09/19 B*Stoke
So today I was looking at this site, and how come there are no UlgarxLuca fans? Best couple is totally neglected, seems I have no choice but to build an entire fandom by myself...
"This is so boring", Quittorie exclaimed. "I wonder when we'll reach the next planet. We have been in space since forever." She kicked aside an empty container and sceptically looked at the boxes in front of them.
"It shouldn't be much longer", Aries replied trying to be cheerful. The two were on duty to prepare dinner for the group. A task that involved combining random food items into a nutritionally balanced and somewhat tasty meal. "How is it going with you and Zack?", Aries asked to distract her friend as she opened one of the containers.
Quitterie blushed. "Well, actually…", she began while Aries was taking out various food items from the storage containers.
"These nuts are still here from Vilavurs, we should really eat them now." The girl sighed. Clearly, the storage unit needed tidying. Why had no one ever thought of this?
"I'd rather know more about you and Kanata", Quitterie continued. The blonde moved next to Aries who was struggling to open another box, trying to help. "This one is really tough." Despite their pushing, the lid did not move an inch.
Now it was the pink-haired girls turn to blush. "There isn't… Ah, Luca could you help us opening this box?" She was relieved to see her teammate walking by the storage unit. Not that she did not want to talk about Kanata but the lack of news would surely disappoint Quitterie. It was frustrating how dense their captain was when it came to her feelings.
"Sure thing", the addressed teen nodded. Inside the storage room, Luca examined the container. It looked the same as all the others, a meter tall and made from metal. There was no reason why it should not open. "Let me have a look."
"So?", Quitterie asked while Luca was busy with the container. She sat down on an empty box and looked at Aries expectantly.
"Nothing really. You know Kanata", Aries replied reluctantly. "Hey Luca, is there anyone you like?" She stopped, wondering. "Would you want a boyfriend or a girlfriend?"
"No one really", Luca replied. His attention was directed towards the box. Now, with a bottle of oil that had seemingly magically appeared in his hand, he tried to coax it into opening. "I haven't decided whether I'd want a girlfriend or a boyfriend—or both." Luca had become used to being involved in the girl's conversation, often being treated like a female friend. It was interesting and their openness towards certain topics surprised him.
"Hmm", Quitterie made, evidently his response had piqued her interest. "You're always flirting with Ulgar. You might as well admit you have a thing for him." Some people could be quite dense when it came to love, Quitterie knew from experience. It was not really a surprise that Luca was the same. He had been under bad influence for too long.
In the meantime, Luca had opened the container but did not pay attention to its contents. "I'm not flirting, he's just fun to tease", he explained his behaviour. "Ulgar is my friend, like you all are." It had not crossed his mind that there could be anything more between the two.
Quitterie was not satisfied so easily. "You know, Funi said she's going to marry Ulgar. You better hurry or you will lose to a ten-year-old."
"As I said, it's not like that." It was true that around Ulgar, he felt more like a girl, but there was still so much about himself that he did not fully understand. Not that it bothered him.
"Well, whatever", Quitterie replied. "I'll support you, Luca. Ulgar always looks so serious, he really could do with someone as positive as you. So that would leave Charce for Yun Hua, I wonder what she thinks."
"Eh, I don't think that those two - ", Luca began.
"It's empty", Aries suddenly interrupted, drawing the conversation back to the container. The girl stared into the box with disbelief. She remembered having filled it, but then again, all containers looked identical. There was no way to distinguish one from another.
"What do you mean 'it's empty'?", Quitterie asked. "Just take another then." There were three containers still filled, having one less was not a great worry to her. They would arrive at their next destination soon enough anyway.
But before Aries could reply, the group heard Kanata calling them to the bridge.
"Guys, I have something to tell you", Kanata announced as everyone had gathered. Zack, now standing next to their captain, had put up their travel route on the main screen.
"As it turned out, our map is incorrect. Our next planet isn't two days away, it's two weeks", Kanata explained, looking at the group. "However, there is no reason to worry… ."
As everyone was questioning how to approach the situation, Zack continued. "I have identified another planet that we should be able to reach within five days. We do not have much data about this planet but it should have food and water. Our supplies should last long enough to get there safely." He brought the planet into focus on the screen.
"Are we really going there?", Quitterie asked not exactly happy. It was true, the planet looked dark and gave out a hostile aura.
"It looks scary", Funicia added in agreement with her sister. There was something about this planet that did not seem right, even she could feel it.
"We don't know what it's gonna be like", Kanata argued. "Who knows, it may be nicer than it looks."
"Actually, there is another problem", Aries began, abruptly changing the topic. She presented everyone with their recent discovery in the storage room.
"So we have less food than we thought", Kanata summarised. "That's no reason to panic." However, his grumbling belly told the group otherwise.
"You're totally panicking", Quitterie threw in.
"Rationing the remaining food shouldn't be a problem", Ulgar suggested. "It's only for five days."
"That's true, humans can go much longer without food", Charce agreed. "I can make a plan to ration the food."
"Ehm, if you don't mind … I could help you", Yun Hua offered hesitantly.
Despite his usual liveliness, Luca remained silent. Contemplating his feelings, he looked at Ulgar. It was true, he enjoyed being around the black-haired teen and liked having his attention. But this and being in love were two different things.
"There was actually something else I wanted to ask you, Luca."
He was so absorbed into his thoughts about Ulgar that he had not noted Aries approaching. The others had started to disperse and the cheerful girl was now standing in front him, holding a piece of light-blue fabric in her hands.
"I found this when we were in the storage room", she explained. "It's so pretty and there is more of it. I thought maybe we could make clothes out of it. You know, everyone seemed so down about our food and this new planet."
"That's a great idea, Aries!", Quitterie, who had overheard the conversation, exclaimed. "I didn't bring enough clothes for a never-ending space trip. And look, my uniform is so worn-out!" Visibly excited and having forgotten of the issues ahead, the blonde examined the fabric. "Do you think we can find some in pink?"
Excited about this new project, Luca forgot about his thoughts. He slid his hands over the soft material. "Hm, this material looks durable. It must have been in there for a long time, but it's still perfectly good to use." The teen had never sewn clothes before but surely it could not be too difficult. Plus, Quitterie had a good point, they were in dire need of alternative clothing.
xxx
"Do you think we have enough for everyone?", Aries asked after she had brought whatever she could find and dumped the fabric on the floor of Luca's room. There were three rolls overall, two pale blue fabrics, resembling a cloudy sky and a plain white one.
"Too bad we don't have pink." Quitterie had a sample of the blue fabric in her right hand and a sample of the white fabric in her left. "Which one do you think Zack would prefer?"
"We can just dye them the colour we want." Luca smiled, looking forward to experimenting with fabric dye. "We can look for materials once we land. I've heard people in the past used beetroot to get red dye."
"I want pink, too!" Funicia added, a bright smile on her face. "Like Quitterie."
"Aries, how about something like this?" While the others were talking about their colour preferences, Luca had drawn sketches of the clothes he could imagine himself making. Now, he turned his tablet around for the others to see.
It depictured a dress, plain but cute and easy to move around in. Aries was visibly happy. "It's so pretty. Can we really make something like this?"
Quitterie was not satisfied that easily. She put the fabric back on the ground and commented on the one major flaw of the piece. "It needs more cleavage. How else is Kanata ever gonna notice you?"
Aries blushed. "I'm not—" Suddenly the door opened and the girl fell silent. What if their captain had heard them talking? Sometimes her blonde friend was too open and direct.
But it was Ulgar standing in the door. "Luca, can I borrow that…." He stopped, noticing the sketch the addressed teen was still holding out.
"Have you ever heard of knocking?", Luca asked pretending to be annoyed. He then changed his voice to a more playful tone. "Or did you hope to see me naked again?"
Ulgar had vowed to himself not to fall victim to Luca's teasing again, but as of now, he was standing at a zero percent success rate. "I wasn't, I'm sorry", he said looking down to hide his blush. There were a million smarter replies than his, but blank as his mind was, he could think of none of them.
"What's with the dress?" Ulgar asked then, regaining his composure after what felt like an eternity. He stared at the picture, trying to suppress random memories of a certain beach incidence from a while ago.
"You want to see me wearing it?", Luca responded unable to resist. It was funny how Ulgar always provided him with such easy openings. How could he not take advantage of it?
Again. Ulgar balled his fist. Sometimes talking to Luca was like trying to navigate through a minefield. Although this time, he could not deny that the other's words had some truth to it. Ever since the incident on the beach, he was thinking of Luca more and more as a girl. Perhaps having a full-front view on his friend's exposed breasts had something to do with it. "A bit", he then admitted, his voice low.
His reply had a greater effect than Ulgar had expected. Everyone in the room was quiet, looking at him in surprise.
"Really?", Luca asked then. One of the rare times he was speechless. His mind had been prepared for Ulgar getting upset or wordlessly leaving the room, but such a direct answer surprised him. It was completely unlike him.
Having noticed the impact of his words, Ulgar was at a loss of what to do. He had thought he had beaten Luca at his own game, but somehow he felt like the loser. "Just forget about it!" Without thinking twice, he slammed the door with one swift move, leaving him alone in the otherwise empty corridor. What had he been thinking?
Inside, Quitterie held her hand in front of her mouth and whispered to Aries, "totally flirting."