Starless Horizon RP File #15
(Vela’s part in italics.)
While Dritz had slept all night, Vela had only rested her usual few hours before rising to begin setting things in order. She didn't know how he might want his things placed, but at the least she could hang his clean clothing in the bedroom closet. This task took longer than she even could have expected. Once it was all done, however, she had to smile in amusement at the sight of Dritz's bright colors next to her shades of grey and black. She put anything else she owned where she thought best, then could only wait for him to awaken and handle his own.
She picked up his datapad, taking a few moments to look him over before joining him in the bed again. His mouth was open and he was snoring, but it only made her smile fondly. Climbing in, she pulled up his arm to nestle underneath, quite warm as she began to run searches on various topics of interest to her. She decided she would need to get her own datapad soon, since it would be more convenient for them both.
Dritz awoke to something small and warm nestled under his arm, and it took a minute for him to register what was happening. He opened his eyes and squinted at Vela before smiling drowsily.
"G'morn," he managed to mumble, pulling her closer and flopping his head against her shoulder. He continued to mumble something inaudible that might have been something about her smelling nice, spelling twice or shelling rice. After a minute, he snorted and sat up, "I'm awake. I am."
As Dritz gradually awakened, Vela turned the datapad off and set it on the table at the side of the bed, just as he pulled her in closer. She pressed close in return, giving him a kiss at the corner of his mouth as her own form of 'good morning.' Not exactly sure what he had said, she smiled anyway as he finally attempted to sit up and assert he was awake.
[Did you sleep well? I hung up your clothes, I hope that's alright. You can put away the rest of your things now, or wait until after breakfast.] She leaned back to look at his sleepy face fondly, brushing away strands of hair that had flopped to the front.
Dritz made a light, happy noise in the back of his throat, a definite insectile chirp, as she kissed him.
"Mmmnah... As much as I do want breakfast, and very soon, I should unpack," he said, lazily stretching and slipping out of bed. At some point he had drowsily discarded the majority of his clothes, leaving him to wander about their room in his underwear, putting his remaining things away before pulling out his clothing for the day; a garishly striped sweater. As he dressed, he leaned over to kiss Vela, beaming, "Thank you for unpacking, flower. Shall we head out and get some foooood?"
Vela watched as Dritz tidied up and dressed, not feeling too awkward about the situation at all. She had already dressed in her own clothing, a soft and warm but fairly light shirt and leggings in dark grey. They were not as bulky as what she usually wore, showing more of her body shape, which she had the suspicion Dritz liked to see.
She agreed readily enough to food, feeling hungry herself. Apparently she also felt a little bold, because she slipped her hand into his as they left their room. It was inspired by the way he would touch her hand, but she had felt it was meant to be more, and hoped she was doing it correctly.
They turned their steps toward the fifth ring, an air of perfect contentment about them, but abruptly Vela had the sense that something was not quite right. She stopped, with Dritz continuing a short distance and almost pulling her, and looked behind them.
Had someone just ducked behind that pillar as she turned...?
The sensation of Vela's hand slipping into his own made Dritz's stomach flutter... Or was it hunger? He didn't recall hunger ever feeling so strangely pleasant.
As they walked through the manufactured streets, hand in hand, Dritz had been in such a daze that he didn't immediately realise when Vela stopped.
"What's wrong, flower?" he asked, his usual grin faltering when he looked at her properly, knowing something was amiss.
Vela shook her head at first, wanting to think she was incorrect, but then saw that whoever was following them had noticed her attention and was coming out into the open, a sight which chilled her nearly more than the harshest winds on Aurctas.
"Observant, aren't you?" It was the harsh, guttural voice of one of the gilled men they had run across previously, what felt so long ago. Vela had thought they were safe, but now she knew she should have perhaps been more careful. Quickly she stepped back, though still holding Dritz's hand, and cautiously regarded the pair before them.
It seemed to be the same two as last time, or she assumed. One of them had an irregularly shaped scar running up the side of his face that she remembered from before. Otherwise, they were highly alike in form and features, but they addressed Dritz and Vela with some familiarity.
"And here I was hoping it wasn't true," the larger one laughed. He seemed to be the leader between the two, the one who might be the most dangerous. "But now I've seen it. You've come from the same room, and here you are, holding hands... Disgusting."
"How can you do it with something like that?" the shorter man snickered, pointing at Vela. She didn't know why they were fixating on this issue right away unless it was to get a rise out of them, but she tried to stay calm as she waited for Dritz to speak.
Dritz bristled, recognising the two almost immediately, and stepped in front of her. His hand in Vela's was trembling minutely, but this time it was anger, not fear as before.
He took a step forward, squeezing her hand before letting go. He was shaking, his eyes with thunder behind them and a rage in his chest that he didn't recognise. Before he knew it, he had marched up to them, drawing himself level with the taller of the two while dwarfing the other.
Regarding them both with a scowl, he said calmly but firmly, "Wanna repeat that, friend? Go on. See what it gets you. I was polite last time, but I'm prepared to not be."
He waited, until deciding he had given them enough of his patience last time. He snatched at the shorter one's collar, hoisting him up with one arm and glaring at him.
Vela watched, her good eye wide as Dritz grabbed the collar of the shorter man and he began to flail awkwardly.
"Hey... hey! Let go! I was only joking! Can't you take a joke?" he babbled, trying to twist away. "I didn't mean anything by it. Tarav, tell him to let me go!"
The taller gilled man, Tarav, only continued chuckling with his eyes narrowed. "Shut it, Glaan. Stop acting like such a merrh. You insulted this fine Chrysalan, and I think it's only fair you pay for it. Go on, then."
He was addressing Dritz now, seeming to watch him closely. "I figure a comment like that deserves at least a punch to the face. Or two. You decide." Vela crept a little nearer, ready to help if she had to, but stopped when Tarav's eyes flicked toward her in a hostile stare.
Much as he didn't like how he was acting in that moment, the Chrysalan felt a tiny degree of satisfaction that the shorter, Gland or whatever he was called, seemed so frightened. Dritz's gaze snapped to the taller gilled man and he narrowed his eyes. "I wouldn't waste my energy," he said quietly, letting the short one drop to the ground again. "And, if I recall, you made an unpleasant comment too."
He leaned closer, eyeing Tarav, "And how many punches does your comment earn, I wonder? If I were the sort of lowlife kzitzr to start physical fights, of course. Lucky for you, I'm not."
"Lucky for me," Tarav responded just as quietly, attempting to stare Dritz down. "But also lucky for you. Assaulting someone like me wouldn't be a wise choice."
He didn't explain this, and Vela watched as Glaan scurried back around to the side of his companion, his attitude apparently recovered now that he was free. "It's your fault anyway, what we said. You brought it on yourself, being with that--" He bit off what he was about to say as Tarav shoved him roughly.
"Shut up." The taller male's eyes still had a dangerous look, though they were now open only halfway. "How about you tell us, Chrysalan, why you're really with the Aurian. There's no reason to be, they only benefit from their own kind. It must be the money. It's brought you in plenty of credits, the metal?"
Of course they didn't believe she had no Ve. With an anxious expression, Vela once again tried to edge her way forward. She didn't know what was about to happen, but couldn't bear the thought of Dritz possibly getting hurt.
Of course, Dritz turned back to Glaan with the same fire as before. The two of them were trying his patience, and while he was beginning to think it might be satisfying to punch one of them, he also felt a wave of nausea at the idea. He looked them up and down.
"You're pathetic," he sighed, rolling his eyes. "We've already wasted enough time on you... I'd say 'gentlemen', but I'm no damn liar." He took a step back, jabbing Tarav in the chest with his finger, the most aggressive action he could think of.
"Get. Lost. Find a ship and just piss off, or I will involve the station guard. If they don't ban you, I'll forcibly remove you myself.” He stared the taller one in the eyes for a long moment, his gaze cold and unblinking, before he backed away a good distance, keeping an eye on them.
Even though it seemed Tarav was quite irritated when Dritz poked him in the chest, the gilled man didn't make any move in return. Instead he smiled, but closer to a sneer, lips parting to show strangely sharp teeth.
"You're a bit different than last time," he said quietly. "But you still haven't answered my question. Why stay with the Aurian? A simple fetish for the exotic? Or is it bringing in enough credits to fulfill any other desires you might have?"
"He wants it all for himself," Glaan blurted out eagerly. "It's why he won't say. He's rich now. Maybe the Aurian's been taking him back to the planet, getting him more of the metal, all he wants. Why not have him join us? We're already--"
"Glaan," Tarav hissed, though he didn't stop smiling. "Shut up, I told you." He shifted his attention back to Dritz, beginning to glare. "You can't get the guard involved. We've done nothing to you. Unless talking is a crime now? Have we laid a hand on you? No. I want the answer for why you're with that creature. I want that first. You'll tell me... or else."
Vela did not like the sound of "or else." She was watching Dritz closely, incredibly worried about him more than anything.
"Or else what?" Dritz said, stepping back up to the fish man, "What possible benefit is your learning of my connection to her? I don't give a damn about some useless metal, since I was brought up to actually work for my credits! I don't want for money, you petty, impossible little-," he spat, too angry to even register his rising concern any more. "I don't give a crap for the metal. So I'll tell you again; piss off."
It looked as though Glaan was becoming excited the longer Dritz talked, eagerly leaning forward when he approached again. "'Her,'" he giggled manically. "That's what he called it. So it is like that. It's like that, and he's getting the money too, he's just too disgusted to admit it to himself!"
Seeming to recognize something, Tarav stepped back from them both, just as Glaan rushed at Dritz with both fists raised. He didn't look like a capable fighter, yet Vela still ran forward in concern. But Dritz was distracted with Glaan, and Tarav was moving to reach her now. She could not run or hope to fight back, unable to leave Dritz, and knowing the taller gilled man was too strong for her even as he locked an arm around her and held her from behind, so tightly that breathing proved more difficult. There was a gleam of metal from the corner of her eye, and she knew one of his hands must now be holding a knife.
He should have known it would come down to a physical altercation, but Dritz was still unprepared, Glaan managing to get an awkward something-that-could-be-a-punch-if-one-were-to-squint in Dritz's stomach, but he was able to shrug it off and grab the gilled man by the wrists, twisting his arms sharply while keeping his usual strength restrained, hating that it had come to such a thing. With a very quick spin around, he had Glaan in some sort of arm lock, held against him.
As he calmed, he could see Tarav had Vela in a similar position, a knife poised by her mechanical eye. Wrenching Glaan's arms for emphasis, he called to the other one, "You want credits? I'll give you all I have if you take your hands off her, let her go about her business. You said it yourselves. I'm rich."
The harsh sound of Tarav's laughter sounded loud in Vela's ear. "Sure, we want credits. But it's not just about that. This one is worth more credits than you've got. It'll know where to find more of what we want." He was squeezing her harder, and she could feel her breath coming out in painful gasps. The corners of her vision in her left eye were blurring just slightly, and the knife was nearer than ever.
"Merrgani," announced a loud, familiar voice just then. Those who were able to froze, and Vela felt the hold on her relax enough to where she could breathe comfortably again. She took in one deep swallow of air after another and focused on that, while turning her head enough to see the one who had spoken.
"Merrgani," Fera repeated. He looked as though he couldn't believe what he'd just said. He also looked as immaculately beautiful as always in his pure white clothing, hair elegantly arranged, but today Vela thought the hue of his skin, which had always been pinkish before, had more of a pearlescent shine. "I'm impressed. You've dragged yourselves out of the swamp. What are you doing with my Aurian? I suggest she be released, unless you've a taste for fire. Which I already know you don't." He raised one hand to flick his fingers slightly, and Vela could see a faint glow coming from them.
"Your..." Tarav managed to say before flinching. "Coronal?" It didn't take him much longer to shove Vela away, roughly, so that she nearly fell on the floor. Staggering, her immediate impulse was to go to Dritz, though she hesitated as he was still holding onto Glaan.
Everything had happened in such a blur that Dritz barely registered Tarav's words, Prince Fera's presence or his authoritative tones. He did, however, only see Vela thrown unceremoniously to the ground. With all his might behind him, he shoved Glaan away, darting around and over to Vela, picking her up and enveloping her, kissing her forehead. He cupped her face and looked her over. Now that he was back to himself, his hands were shaking almost violently, and he was pale.
"If I find even the tiniest mark on you," he was muttering, seemingly to himself. "You're okay, flower."
Vela gladly welcomed Dritz picking her up and holding her close, even in full sight of everyone. "Okay," she managed to repeat in affirmation of what he had said, as she could not use her hands. "Dritz... okay?" She leaned her forehead against his face desperately, able to tell something was wrong from his appearance and the way he shook.
Even should she have worried about how they looked to the others, there would have been no need to. The Merrgani both had their eyes glued to Fera, and they were nearly cringing away. "Better," the prince said, looking down his nose at them. "But there wasn't a need to be so rough. The Aurian is valuable merchandise."
"You," Tarav croaked, guttural in his apparent fear. "I've seen your face all over the posters. You're not just any Coronal. You're damned royalty."
"You're damned right," Fera sneered mockingly. "Now I suggest you leave, and forget all about the Aurian, because I saw her first. Unless you want me to ask my parents for a special favor against the Merrgan homeworld. I'm sure they'd be willing to oblige."
It didn't look as though Tarav and Glaan needed further convincing. They didn't even so much as look at Dritz and Vela again, but left as quickly as they had appeared. "I hate the smell of fish," Fera remarked, finally glancing over at them and away again. "Good thing for you I don't hold grudges."
Vela felt that wasn't true at all, but was so grateful for the prince's help that she would accept anything just then. She continued holding onto Dritz, waiting to see if he felt well enough to speak.
The edges of Dritz's vision were blurred, but with his eyes closed, he began to feel less faint, "Me? I'm fine. Nooo problem. None at all." Despite saying this, however, he remained clinging to Vela, his eyes closed, until it was clear he was using her for support, and not the other way around.
"I cant think of anything more to say but thank you," the Chrysalan mumbled with incredibly weak humour, turning towards where he had heard Fera's voice coming from.
He eventually raised his head, letting Vela go but keeping her hand in his own, opening his eyes. He was still fairly pale, but shaking less as he cleared his throat. With a smile closer to his usual manner, he bowed awkwardly to the prince. "To what do we owe the pleasure of your assistance, and company?"
Vela didn't think that Dritz was telling her the truth, but there was no way to ask further for now. He had held onto her for long moments before letting go, and even then couldn't seem to release her hand. Naturally she didn't mind, squeezing it gently in the hope it would still his shaking completely.
Meanwhile, Fera appeared to be alternating between looking at them and then looking away, awkward in a manner yet unseen from him. "Well. I suppose you could say I've been bored. And I was in this corner of the galaxy anyway. And I had nothing better to do."
Seeming to have run out of his list of excuses, the Coronal sighed in an exaggerated fashion. "Anyway. I was about to dine at the establishment just around the corner from here, and heard the noise you all were making. Now that I've done my good deed for the next decade or so, I believe I will just return there." He paused, eyes falling on their joined hands before shrugging. "Join me if you care to." With that, he spun on one heel and walked away, disappearing around the corner.
After he had gone, Vela turned to Dritz with both confusion and worry written on her face. "Are you really alright?" she signed, needing to let go of his hand to do so. The matter of whether or not they would join Fera could wait for now.
Dritz had been about to stop Fera, holding a hand up half a heartbeat too slowly to halt him, if he had even been able to. He strongly believed in appreciation and gratitude, and he would not settled until he felt the prince had accepted his thanks.
Alone with Vela, he sighed deeply, pressing their foreheads together. "I'm better than I was. I almost wanted to break that lousy fish's arm. That's... Really not me. I'm not that person, but I came so close to being. It just makes me feel a bit... Crap," he chuckled weakly.
Cupping her face once more, he asked, "What about you?"
Leaning back a little, Vela gazed into Dritz's eyes to study him with the slightest hint of sorrow. [I know that's not you. You were scared and worried about me. It was a dangerous situation, maybe one you've never been in before. You seem very protective, and I understand. I don't think differently of you.]
Only able to hope this would help him, she smiled gently at his touch on her face, reaching back to touch his for a moment. [I'm alright. I just wish this all wasn't because of me. It feels like my fault. Especially since it's made you feel bad.]
She stepped back to try to prevent him from saying anything in return, quickly signing, [Are we going to join him? He did help us.]
"Nooo, it's not your-" Dritz stopped, listening to her as she signed. He glanced in the direction the prince had gone, tapping his chin.
"I dunno... I do want to thank him. Maybe we could buy him his meal. It's not the best way to show our gratitude, but there's no other way with him, I don't think. He seems like the sort that responds best to money..."
He whisked Vela into his arms, tucking her close to him and following the path of the prince.
When they arrived at what Fera had called an "establishment," Vela could see why he had used a different word. There was no way to imagine him at one of the simple shops they tended to frequent, and one suited for a prince was of course quite decadent and certainly expensive-looking.
Money was naturally no object, so Vela felt no reservation with leading Dritz inside, quickly spotting Fera sitting at a table with more than enough room for all three of them, as though he had expected them to join. If there was a flash of relief in the Coronal's eyes upon seeing them, it was gone so fast one could doubt it was there at all.
"Sit down," he practically demanded as they approached, though there was no warmth behind the words. "I haven't even decided what to have yet." He held a finger elegantly poised over the gilt menu on the table in front of him. "I swear to all the gods, this station is the worst. Only ten varieties of wine on offer. I need a good wine with my morning meal, and having to make do with this meagre assortment is really not improving my opinion."
Vela sat down with a hesitant smile at Dritz, not having much of an idea what Fera was talking about at all.
Dritz allowed himself a moment or two to gawp at the décor and variety of folk who were dressed similarly wealthily to Fera, though none had so much flair and quality in their presentation as the prince himself, who seemed just as icy as always.
Dritz pulled up a chair opposite him, smiling sympathetically. "I don't know if it will help, but some of the classier places keep a secret selection. It might be worth asking, flashing them a handsome smile. At the very least they might find you some champagne, which might be better than these?" he offered, glancing through the list, though it was clear he knew nothing of wine himself.
After a moment, he added quietly, "I really do appreciate your help back there. It doesn't go any way to repaying you, but if you'll let me, I'd like to pay for your meal? Y'know, as thanks?"
Fera stared at Dritz a long moment before the lure of better alcohol made up his mind. It only took him another moment to process what the Chrysalan said next and dismiss it with a wave of his hand. "Your gratitude is noted. But I'd rather you didn't pay for me. I'm about to have a lot to drink, and I'm not sure you can take care of that."
He smirked, standing up to saunter toward the bar in a vaguely seductive manner. Perhaps if the man there knew he was a prince, and an attractively elegant one at that, he would find himself with a limitless supply of better beverages. Dritz had mentioned champagne, and it hadn't even crossed his mind to attempt to ask for that drink, one of his particular favorites.
After Fera had walked off, Vela turned to Dritz with a puzzled but unsurprised expression. [I guess that didn't work. I'm not sure he really even accepted your thanks. But maybe it doesn't matter. Why do you think he really helped us?] It was a thought which was weighing on her mind currently, considering the Coronal had taken advantage of them before in such a way, claiming they had owed him a debt.
The Chrysalan shook his head, watching the prince go, admittedly with a raise of his eyebrows at the sway of his hips. There was definitely more to the immaculately presented young man than... well, anyone could possibly guess. Of course, Dritz could only shrug him off.
He turned to Vela with an amused shrug, his anxiety from the scuffle having dulled considerably, "No clue, flower. I don't imagine he did it for the good of us. He must be benefitting somehow, but for the moment I don't know exactly."
After a moment, he added quietly, touching her arm, "Are you sure you're alright?"
The idea of Fera benefiting from them somehow was worrisome to Vela, as she was not entirely certain he could be trusted yet. But the fact remained he had helped them twice, even if he had a tendency to be difficult about it in the meantime.
[We have to wait and see, I guess.] Dritz had questioned her if she was truly alright, and she reached back to brush her slender fingers along the side of his face before replying. [I am. But as I said, I am concerned that this happened because of me. I don't know what we should do. I don't want it to happen again... I don't want you to get hurt just because I exist outside of my world.] The truth, though she wouldn't tell him now, was that her concern was so great, she was even considering going back.
Fera was returning with a smug expression and a tall glass of liquid which was probably the champagne Dritz had mentioned. "He said he'll bring me more whenever I empty it." The prince sounded nearly giddy, sipping at his drink and exhaling in pleasure. "Never mind repaying me any other way, this is enough for me."
Vela's delicate touch was enough to reassure Dritz, and bring a little more colour to his face.
"It didn't happen because of you. The galaxy is full of greedy creatures who'd do anything to get hold of something someone else has. Its everywhere. As scary as it was, and as much as it saddens me, this happens to a lot of folk on poorer planets," he sighed. He dropped a hand between them and patted her knee gently. "We will be fine."
He turned his head and beamed when he saw Fera returning with champagne. He knew most places would have a store of something lurking in their cellars, waiting for a discerning palate.
"Enjoy, Prince Fera. Did you... Manage to order a meal as well?" he asked with a hint of amusement. It seemed the prince had his priorities straight.
Much as she wanted to believe Dritz, Vela wasn't entirely sure. Fera had warned them off, but who was to say that was really enough to deter them? What if they returned with even more Merrgani? They might not be able to hold off an attack by a larger group. Her consideration of returning to Aurctas alone could not be set aside, but first she would have to see if Dritz could find a place where he would belong. Then again, to leave him so soon after their relationship had just begun... It was difficult to bear that thought.
For now she nodded in agreement, turning as she saw Fera return. It was likely he would dominate the conversation from here, which she had no problem with, but she would keep her eye on him as usual.
"Oh, yes. I nearly forgot. This is so wonderful." He had his eyes closed and he was just smelling the champagne, to Vela's confusion. "I have ordered for all three of us. Don't worry, you will enjoy it, but it wasn't inexpensive. You'll have to pay for it on your own." He opened his eyes and smirked at them both, as though he had just played an incredible joke at their expense.
"By the way, what I said regarding the Aurian, in case you even heard: I don't have any sort of claim on her, nor do I want to. It was a tactic to get those disgusting fish to drop their interest. We Coronal can be even more bloodthirsty than they are, but in a more.... refined way, you understand." He held the stem of his glass between his fingers, swirling it around as he gave Dritz a sly look. "That's another reason you are lucky. The fact I have no personal interest in you, or her, or further need for money, having plenty of my own. Therefore I am incredibly benevolent, don't you think?" His smile was actually rather unpleasant, and Vela did not think that was at all true.
Dritz frowned deeply. Just as he was beginning to find a respect for the prince of Coronus, even bordering on a connection, maybe even the faint beginnings of a friendship, something always happened to ruin it. Namely, the prince would do or say something to wreck it, like a child building a tower out of bricks, but not having the steady hand to keep it upright.
"I expressed my gratitude when we first arrived," he said, his tone slipping towards the over-friendly, almost syrupy way he would deal with Fera. He was in two minds as to whether he should cancel their meals and save them the money, or show Fera that he couldn't presume them poor. Maybe he and Vela ought to have champagne too.
[Drink?] Dritz signed and spoke to Vela at the same time, smiling.
Not entirely understanding what was going on, Vela returned Dritz's smile hesitantly and nodded. It only took her a few brief moments to piece together that he was concerned due to Fera ordering them expensive food and unsure what to do about it, so she quickly made a decision.
[I'll have the same drink. And we can afford the food.] The look on Fera's face as Dritz translated and then walked to the bar, returning with champagne glasses for the both of them, was well worth it. He glared at them both darkly as though they had thwarted the best idea he'd ever had.
"Anyway, what would the Merrgani want with you? I understand they were after the Aurian, but they're hardly special. I didn't know you had such dangerous connections." Fera acted uninterested, but Vela thought he probably was, or he wouldn't ask such questions.
In the meantime, she tasted her drink and found it quite different from what she might have expected. The liquid nearly evaporated as soon as she took a sip. She ultimately decided it was much nicer than the drink they'd had with Fera before.
Dritz felt the slightest hint of smugness as his sipped his champagne, but did his best not to show it. Thankfully, Fera's questions caused him to bristle to the point of forgetting his minor triumph.
"I don't know," he lied. They were after some metal he didn't care about enough to remember. The point was that it put Vela in danger. "But it seems to me that they have some sort of racial beef with Aurians in general. And bullies are all over the place. There's a mechanic who refers to me as 'feelers', and I can't even begin to tell you what's wrong with that slur." He chuckled, shaking his head, his antennae undulating gently.
"You don't know," Fera repeated slowly, sounding suspicious. "Forgetting about that, I can see the racial hostility. Though to be so strong, it must go deeper than just a casual dislike. I wouldn't know, I decided I just could not be bothered to research the Aurians in general. But I've heard all the words others use in poor taste. Some are used for Coronal, if you can believe that. Fortunately, as a prince... anything directed at me could bring swift retribution. " His smile was satisfactory, evidently pleased with his status.
The meal arrived shortly thereafter, and Vela was surprised to see how small the portions were for food that was supposedly so expensive. She cast a worried glance at Dritz, thinking they would have to go eat elsewhere again after they parted ways with Fera. He surely would not be satisfied with the amount.
But to Fera's credit, the food actually was delicious and somehow appealing to each of them. Vela couldn't identify any of it, but ate steadily until her plate was empty, deciding she had enjoyed it a great deal. [It's very good,] she signed simply, straight to Fera for once, rousing another suspicious stare from the prince.
Dritz shook his head, sighing. "Sadly, I can believe it. It's a shame that others would be so rude, but if you're different to them, they'll find a way to insult you if they're of a mind to," he huffed.
When their food arrived, he frowned down at it. Was that it? Really? Several hundred credits for... A snack? Dritz looked hesitant, prodding the artfully arranged food with his fork before finally taking some. It was the taste that gave him the confirmation as to why it had been so expensive. Perfectly balanced and spiced, just the right temperature, and absolutely delicious.
"I agree," Dritz said enthusiastically, glancing at Fera, "Vela thinks it's very nice." He repeated her gesture, made awkward by his refusal to put down his fork. With a look at Vela, he emphasised the movement of his left hand, "Doing it like this is more grateful, yeah? Like 'this is great, thanks for choosing it' kind of tone?"
With a sudden warm smile, Vela nodded at Dritz's explanation of the 'tone' of her signing. It impressed her that he was beginning to learn the subtle differences, slowly, even if he wasn't as good at actually repeating them.
Fera didn't seem impressed, his eyes narrowed as he looked between the two of them. He appeared to be slow and meticulous about eating, taking very small bites and chewing carefully, so there remained a decent amount on his plate. Vela wondered if it was necessary for Coronal, or if it was just a habit particular to him.
"Something has changed," he suddenly announced, his gaze fixed on Dritz now. "Between the two of you. I do notice things. You can't seriously..." He lifted a hand, pointing first at Dritz and then at Vela and back again. "Are you sleeping together?"
He seemed very intent on his question, which was strange to Vela. Of course they were sleeping in the same bed. Why did he want to know? She nodded, which for some reason made him sit back in shock and stare at Dritz.
Dritz's beam that followed Vela's agreement disappeared quickly when Fera asked if they were sleeping together. Not if they were dating, but the physical specifically.
His smile faded in the most undignified fashion when he nearly choked on his food, his face reddening.
"No!" he said quickly. "It's... Well... Not..." He seemed to be glancing anywhere but at the other two until he finally came to his sense and managed to compose himself, clearing his throat. "Not in the way you're implying, your Highness," he said with a glance at Vela.
He would, from the look on her face, need to explain it a bit better later.
"Oh?" Fera's smile was coy as he rested his chin on one hand, fingers elegantly framing the side of his face. "Could it be, Dritz.... you are inexperienced? Do you lack confidence? I could perhaps offer some suggestions...? No? It's your loss, I am quite well versed in the area, myself..."
Dritz's obvious embarrassment was enough to please Fera without continuing any further, much as he might have liked to. With a smirk, he continued eating as daintily as possible. The truth was that he did not care much for eating in front of others, while their topic of conversation had not made him feel awkward in the slightest. "But I am not far from the truth, yes? You are romantically involved. I could swear that was not the case when first we met. But as I said, I am able to tell in such matters." He could also tell that Dritz was being truthful from how Vela seemed quite confused.
Dritz found the composure to roll his eyes, shaking his head.
"Don't confuse respect for another as inexperience," he said with a little smile. Okay, so Fera didn't have to know that his experience was... Limited. And it had been awkward. For both of them. And anyway, it wasn't his business, why did Dritz feel the need to cover for himself?
"We are together, yeah... Early stages, but it's there," he said carefully, the corner of his lips twitching, suggesting a wider grin.
"Interesting," Fera replied loftily, trying his best to look as though he was not jealous at all. Which he actually was, of course. Why should this shabby, common pair be allowed happiness when someone as beautiful as himself, actual nobility, had to be forced to drift from one casual encounter to another without seeming to ever find... anything?
"In that case, since you're so intent on staying together, you must have a plan for what to do the next time the Aurian is attacked: by the Merrgani, or anyone else. Will you change rooms? Or move to another station? Or simply hope I was enough to deter them permanently? I would not count on the last, if I were you. Once they figure out I am not actually in possession of her..." He waved a hand in a dismissive way, showing it was not his problem at all.
Despite how slowly he ate, the prince's food was nearly gone now. There must be a way to extend their encounter, though admittedly he was running out of ideas.
Dritz chewed his lip, frowning. He hadn't thought about any of that.
"Those fish bastards surely won't..." he mumbled, but soon stopped and looked at Vela. "I suppose we'd have to move off station, huh? I wouldn't want to, but I'd want you in danger even less." He cleaned his fork with his napkin and begun spinning it in his fingers, twirling it like a mini baton, though he was still frowning deeply. "There must be a way to scare them off completely... Something that plays on what Prince Fera did for us..." he pondered aloud.
Vela leaned forward and began to sign earnestly. [We will think of a way. I don't want to leave the station. At least not yet. We have some time, so we can think of something before then.]
She turned a considering look on Fera, though continued motioning to Dritz. [Maybe he could come back every now and then just to make sure they keep away in the meantime. I'm not sure if he would. Can you ask him?] She could think of no other way currently, much as she did not like the idea of Fera (currently staring at her suspiciously once more) being around them much at all.
Dritz chewed his lip, looking between the two of them.
"Vela is concerned about what you told the Merrgani..." he said softly, "I agree with her. Is there any chance we could... Meet more often, to make it seem as though you do have ownership of her, like you said? I know you don't owe us anything, but until I can protect her on my own, I need all the help I can get." He shrugged weakly. He considered himself a fairly open book, but even this was too much vulnerability for him.
Fera kept his focus on his plate until he had finished eating, chewing slowly before looking up at Dritz and Vela through long eyelashes. He had needed the time to debate the idea in his own head.
He was in no danger. There was a reason the Merrgani, and so many others, knew his face so well: for his own protection. He had gotten used to his likeness displayed in many places on Coronus, as well as a wide variety of other worlds, not that it took much getting used to. Though he might not always admit to it, he knew of his own vanity.
This was something he could do to keep in contact with the pair in front of him without the need to invent elaborate excuses every time. What he would definitely never admit was that he wanted to be around them. It did madden him at times that he had to resort to thinking of them when his loneliness couldn't be born any further. It was so difficult to find anyone willing to associate with him for an extended period at all.
"I am not sure," he announced regardless, needing to make certain this was not easy for them. "I fail to see what's in it for me. Though, as you say... I seem to be the only chance you have." His smirk now indicated that he rather enjoyed the thought.
Begrudgingly, Dritz smiled gratefully. While the immaculately dressed and almost insultingly beautiful prince of Coronus was difficult, to say the least, and frustrating, the Chrysalan was almost certain Fera was not a bad person. Really. Maybe.
"Well... I think we could be friends," he said carefully. "It wouldn't be something you could get anything out of immediately, not, like... A physical thing, anyway."
Almost immediately, Fera bristled, tossing aside his napkin and glaring daggers in Dritz's direction. "I don't need friends," he snapped irritably, despite having thought the opposite just moments before. "It doesn't sound worth it to me. Perhaps someday I will think of a way for you to repay me. Until then..."
He rose to standing, looking down his nose at both of them. "I will see you in the future," he offered in place of a farewell, turning to stride away. A small, genuine smile lit up his face for a brief moment before he composed it into an icy mask once more.
Meanwhile, Vela had lifted both eyebrows as she looked from the retreating prince to Dritz. [That was sudden,] she signed once she knew he had gone. [I don't think he liked your suggestion, but at least he seemed to agree anyway.]
Dritz had instinctively held both hands up in alarm, his fingers splayed. He hadn't expected such a reaction to an idea that he had communicated so very carefully. Or so he had thought.
He found his own usually-mild temper flaring up in response, which culminated in him batting Fera's napkin onto the floor.
"What in space is his problem?" he groaned. "Are all royals like this? I think the Coronal could use lessons from Chrysala's matriarchs in having a little patience and decorum!" He sighed, leaning against Vela and kissing her cheek. "He did, which is good. Hey, speaking of good, this food, huh??"
Dritz leaned down and picked up Fera's napkin.
Vela smiled sympathetically, watching Dritz's reaction to Fera's admittedly uncalled-for dramatic response. It could be that all the royalty on Coronus behaved in this way, but for some reason she had the feeling it was mostly the temperament of the prince in particular.
[It was good. I'm just not sure what it was.] Maybe it was food particular to the station, or even modeled after food from Coronus, but either way she decided not to concern herself with it further. [But are you... still hungry?] She could understand if he was; truthfully, she was too.
In that moment, Dritz felt as though he couldn't be luckier. He beamed and put his hands either side of her face, kissing her on the forehead.
"You-" he grinned, "- have read my mind, flower. Let's get something less fancy, more fatty." He laughed, standing and pulling her chair back with her still sat there, bowing as he gestured for her to go first.
The gentleman at the bar gave Dritz something of a look, but he didn't seem to notice, happily taking Vela's hand and starting out towards a wealth of delicious street food with real portion sizes and recognisable food.
Vela smiled, pleased to have been able to suggest what Dritz might like. Learning more about him was always a delight to her, and she wanted to know as much as possible.
They walked hand in hand until finding a food stall which suited both their tastes. Vela was of the opinion that soup was suitable for any meal no matter the time of day, choosing one with a vegetable base and large chunks of what the vendor assured her were "fresh" vegetables from a nearby planet. They were unfamiliar to her as well, but based on the smell, she knew she would enjoy it.
After purchasing their food, Vela and Dritz sat at one of the small tables which were nestled in various corners of the area. [Thank you for saving me today,] she signed earnestly while waiting for her meal to cool slightly. [Even if Fera had to step in, I think you would have gotten rid of them.] She had confidence in Dritz which she could not explain just yet, but already felt she would trust him with almost anything.
Deciding Vela had a good idea, Dritz chose the same meal as her (with additional dumplings, because who could resist?) and situated himself opposite her.
Her thanks came as something of a shock. He hadn't thought about it, but of course she would want to thank him, that was just the person she was. He was beginning to understand, piecing information together, that Aurctas would be a lot more selfish than some other places, out of necessity rather than malice.
[Hope so,] he signed back awkwardly. "I didn't want to fight, but I think it would have come to that, sadly. I'm glad it didn't, though. I don't think my nerves could cope!" He laughed good naturedly, shrugging.
He prodded some of the food in his bowl before scooping up one of the dumplings and grinning at her, "Hey, you wanna try these? They've got some sort of herbs in that I don't recognise and they're really gooood!"
[You would have been able to do it,] she signed confidently. [I wasn't worried.] When she thought about it, she realized it was true. She had not been worried over whether Dritz could protect her, only over whether he might get hurt for her sake, something she didn't wish for at all.
His sudden question surprised her, and she inspected the food on his spoon carefully. It wasn't an item she was familiar with. [I can try it.] She then looked from him to the spoon and back again before hesitantly holding out her own spoon in case he wanted to transfer it to her that way.
"You weren't worried?" Dritz spluttered, "'Cuz boy, I was! I don't think I've been more worried in my life! Well, apart from serious turbulence coming through Catra Petrus on. Old 'Pap hated it, I very much thought I was going to become a sad news story in a hundred years' time. 'Chrysalan shipwreck, evidence suggests captain was incredibly stylish and just, impossibly handsome. A real dreamboat.'" He preened, running a hand through his hair and leaving it in a soft, floppy mess.
He shook his head, leaning forward at the same time as gently putting a hand in hers, lowering the proffered spoon. "Just take it from mine," he said, his voice lower and bordering on flirtatious as he held his spoon up for her, cupping a hand underneath to catch any drips.
Partially uncertain what Dritz was talking about, Vela listened with a soft smile, head tilted to one side. She couldn't comment, so she focused her attention on the spoon he held up to her.
At first she thought he meant her to use her hand to take the food. That surely wasn't what he intended, as it would be far too messy. Or he wanted her to take the spoon, but the way he held it eventually made it clear she should eat from it.
Still, she hesitated as she leaned forward to take the food, as she couldn't ever recall anyone feeding her before. Her eye darted up toward Dritz for a moment, a little embarrassed, but she was able to forget about that when she started chewing.
[It's good. You said you don't know what's in it, but what is it otherwise?] She shyly offered a small gesture of gratitude as well, one meant for those closer to you who showed kindness.
After a long few minutes, Dritz realised he had been gazing at Vela quite thoroughly, the expression he imagined on his face to almost scream 'smitten'. There was something a little bit more intimate about her eating from his spoon, and even allowing him to feed her. Okay, so it wasn't the most romantic setting to be surrounded by other workers, noisy, bustling crowds, and the strong smells of greasy cooking, but still.
Damn, but she was just adorable.
He seemed to snap out of a daze, smiling goofily. "Ah, well they're usually made of dough. Like bread, but I don't think it has the same stuff in it to make it soft and light, so it ends up with this dense, chewy kind of texture. I guess the idea used to be that it was a way to fill you up for cheap, since the recipe is something like... Water, flour, salt and egg? I dunno. They're just weirdly tasty for squishy blobs of not-that-much, aren't they?"
[Interesting. They are very good,] Vela had to agree. The texture was odd and unfamiliar to her, but it wasn't bad in any way. In fact, she had liked it a lot. [Could I have one more, please?] It seemed strange to want to ask, but there was also something about him feeding it to her...
Dritz more than willingly obliged, and Vela sat back and smiled at him after she had taken it from his spoon and eaten it much the same as the first. [Thank you. Do you enjoy this? Giving it to me?] She could tell by the look on his face that there was an element of it which appealed to him, but wondered if he could elaborate since she didn't know what it was, herself.
Of course Dritz couldn't resist feeding her from his own spoon again, especially since she had asked. She had almost invited it the second time.
He felt a small, mischievous smirk rise on his lips when she asked if he enjoyed it. In the back of his mind, he knew it was odd for him to have enjoyed it so much, but... it was an innocent act, wasn't it? It wasn't as if it could be taken as something suggestive. He was vaguely aware of it being something considered romantic by certain races.
At least, he thought he was remembering that correctly.
"Yeah, actually. Is that weird? I don't think it's weird, but maybe it is..." he asked with a ripple of amusement in his tone. "I guess I just think you look cute when I do. But, uh... what do you want to do when we're done here?"
[I don't think it's odd if you enjoyed it,] Vela signed with a smile. She would leave the matter alone for now, but would certainly remember it for future reference, as she had filed so many small pieces of information about Dritz into her memory so far.
His question made her shake her head, beginning to focus on finishing her own meal. [I'm not sure. After everything...] She left that thought for a moment before gesturing again. [We should do something to relax us.] She gave him a little smile. [I'm not sure yet what I think that might be.]
Pleased with her answer, Dritz went back to his own meal, picking out some of the vegetables to eat them first (so he was left with nothing but tasty, tasty broth). As he ate, he thought idly about what they could do together. With bright eyes, he looked up, beaming.
"Heeeyyy, why don't I show you the bathtub back at our room? Baths can be really relaxing, I think you'll like it," he suggested, completely forgetting what that would mean.
It only took Vela a few moments to consider this suggestion, and she slowly began to smile. What had Dritz said about bathtubs before?
[That sounds nice. I thought it was mostly about cleaning? You say it can be relaxing too.] She paused, smile slipping into something subtly more flirtatious. [And you can show me? I don't mind undressing, if that's how it's done.]
Dritz's eyes had widened, but she only continued to smile as she picked up her now empty bowl and walked it over to one of the refuse bins, allowing him some time to catch up and think of a reply if he needed to. It was bold of her, but she found she enjoyed that feeling.
Dritz didn't remember the place feeling so warm. Pleasantly warm, at that. Suddenly he felt a shift in the balance between them, becoming a bit powerless in the face of flirtation from Vela.
Once she returned he had composed himself enough to sign, [let's go] as he stood. Keeping his voice lower, he added, "I had an idea, too... But you have to wait. You'll like it. Promise."
They walked hand in hand once more, this time keeping to the very busiest districts, avoiding any quiet streets. Once they were back at their room, Dritz sat her on the bed and set about running the water into the bath. He insisted on keeping the door shut, but called to her through it periodically, making sure she was alright.
When he finally let her in, the bathroom was hazy with sweet smelling steam that put her in mind of the very real gardens. The bath itself was filled with water and fluffy white foam spilling over the side.
"You should be naked, really, to enjoy it the most," Dritz said awkwardly. "But it's okay if you want to keep something on."
Intrigued by the concept of an idea she would definitely enjoy, being as fond as she was of new experiences, Vela happily walked with Dritz's hand in her own, the experience from earlier that morning already nearly forgotten. It was difficult to wait outside of the bathroom in order for him to do whatever was necessary first, but the sound of running water brought a general feeling of excitement.
She had never quite experienced anything like the feel of the room once Dritz allowed her inside. The air was sweetly scented, and there was a warm mist rising from the water and filling the room which left her staring in awe. She turned to him, signing, [If it's best, I will take my clothes off. Just wait outside for a little while.] While this was best for now, she had to wonder how soon it would be before she felt comfortable enough to do so with him present.
After he had left for the time being, she quickly stripped herself down and left her clothes where they fell out of eagerness. The white, fluffy substance in the bathtub did give her pause, but as she prodded it and then grabbed a handful, seeing it squish through her fingers, she found herself quite intrigued. Slowly she placed one leg in the tub, marveling at how warm it was, thinking it was different from the pool on Kirra but possibly even more lovely. That was nothing to how she felt once seated completely inside the bathtub, feeling nearly blissful as she waited for Dritz to enter the room again. The water enveloped her in warmth in a way she had never felt before.
Pressing himself against the door, Dritz eagerly called through, "I'm, uh, I'm gunna come in, okay? But I'm gunna keep my eyes closed and hold my hand out, so if I'm okay to open my eye, just touch my hand or something, yeah?"
He did as he promised, carefully and exaggeratedly making his way inside and closing the door behind him. When he felt Vela's wet fingers find his, he opened his eyes with a grin. The Aurian's pale skin was barely visible from the neck down, he had overloaded the tub with so much soap.
"Do you like it? It's not too hot?" he asked, removing his jacket, shoes, and rolling his shirt sleeves up before kneeling next to the tub so their eyes were level.
Vela watched with an amused smile as Dritz entered and slowly made his way over to her, eyes tightly shut. She reached for his hand, gently sliding her fingers across his, and smiled wider as he did the same.
[I think it's perfect,] she signed with dripping hands, watching him remove his shoes and jacket, kneeling close to her. [I do like it. It's really nice.] The way she was signing was even more relaxed, just a little less precise than usual. She closed her eyes for a moment and breathed in the warm scented steam, feeling incredibly warm and calm.
[Is this all you do?] she signed as she opened her eyes again, leaning her face a bit closer to Dritz. [I mean, do you just sit here? Or is there anything else?] She found herself incredibly curious about this sort of ritual, already deciding she wanted to do it every day.
"Well, usually you wash too," Dritz said with a delighted little chuckle. He grabbed a bottle from nearby and opened it for her to smell. "If you mix a bit of this in your hands while they’re wet, you can wash with it. But the thing I really thought you would like, you have to trust me for," he said.
When it was clear she was willing to do so, he left the bathroom, returning with a small plastic bowl. He knelt beside her again and leaned over the bathtub slightly, announcing, "I'm gunna wash your hair for you, if that's okay? Just let me know if you don't enjoy it."
He filled the bowl from the bath and carefully, cupping a hand over her eyes to protect them, tipped it over her hair, smoothing the water away from her face. After doing this enough times that her hair was plenty wet, he tipped out some of the soap from before, rubbing it in his hands.
"This is the part I thought you'd love," he smirked, starting to run her hair with the soap, slowly teasing circles over her scalp, running his fingers over her neck and temples particularly.
The concept of having her hair washed with water at first seemed strange, but as Dritz had explained that one could wash in the bathtub, Vela quickly caught on to the idea. He used the utmost care in using a bowl to direct the water away from her face, in particular her mechanical eye, and soon she stopped worrying about anything at all as he slowly worked the soap into her hair and around her neck in a way she found incredibly soothing.
Eventually, she tilted her head back to smile at him through one half-closed eye. [I like it,] she signed, almost lazily. [Don't stop yet.]
With the slightest colour rising in his cheeks, Dritz leaned down and kissed her forehead softly, finding the motion of massaging her hair was relaxing him too. He sighed happily.
"Your hair is really soft," he muttered. "You look especially pretty like this, too."
Vela nodded slightly, knowing her hair was soft, but finding it pleasant to think of Dritz enjoying the feel of it. His words, however, made her turn toward him with the smallest worried frown.
[Pretty? Are you sure?] He had called her "pretty" or "cute" before now, but for some reason she was concerned whether that was really the case. [My eye...] She paused a moment, covering her mechanical eye with one hand before signing again. [You said you become squeamish easily. Doesn't looking at my eye ever make you feel that way?] She knew Dritz wasn't petty enough to be hung up on appearances, but it hadn't been the first time the thought had crossed her mind: that he possibly found her eye repulsive. If so, he did a very good job of hiding it.
Dritz sighed in a manner that made it very obvious he was sad, rather than irritated. He kissed her on the cheek, stroking her wet hair.
"Yeah, I get a bit wobbly over some things, but your eye doesn't bother me. When you first told me... Sure, it was hard for me to hear, but the fact that it's there doesn't make me feel unwell or anything. It was the thought of a surgical procedure, not the sight of your eye on your face. It's part of you, and I haven't yet found any part of you I dislike. An' I don't think I ever will find a part I don't like," he said, keeping his tone light and his fingers running over her scalp, hoping to ease what worries she had.
"You're beautiful. Everything about you is."
Head tilted back again, Vela listened in what seemed a contemplative manner. Why it should matter to her what Dritz thought about her appearance felt like such a mystery. She had never cared much about the way she looked before. And even if he found her less than attractive, but still wanted to be with her, she would still accept it.
[I understand. Thank you.] It didn't feel like quite enough to say, so she gently pulled forward and turned to face him properly. [You are beautiful, too. I like you.] That was also not enough to say. She reached out and touched his face softly, smiling. She adored the color of his skin, and the way his antennae moved, and how his smile could grow so wide. For now, she couldn't communicate this to him.
"Kiss?" she managed to whisper with some effort, leaning ever closer to him. For some reason she felt the need to ask first, just to be sure.
For whatever reason, being called 'beautiful' made Dritz's stomach churn in a strange way. He had never seen himself as unattractive, though certain features meant he would never be the highest on a list of desirable partners. This had never bothered him, and he'd never felt inferior to anyone else based on his appearance alone, but for someone to apply such a meaningful word to him, especially a word that was still very new to Chrysalans, was something he wouldn't ever forget.
He smiled softly, leaning forward and kissing her, sweetly at first, then tentatively deepening it.
Dritz didn't respond, but from the way he leaned toward her in return and smiled, she knew he was happy. As soon as he began pressing his lips against hers with more intensity, she quickly followed suit, ending when they finally broke apart, Vela with a nearly breathless gasp of delight. The kiss had felt good in a way she had never quite experienced before, and it was enough to cause her to shyly move back to her original position, offering her head again for him to finish washing her hair.
[I could wash your hair sometime?] she offered, eye beginning to close once more as Dritz's fingers moved gently across her scalp.
Dritz laughed, the sound holding nothing but delight at the suggestion.
"Sure, any time. You just have to be aware that my antennae might react before I do, since they can be pretty sensitive to stuff like that," he explained. "Nothing freaky, just... wiggling. Like they do."
With him bringing them up, he was suddenly acutely aware of his antennae, and the movement felt unnatural all of a sudden, like when someone reminded you of your breathing, or how your tongue sits within your mouth.
This information intrigued Vela, who had to keep herself from turning to look at his antennae. Maybe someday she would have to ask him more about their function. For now, she accepted his words and continued to enjoy the rest of her bath, eventually finding that the resulting extra softness and sweet scent lingered about her for the rest of the day.
