The most recent gift from the hotel for him was bittersweet. A handful of assorted gardening pots and seeds to plant were better suited for Ivy but ...she was no longer here. It was strange to miss someone that he knew so little about. Yet he did miss her. Geralt wasn’t used to the concept of friends but he had considered the woman to be one of the few he could trust. It was a shame that she had left. Especially since he still owed her an apology.
It was a heavy heart that led him to the greenhouse that morning. He’d left Roach and Jaskier behind, still snuggled beneath the covers. His guilt would keep him company. When he arrived, he could see that the plants were neglected and beginning to droop. No doubt Ivy had kept them chipper but now, without her, they almost looked depressed without their caretaker.
Geralt did his best to go around and take care of what he could. The new pots and seeds he set to the side near the door as he went about watering all the plants, one by one.
—-
Ever since Anakin left the hotel Padme had been trying to figure out what she wanted to do to fill her days. She didn’t want to bother Luke and Ben with her boredom too often because that would just be silly. Having the hotels drop them off at random locations was a nice break in the monotony and allowed her to go out and explore a little. When they weren’t at locations she was wandering around the hotel to figure out all the nooks and crannies. She didn’t like living in a space where she didn’t know where everything was.
Today her feet led her out to the grounds and she saw a building in the distance. Somehow she had never really taken the time to fully explore out here, which led to the discovery of a greenhouse, a very happy one. She opened the door and saw Geralt inside. “Hello, am I intruding?” Padme called out to him, not wanting to frighten him with her entrance. She had never had much free time on her hands, but she had enjoyed helping her parents with the garden back on Naboo.
—-
Geralt knew better than to think that he was the only one to visit the greenhouse. He might have avoided it a little after stealing those flowers for his boyfriend but he’d made sure to walk by now and then. Especially after the hotel had thought it humorous to switch up everyone’s gifts and abilities. Being in Ivy’s leaves, even for a little while, had given him perspective. Afterwards, he’d gained a new reverence for her and her plants.
He did miss how freeing it had been. But that was the point of dreams.
When he first heard a voice, at first he’d thought that perhaps it was Ivy coming back to chastise him about overwatering her precious children. He’d been knelt over a little fern, a watering can tipped over into its pot, and nearly knocked it over in his hurry to stand up.
“Ah. Padme.” The lady he’d helped before from the bugs. “It’s only me in here.” Geralt stepped forward to meet her near the entrance. “No, it’s not a bother. I was only trying to take care of the plants here. But I’m not sure how well I’m doing.”
—-
“Nice to see you again, Geralt,” Padme commented with a smile. The man had become an unexpected friend after she appeared in that disgusting Bug World. She had been extremely appreciative of him and his boyfriend’s help in making sure she stayed alive. It had been a very eye opening experience for her first time appearing in this hotel, “I certainly didn’t expect to see you in here.”
He didn’t seem like the type of person to have a green thumb, but Padme knew better than to judge people, “Do you want some help? I’ve taken care of a few house plants back with my parents, but I’m definitely rusty.” It had been silly to not take care of plants on a place like Naboo that was so flush with greenery. She liked the idea of helping out in the greenhouse and it would have the potential to give her a sense of purpose.
—-
Padme was a sweet little woman that always seemed to have a smile on her face. Though there was a softness to her eyes that even made Geralt want to be protective over her. Perhaps she reminded him of his own nearly-forgotten mother or he was turning soft. Either way, he was glad to see her. “I had a friend who was taking care of this place but,” his face fell. “She’s no longer here so I’m trying to see what I can do.”
Which wasn’t much, unfortunately. Water could only bring back so much life to them.
Geralt nodded, relieved to have someone who might have more experience with plants around. “Would you mind? I know how to plant them in the ground and wait for them to grow but as far as bringing them back to life, I’m at a loss.” He shrugged and stepped aside for her. “What should we do first?”
—-
Geralt reminded her of Anakin a lot, gruff looking on the outside, but sweet on the inside.Talking to him had shown how nice he actually was even though he was completely ruthless to those bugs when they first met. “Oh no, I’m sorry your friend is gone. It’s smart to come check on the greenhouse now that they’re not here,” Padme knew how that went because she was still feeling the loss of Anakin. It was odd how people just disappeared and sometimes they came back?
“Sounds about like most of the experience I’ve had,” Padme admitted with a laugh, “I think we should go through and water the plants first. Then we can see if anything needs us to replant them? It looks like she’s done a really good job so far with it, so hopefully there’s not a lot for us to do.” It was in this moment that she wished she was one of the people here with magical powers so she could make water appear.
—-
He’d heard of Padme’s loss as well. Though it had appeared that Anakin had been more than a friend to her. It was selfish to hope or pray that the same did not happen to him. If he were separated from Jaskier, there was no guarantee that he would be able to find his way back to him. Of course he would try. Nothing would stop him but the magic here appeared incredibly powerful. More than even Yennefer could combat against. And who knew how long it would take to break through … if he even could.
But it was a waste of time and energy to worry about that right now. He had to focus on the present.
He smiled and nodded, grateful for her sweet words. “She had a special talent,” Geralt replied as he looked over the plants again. They all looked like they needed more than just water but unfortunately, whatever magic Ivy had was taken with her.
“Have you been well since your own friend’s departure?”
—-
“Oh, was she blessed with some kind of power with plants? I’ve been so curious about how everyone who comes here seems to have different magic in their lives. Where I come from we just have The Force, which is like a magical energy embedded in all living things but some people can channel it more than others,” Padme had always been a little in awe of the Jedi and how they could wield the Force.
“And he was my husband,” it was still strange to say that aloud since it had been such a secret back in their timeline, “And I’ve been okay. My son and grandson have been keeping me company and trying their best to keep my spirits up. It’s just disappointing to see him disappear.” Padme was angry, but she had become so practiced at now showing it that she was using this greenhouse opportunity to channel some of that anger into something productive.
—-
Geralt had never gotten the specifics to how Ivy had gained her talent for flora but from the little pieces he’d been able to put together, it hadn’t been an easy life for her. Would she have considered her gift a blessing? The witcher again wished she were here to answer that herself. But he nodded, feeling that in some sense, Ivy was very proud of what she could do. She often referred to the plants as her children. “She was gifted with a connection to them,” was the best way he could explain it.
To Geralt, the Force sounded like just another fancy word for magic but he chose to keep that to himself. It was a different sort of magic than he had grown up around. This was something that a person was born with, not mutated upon with.
“Ah. Husband. You must miss him even more then.” Family was good though. At least she had that. And some weird turkey-looking animal as a pet.
Geralt began to move some pots and rearrange a few of the plants so that they would get more sun. Some dirt spilled and he tried to scoop it back inside, getting his hands covered in soil. “Perhaps he will show up again. A friend of mine did exactly the same thing recently. Can’t say their memories of this place will follow. It’s hard to know what this hotel will do or not do to us next.”
—-
“I do,” Padme answered, her voice heavy with emotion, which surprised her a little, “It was just nice being somewhere we didn’t have to hide being married. Our marriage is frowned upon in my world.” The whole Jedi shall not have attachment things always bothered Padme and she had hoped that maybe they would get the chance to make a change to the Order, but it didn’t seem like that chance happened.
Her spirits perked up when Geralt explained that sometimes people do return. She gave him a smile as she moved to dig her hands into the dirt of the plant closest to her. It was nice to get her fingers dirty and to help something grown, “Well, I very much hope that he does return. I wouldn’t be upset if he didn’t remember his short time here as long as he remembered who I was.” It was as simple as that.
—-
He nodded as he listened to her story. It couldn’t have been easy for them. Padme and Anakin were so young. Geralt wouldn’t mention how many young and naive lovers he’d come to know in his time. Or that most of the time, he was dealing with their spirits. The world didn’t treat its youth kindly. Or love. Putting both together was a tragedy waiting to happen. “At least you were together for a time. All you can do is cherish the memories.” Geralt couldn’t recall many happy memories that he felt was precious to him. A fair few but not many.
“Jaskier-” the witcher paused to clarify. “My boyfriend. We’ve discussed the possibilities of that exact problem. I’ll tell you the same thing I told him,” he turned his head and grinned. “You’ll just have to fall in love all over again.” Alright, he was summarizing a little but the feeling was the same.
---
Geralt was a lot more empathic than she expected him to be in this situation and it made her smile. She really appreciated his sentiment and was thankful that the hotel had thrown them together during that first stop.
The comment about Jaskier made her chuckle and she soaked in that grin of his. It wasn't often that she saw him looking that happy, "That is a beautiful way of looking at it. That is so very sweet. You two make a very lovely couple." She hoped that situation would go for her and Anakin if he returned and didn't remember her. She would worry about that if the situation arose, but for now she would concentrate on helping these plants bloom.
—-
Contrary to what most believed, Geralt was capable of caring for others outside of himself. In fairness, he did find it difficult at times to feel empathetic. Especially towards humans who were rude or cruel. His heart bled more for the downtrodden and the trampled. The ones who were taken advantage of and beaten because of their class or race. All should be treated as equals. In a perfect world.
But, it would be rude to not credit his time in the hotel for ...softening him.
“Everything will work out,” Geralt added with a nod and a smile. It was unusually optimistic of him to say but he felt that Padme could use a comforting word. “I, hm, you can always call on me if you need assistance with anything. No charge,” he teased at the end.
—-
He was very similar to Padme in that sense. Fighting for justice and equality. It was important to her for people to feel supported and not be taken advantage of by the government. She may not have special powers, so she did the best she could. She was going to have to talk to Luke and see if anything ever changed.
"Thanks, Geralt, I greatly appreciate that generous discount. You are a good friend," Padme commented with a light laugh. It was amusing to hear him tease her. She would have to make sure to add more time with him to her list of things to work on in the hotel. Friends were hard to come by in the Senate so she cherished the ones she made.