apping to counted_stars next cycle

[headstronger]

I'm trying to build my own life now, and you want to drag me off to space? What happened to staying home and writing? Just me and K9 and Brendan until he goes back to school. I don't need any more trouble.

No, I'm serious! I'm done traveling time and space. This just wouldn't be the same.

Comments

[sandwormie]

No one with sense would think you're crazy for that. People get homesick.

I've been on Coruscant for a while, but Tatooine's different. Lots of open space. It's very hot, not crowded at all, really dusty, and boring.

[headstronger]

People always say that the place they're from is boring. Didn't you have any fun?

[sandwormie]

Not always. Most of my friends never want to leave... I don't get it.

Mostly racing. I'm, um, not legally old enough to drive anything faster than a hoverscoot, but if you don't get too close no one really cares. [This is an exaggeration. His aunt and uncle would be furious if they knew... he thinks. They probably do know and aren't sure if they should confront him on it.] Landspeeders aren't really flying, I know, but they're as close as I can get now.

One day I'm going to be a real pilot.

[headstronger]

I hope you wear your seatbelt. [ She's not going to scold, though. He's not her kid. ]

Airplane pilot, or spaceship?

[sandwormie]

Of course! I'm young, but I figured out already that I'm not invincible.

Spaceship, definitely. But I wouldn't mind figuring out how to fly in atmosphere, too - that's probably more exciting. More dodging, anyway.

[headstronger]

Dodging? I hope not. Planes don't usually make such maneuvers.

Good luck with your piloting, though.

[sandwormie]

They do - or airspeeders do anyway - if you fly through canyons or around jagged rocks. Good speeder pilots on Tatooine who spend a lot of time flying through places like that are called bush pilots. ...I'm not sure why. We don't exactly have a lot of those plants.

Thanks!

[headstronger]

Well, that's a term I know, actually. People use it in my world to talk about traveling through dangerous terrain. Like canyons and jagged rocks, I imagine. The bush is more of an idea.

[sandwormie]

Oh, yeah? Huh! Why is it called the bush? I've seen some in gardens on Coruscant. They're not very dangerous.

[headstronger]

Well, in my world, they were talking about someplace called Africa in particular. I've never been, but there were all these stories about traveling into the African bush, which was sometimes like a jungle but also sometimes like a dangerous desert. It's more of a collective idea than a reference to an actual plant.

[sandwormie]

Weird! I guess that happened with people who settled Tatooine too. They took the term with them.

[headstronger]

The little coincidences between worlds are funny sometimes. That's one I never would have guessed.

[sandwormie]

Yeah. Man, isn't the galaxy great?

[headstronger]

It really is pretty fascinating. I'll look forward to meeting you again.