#drela

The bunk room was silent, save for the faint pulse of the ship's engine and, slightly louder, Dritz's snoring.

Vela sat on a chair near the far wall of the room, looking out at the stars. They had installed a small "window" here because they both did love seeing the stars go by as they traveled, and being able to see them from bed had an added appeal.

The shoulders of Dritz's jacket, being too wide for Vela, slipped down to expose pale skin underneath as she shifted position. He had abandoned the garment on the floor when he went to bed, and she couldn't resist wearing it before she retired to her own rest. It was bright orange and green, a color combination she had never seen before, but she thought suited him. The colors also made her happy, as she could only associate them with him.

She turned to watch him then, unable to keep from smiling at the sight. He slept with his mouth open usually, and his snores were somehow amusing to her, as she had never heard an Aurian make a noise anything like it. The blankets were tossed around him and he had both arms outspread, in contrast to the way Vela tended to sleep, curled up with her limbs tucked in close. It felt like they complemented each other in this way, as well as in many others. She had never met anyone with a personality close to that of the Chrysalan, but she felt they meshed well, somehow.

Weariness began to persist. She turned away from the stars and stood, the jacket sliding off and back to the floor. She was naked underneath, something which would have never happened on Aurctas, but it was something Dritz seemed to enjoy once they had become mates. They had coordinated their cycles so they could sleep near each other at least a couple of hours and wake up around the same time.