Aurelia

I check my phone one last time in the elevator to see if Enea has texted me back yet – nothing. Whatever, I'll deal with it tomorrow.

I slide my key card into the slot above the handle. There's a clicking of locks and I push the door open quietly, just in case Illion is sleeping.

The lights are on. He's sitting at his desk again, head in his hands, with piles of paper scattered around him, and on the floor.

"Hey Illion." I say casually, kicking my shoes off before I step onto the fluffy carpet. I get no reply.

I wonder if he even heard me? Lolli-N said he's not had the best day and that I should leave him be - but it's not like I can just ignore him on bad days! Considering this old junker of a ship is in pretty rough shape, I would think more days than less will be bad.

"I found some tulips down by the shops." I'm basically talking to myself at this point, as I wander around the room looking for a vase. I find some odd-looking ceramic jug thing on one of his shelves and fill it with water in the bathroom sink. Not a vase, per se, but close enough.

When I come back out with the tulips neatly arranged in the jug, Illion is flicking absently through a mess of papers. His red glasses are on; I can't see much of his face, except his frown.

"I found some tulips." I say it louder this time, and approach his desk, setting the jug of yellow tulips on the papers in front of him so he has to see it.

Finally, he looks up from whatever he was doing, and stares at them for a second.

"Tulips?" Illion sounds very surprised, and the paper he's holding falls out of his hand.

"Mhm."

"I...you really didn't have to, Aurelia.” His cheeks are turning red, and he mumbles so quickly it’s difficult to understand him, “I have fake ones in the closet if you want some flowers around...less watering. Those must have cost a lot too; they aren't cheap because the gardens are only a few metres long with limited nutrient supply and...."

"I just thought you might like some living ones." I shrug, "they smell nice."

He takes his glasses off to look at it better; a tiny smile has worked its way onto his face. "You used my milkshake glass...as a vase."

"Oh. It looked like a weird jug to me. I can wash it out if-"

"No, I like it. I like it very much, Aurelia. Thank you."

He turns to look at me; his eyes are such a soft blue. Definitely not what I expected from the way he carries himself. I was expecting rainbow-coloured irises and glitter eyeshadow, but…but here we are.

"I heard you were busy, but the cafeteria is open right now." It's out of my mouth before I can stop myself. "I'm sorry I was kinda short with you yesterday, and..."

"That sounds lovely." Illion says simply, "but flowers and dinner… I should be doing that, not you."

"You've got enough to take care of. All I do is listen to homebots groaning and complaining about their noses for nine hours straight." I scoff, "every day. Do you know how many button noses I.... "

"Lolli-N tells me you're good with them." Illion chuckles, grabbing his suit coat off the edge of the bed. "Nothing quite as peachy as a newly fixed homebot."

"I would say dinner with the captain is peachier."

"And Aurelia's tulips in my milkshake glass are even peachier." There's no hesitation in his reply. He's so nonchalant, doing up his suit coat so calmly like my one good line didn't even faze him. Or maybe it did and that's why he's struggling to do up the buttons?

"Not to be rude, but we should go before the milkshakes are sold out." I say quickly, mostly because I'm out of flirtatiousness and also because I'm really really hungry and the hanger is starting to set in.

"Right." He smooths his suit coat, and nods towards the door, "ladies first."

Illion

What kind of bizarre joke is the universe playing on me?

First, The Marillion is doomed for destruction, and now the first woman in my entire life brought me flowers and asked me to dinner?

I'm about 99% sure my heart is going to have an aneurism any second. I can hear my own heartbeat in my ears, as well as Lolli-N's voice yelling at me to 'stop panicking and actually listen to what she's saying.'

"Illion?" Aurelia is giving me a weird look, but I don't remember saying anything.

"...yeah?" I'm quite certain I didn't say anything weird to incriminate myself, so why is she staring at me like that?! I take a hesitant sip from my milkshake, watching her shift awkwardly across from me.

"Did you hear what I said?"

Oh. Oh.

"I...sorry...not particularly...” I laugh nervously, “I was just thinking about the tulips."

"Okay, good." She shakes her head, running her fingers down the sides of her cheeks, "I was on a ramble anyway."

"I don't mind that." Thank the universe we're the only ones in the cafeteria right now. No one else except the lone homebot on milkshake duty can overhear me butchering this situation. "Lolli-N says you have good stories; anything riveting happen down at robotics?"

"Nah." She shrugs, "unless you count a few chewed off toes. Apparently, someone with a homebot foot fetish is on the loose."

"Cybernetics." I mutter, poking at the sandwich in front of me. "It's a bit messy right now, but we're getting it under control."

Aurelia frowns, "cybernetics? Don't you screen for that?"

"Didn't show up on our censors. They're..." Zyxien. But I can't say that. I can't let word get out, not yet. An overloaded ship of panicking passengers is not a recipe for survival. "they're the exception."

"Do you have samples? I can take a look."

"Lolli-N had them analysed but thank you."

I have a feeling she wants to ask more, but she doesn't. And I don't volunteer.

"We used to learn about The Marillion in school." She mumbles after a minute of silence.

"We're that famous?"

Aurelia chuckles, and takes a sip from her milkshake, "infamous, more like."

"Oh, right."

"Charges of neglect of health and safety? Or something?"

"Yeah." This was bound to come up sooner or later. Spilling the beans this early is a no-go, but who wants to date/be married to someone they think is an irresponsible criminal?

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

"Health and safety policy is just a bunch of tripe. Maybe I was tipsy, but I heard something about a bunch of teenagers getting lost in the out of bound areas and getting caught in a shredder. That definitely cleaned up the gene pool of stupidity, at least.”

"Oh dear." I laugh nervously, "is that all you learned about The Marillion? The accidents?"

"They showed us the ads, the songs, the planets you used to tour. I always liked the ads."

"I hate the ads." I groan, "I would just be minding my own business in the engine room, and Lolli-N pop would out of a vent with a camera yelling for me to start dancing. It was bad.”

"Bad?" Aurelia exclaims, "bad? Are you insane? You were the high school heartthrob."

"What?"

"Literally every girl had a thing for you at some point."

No. It's ridiculous. I must look like a deer caught in the headlights – that's why I can see her trying not to giggle.

"On the gods!" Aurelia swears, "I don't know anyone who didn't have a Marillion poster – with you in the centre."

To think of girls putting posters of me on their walls- what? Me, covered in engine oil most days. Me, who can barely make it one shift without a milkshake break. Me, with a 'special blanket' in the back of the closet that Lolli-N always threatens to show Miith and Dust, and now Aurelia. Who in their right mind...? These teens are even crazier than me!

I have never been more mortified in my entire existence. The shock is spreading over my entire body; I can feel my cheeks heating up.

Aurelia chuckles, probably because I look like I'm about to die; I feel like I'm about to die. And then to finish it off, she adds: "I had a Marillion poster. 320 x 320."

It's the final scoop in the ice cream cone. I burst out laughing, so hard my chest hurts, and I have to grab the edge of the table to take a breath so I don't suffocate. "That's the silliest thing I've heard in years! You can't even see my face in those things! Why in the world...?"

"The charisma radiates through." She gives me jazz hands, "they loved your glasses. I love your glasses."

"My glasses?" I choke down my laughter, "they're basically red goggles; it's supposed to be child friendly, y’know."

"I don't think any teenager, (or adult) cares. And the dance moves really sealed the deal. Never heard the term 'disco rizz' coined before that one ad went viral a few years ago."

I bury my face in my hands, half sobbing, half laughing. At this point, I can't tell if it's out of embarrassment or not.

"I can't dance for shit; you should be proud." Aurelia says through a mouthful of her sandwich, "seriously."

"It's part of the job description." I take a deep breath to calm my fit of laughing; pinch the bridge of my nose, "all the captains of ships in the Marillion Dynasty fleet had...uh... training. Dancing included."

"So, you're like a captain and an entertainer at the same time." Aurelia hums, "they don't make them like that anymore, it's a shame."

"Burn out rate is pretty high. But the pay is good. I think it probably violates some of your new mental health laws now though, from what Lolli-N was telling me."

"They need to give you better breaks. Are you sleeping enough?"

"Yeah, of course." I say it fast; instinctively. "I sleep fine."

"I don't want to be nosey, or anything. And I haven't been around you for that long, but I know tired when I see it. You didn't sleep last night."

"It was a busy night."

"But you'll stay tonight?"

"I…was planning to."

"And you'll remember to take your shoes off this time?"

"I blame it on the tequila." I mutter.

"Sure, sure. And what about the milkshakes? I suppose those are going to get the blame now?"

"Milkshakes aren't quite as bad. 0% alcohol, and only 5% amphetamine. Usually."

Aurelia shakes her head and gathers our empty plates up to put them on the cleaning rack. "You're crazy, Illion."

"It's quite probable."

"Come on." Out of nowhere, she loops her arm through mine, pulling me up; through the cafeteria to the hall. "We should get back soon; you need a good sleep."

I turn to her, "uh...Aurelia, did Lolli-N ask you to...like, talk to me?"

"Huh?" She looks up at me, her nose all scrunched up in distaste, "she told me to leave you alone actually. Why?"

"No reason."

"Illion, you better not tell on me." She frowns, and we stop outside a set of elevator doors waiting for them to open. "I don't want her up in my face tomorrow."

"If she ever complains about you talking to me; let me know."

We arrive back in my quarters a few minutes later. While Aurelia goes to change in the bathroom, I linger at my desk, gathering the papers together.

The milkshake 'vase' of tulips sits in the centre of my desk, a gesture of...something. I stare at it, analyzing every lemon-coloured petal like they hold the secrets behind her intention.

I'm probably just being silly. This marriage is only for sixth months, until we reach the Central Planets – well, with the detour we're switching to tomorrow, maybe nine months. If we make it out alive (extremely unlikely). It's just daft to think she would want something longer than this short arrangement.

This is probably a short game plan for her, if even that. 'Fun' to have until she has a new home. 'Comfort therapy' even, because of all the people she's left behind on Osticara. 'Emotional coping mechanism'. I've seen it before.

She probably has no intention of anything long-term.

But I do. I've always wanted a wife; I never planned on giving myself up for marriage for a political cause; to prove a point to the Raeg government on their 'limited evacuees policy'. But if it ends up saving a few lives, I suppose it's worth it.

I sweep the rest of my papers into the top drawer of my desk, and lock it shut.

At least the tulips are pretty.

"Illion, did you know you have like thirty different kinds of soaps under the sink?" Aurelia's voice drifts from the bathroom, "good gods, man."

"You can use any you like." I call back, "but they should preferably last more than a month."

"Oh, don't worry about that." She laughs, and I can hear her rummaging through them.

"I think I will worry." I cross over to lean in the doorway, watching as she inspects each bottle closely, "and if you're going to shower, you should do it soon. Hot water demands go up at 8pm."

"I've still got some time." She mumbles, squirting soap onto her hand to smell it.

I check my watch, "you have like five minutes."

"Shh, you're killing the vibe, Illion." She waves her hand at me, and reaches for the door handle, sliding it shut so I'm blocked from view. A bit rude, but I think she'll be in for even more of a rude surprise when there's no hot water left.

I change into my own pajamas, switch the light off, crawl into bed and wait.

Exactly seven minutes later (I timed it on my watch), and a piercing shriek sounds from the bathroom.

A further two minutes, and Aurelia stomps out, dressed for bed, with wet braids falling around her shoulders and a very pissed look.

"If I don't actually die of hypothermia tonight, I'll be fucking surprised." She grumbles, disappearing into the closet, and then reemerging, "do you have any more blankets?"

"No." Not besides my childhood 'special' blanket, and that stays in its box. Forever. I'd rather die than have her find that.

"Fuck. Illion, seriously? No blankets? That water was like negative fifty degrees. I feel like I've been in a freezer."

I sit back against the bedframe, watching her with my arms crossed, fighting against the urge to chuckle and say, 'I told you so'.

"Illion! This isn't funny!" She storms over to my side of the bed, "move over before I die on your fluffy carpet."

I grumble but move over as she crawls aggressively under the sheets.

"And you don't even have a hair dryer, mister." Aurelia huffs, cocooning herself with the quilt, "I'll have to fix that tomorrow."

She pulls all the sheets off me, making herself into some sort of burrito wrap. And I'm left laying on my back, staring at the ceiling, questioning my entire life. First my side of the bed, and then the blankets.

I sigh. "Ever heard that saying, sharing is caring?"

She mutters something in reply, but I can't make it out.

"You took all the blankets." I grab the top of the pile and yank it off. "Share."

"Stop!" Wailing ensues, "stop! Illion! I'm actually going to die of cold!"

I reach over and put a hand to her forehead, "you're fine."

"No, seriously! Like, feel my hands. Ice cold." She grabs my hand with both of hers, and I stiffen awkwardly.

Sure, her hands are a bit chilly, but I wouldn't call that 'ice cold'.

"I don't want to get sick." She says in a quiet voice, almost a whisper, "medbay is ugly."

She's got a point there.

I give her back her hands and spread the blankets out properly. "Just share the blankets. You'll survive."

"Do you think I'm being overdramatic?"

"No, I've been caught in cold showers before."

"And you never thought to get a heating pad or something?"

"It's...never crossed my mind."

"Well." She huffs, turning her back to me. "Whatever. I guess I'll just be cold over here then."

"...alright." I sink down into the pillows, "I was going to offer you to come to me since I'm warm, but I guess you're over there now."

"I guess I'm over..." She stops halfway through her sentence, and there's a brief moment of realization, then she spins around to face me. "Really? You better not be joking because I'm like actually...."

"It's fine, come here." I sigh, opening my left arm to her, "I'll find a heating pad tomorrow."

Begrudgingly, she crawls over to me and wraps her arms around my waist. "Thanks, Illion. Saved me from becoming a glacier."

"Glaciers have a lot of rocks in them, so unless you've been eating gravel I...."

"Shush." Lazily, she presses a finger to my lips, and I close my mouth. "No words, Illion. Just vibes."

She lays her head next to mine; I can feel her warm breath on my neck, sending prickles of electricity across my skin.

She's still got her arms around me, keeping her body pressed against mine. I feel like a teddy bear, being hugged to death.

We don't say another word, and I fall into the calmest sleep I've had in a long, long time.