie, she doesn't know!" Narisa suddenly looks very excited as she hops up and gets to work mixing a cold glass of chai tea for herself and her little Chinchilla. "I can't wait for you to meet them!"
Ollie raises his eyebrows in realization. "Oh, right!"
Lily's eyebrows look like they're about to ascend off her forehead. "Well then, that's something for sure. Also, Selena? I definitely want to meet her too. And the four of you might be able to stop by Chilton Terminal sometime and meet my friends... well, family, really..."
"I'm sure I'd love that," Narisa says and pushes a stray lock of hair behind Lily's ear. "I'm proud of you already. I can't imagine how much I'm going to enjoy your found family. Are they all this gay or did I just get lucky?" she teases.
“Not all this gay, but… a lot of the closer ones are. Personal preference of mine, I guess.”
"Oh, I'm just teasing. It's not like I'm one of the straights either." She finishes up stirring the chai together and places a cool glass with ice in front of Lily. "Malcom, can I get you anything?"
"I wouldn't mind a cold beer or a... You know, I can't ever find Coke outside of Sol. You got any?"
"Hmm, sorry. I can't ever seem to get stock out here. Whenever I do, it sells out in days. Is beer okay? I have other sodas if you like."
Mal shrugs. "Worth a shot. Sure, a nice light pilsner if you have one." He watches as she takes a few steps to the cooler and comes back with a tall aluminum bottle of beer. "Gracias."
Lily raises an eyebrow at Narisa. "Oh, you're not one of the straights? I mean, makes sense, but still."
"Well, maybe not the most necessary thing to share with your child, but... Yes, I've dated some women before. Nothing that really lasted, obviously. But after I got away... I mean I had always felt attracted to women... But after being with that man and his murder masculinity I just... Couldn't even stand to be around them for the longest time. It practically took Ollie moving in to prove to me that the whole gender wasn't just garbage. No offense, Malcom."
"Ah, yeah... took me a long time to realize I actually like men too. First half of the awakening was my friend Solix, who's aro-ace so it didn't really click, I guess? Second half was... hey, can you all keep a galactic secret? I mean, it's not totally a secret, but... still don't want a piece of this getting around, for political reasons."
"You can count on me!" Mal says between mouthfuls.
Narisa concurs. "It never leaves this room, okay?"
Ollie even scoffs at the idea he'd let it slip. "What's one more secret to keep? You got my word."
"Okay, so the second half of my bisexual awakening was in the tightest bit of diplomacy I've ever pulled off... I was on a mission to support CTAC's traveling diner Dolphin and help forge ties with a squadron called Titan Contractors. It happened aboard the squadron's lead carrier, the Solaris, while we were visiting the Generation Ship Artemis. I made a little trip out to have a look, and scanned the superstructure, and found what appeared to be a strange human ship locked to the outside. It took off and waked out impossibly close to the megaship, and I waked out to follow it... Long story short, I spent the next couple weeks helping that ship's pilot get accustomed to life in the Bubble among human society. His name is Deranov, and he's the first person ever to leave the Scriveners Clan. And... he was very kind to me, and everyone else, and incredibly talented and smart, and... he's a good friend, even though I haven't seen him since that mission."
"Oh my word. That is about as close to falling in love with an alien as you can get!" Narisa joked, casually. "Sounds like he must have been a very gentle soul."
“He was. Still is, I’m sure. He kinda started to grow fond of a commander named Sharales. If I had to guess, they’re probably in a relationship by now. A wonderfully gay one, heh...” Lily smiles, thinking about them.
"So how long until I have to start packing for your wedding?" Narisa giggles a bit. "I'm sorry, I'm teasing, I'm just... I'm so overwhelmed and awkward I feel like I'm going to burst!"
Lily also giggles. “Me? Married? Huh?”
Mal is also laughing as he leans back in his chair. "And which of her loves you think she should marry, Mom? The girl with the flowers in her hair or the hyper enby ace disaster?"
“Hey, that’s my mom.”
"That's as may be, but she's the only mom here. And in a playful mood, too!"
"You think so? I hoped as much. I feel I might be coming off as a nervous wreck or something- wait, girl with flowers in her hair?"
Ollie takes a reassuring tone. "You're also coming off as a bit nervous, yeah. But that's... understandable. And relatable. Finally I meet Chinchilla, and she's my sister, and... yeah, it's a bit nerve-wracking. Also, who's this flower girl?"
Lily blushes. "I'll tell you about Mags another time, heh... yeah, she's- hot- I'm gonna stop now."
"Well I suppose we had to get to know you sometime! Honestly I wasn't even sure you would be able to find us after Silas stayed away for so many years... How did you find me, anyway?"
“Well, I… had a flashback. To the few minutes before you left. It hit very suddenly, and very hard. I actually face-planted and broke my nose… and I remembered you. I had some vague memory of having a mom, and then not having one… I thought my mom was dead all those years. Silas tried to make me forget. But I remembered that he shot you… except I never saw your dead body. I knew he didn’t kill you that day, and I… I spent a lot of time and effort preparing myself mentally before I even tried to find you. But the only way I found you was what I remembered of you, and that military port. With the help of Mal’s partner, I found court records with public charges against Silas, and that you failed to appear. Apparently once you got to Sol, you were difficult to trace, and I had no idea who Oliver Foster was. But eventually the trail ended here in Fairwater, with evidence that you lived here.”
Mal blurts again. Maybe he shouldn't have chewed that Valium tablet. "Rory Bael found you. Swear that woman can find anyone. Or anything." he says, taking another sip of beer- which may or may not be a good idea.
"Rory? Oh! That's your partner, isn't it? I think you mentioned her. Yes, she sounds like a skillful lady. Like how Ollie tracked me down a while ago. ...Listen, I'll be honest, I don't have any interest in working anymore today. I know it's peak tourist season, but god, this is so wonderful. I'd rather we lock up and head upstairs. Ollie! Maybe they can meet your family?"
Ollie stands up and shrugs, looking at the group. “No objections from me or anyone else? Then sure!”
----
My sincerest gratitude goes out to Rory, who not only played Mal, but also Narisa, and she did such a wonderful job. It's honestly very touching, the way a former self-insert character of me is finally meeting her wonderful mother.