#nurelia

13 Days of GA 2021

Theme #8 Winter is Coming/ GOT AU

Nikulas Stark and Aurelia Forrester prepare the bitter breath of winter.

My lovely followers, to celebrate finishing the second draft of my main WIP, here is the promised ramblings from my side WIPs that I (hopefully) will be putting out from now on! This is from my Sci-fi WIP, which will eventually find a proper name. This is the first of my rambles series, so let me know if you would like to be tagged in future posts!

“So how did a beautiful woman like you end up here?” Haira laced her fingers behind her head and leaned back in her chair, the hinges squeaking.

“If you break that chair, I’m not stitching your head back together.”

Haira leaned back farther, bouncing slightly. Nurelia glared at her.

“You gonna talk to me or what?”

“I don’t think such a stupid attempt at flirting warrants a response.”

“It wasn’t flirting.”

“Then what was it.”

“Conversation?”

Nurelia glared at her again. Haira tilted her head, attempting to grin charmingly. Nurelia’s expression was as indecipherable as always.

She flipped the cover closed on her pad and snapped it shut. Haira was sure she was about to leave, but instead Nurelia leaned back, arms crossed over her chest.

“I never wanted to join the military. I don’t like weapons, I don’t like fighting, and I don’t think killing solves problems.”

Haira struggled to keep her face mildly interested instead of letting her jaw drop open.

“I wanted to be a zenobiologist, ever since I was young. Research, science, finding new ways to use what already exists. It was my dream. I was top in my classes. I applied for jobs, first for ones I was qualified for, then for those I was overqualified for, then for ones I could have done in my sleep. Each time, they offered me an assistant position.”

The venom in her voice could have melted steel.

“I could come, but I would be a glorified labourer. Science, after all, was not suited to the Ojjinee brain.”

Haira squirmed uncomfortably.

“I went on several before I gave up. There was no place for me. I went back home, but I still needed a job. And, wonder after wonder, the Navy had a place for me. There’s always a place in the outer Colonies for expendables.”

“I don’t think an Admiral is very expendable.”

“I made myself useful. But of course, the Ministry would never have let me get close to anything more than a Captain. When we moved to rebel, I was the highest ranking officer in the entire rebellion. So they made me Admiral. For lack of better options. Are you satisfied?”

Haira looked up from the table, linking gazes.

The Admiral’s gaze always seemed to Haira cold and clear, like the blue light of a star. She liked having that gaze on her, running chilling fingers up and down her spine. It was electrifying.

“I’m never satisfied.”

Nurelia huffed. She pushed up from the table. Haira rested her head against the back of the chair.

“Hey.” she called out lazily at Nurelia’s receding back.

“What.” Nurelia snapped, only half turning back.

“I think you’re a genius. You would’ve been a great zenobiologist.”