LtCmdr Jovenan – So this is what happiness feels like
Jovenan
((Jovenan’s quarters, Deck 3, USS Artemis))
Vitor had liked his Christmas present. Not just liked, he had loved it so much he had started speaking in an incomprehensible language, at least so to Jovenan. She was bursting out of joy seeing his enthusiasm trying the cowboy hat on, replicating the manners of what she assumed belong to the time period from which the headwear originated. He looked good with it too. It might have been a bit of a risk to get him something she didn’t explicitly know if he liked – he could have had a reason to dislike Ancient West stories – but this time, knowing him as a person had been enough. Everything about the westerns had reminded her of him. She hadn’t yet experienced a western holoprogramme, but she bet his introduction would be thoroughly entertaining. Maybe he’d be a sheriff… or maybe she was the sheriff and he the mysterious stranger that came help dealing with the bad guys.
But now, it was her turn to open her present. She took a comfier position on the sofa, slightly leaning towards him as she pulled her legs up and tugged them under her. Ripping through the paper, she first saw the glass orb and the decorated silver base. Removing the last wrappers, she could marvel the object in its entirety. A small spruce tree, submerged in water, was covered in snow and topped with the circular Edo symbol. She turned the object in her hands, watching the light reflect from the glass surface and bend as it travelled through the water. She didn’t know what the object was, but she already loved how beautiful it was.
Jovenan: Oh my goodness, it’s so pretty!
Silveira: It’s called a snow globe. It doesn’t have real snow but if you shake it gently it gives that illusion. I had it made just for you. It’s a Christmas tree.
Eyes fixed on the snow globe, she nudged herself closer to him on the sofa, leaning against him and inviting herself under his arm. Held by him, she gently shook the globe as he has instructed. The particles imitating snow rose up, and as she stopped, they floated in the water, like lingering in the air, slowly falling over the tree and the ground. She imagined them there, in front of the Christmas tree, close to each other like they were now, tucked in blankets. She could hear the crackle of the imaginary fire, too, keeping them warm as they watched the snow drift through the air, cover everything but melt as it touched their skins. It was an otherwordly scene, but she felt like she could close her eyes and live that dream.
Jovenan: I’ve never seen anything so beautiful. ::looks up to him:: Thank you. I love it.
Silveira: And I love you. I am glad you liked it, after you gave me the perfect gift I wasn’t sure I was able to give you a matching one. ::he winked and held her a little more tightly.:: I am so happy to see your smile again.
Jovenan: You too.
She reached out and placed the snow globe onto the table so that she could see the snowflakes fall to the bottom. He reached for her hand, and she took his. They had both gone through a lot in the recent months, recent years even, but this was not the right time to think of those. This was the time to focus on the happiness they had, the warmth and safety she felt being held by him. When the last snowflakes had stopped moving and the scene in the snow globe became still, she closed her eyes for a moment. She was peaceful, almost tired, tilting her head against him. She could rest here for a moment.
Silveira: Where did you get this sofa? It’s quite comfortable, and even if it is a little on the big size it does fit well in here.
Jovenan: Hm? Oh, I just ordered it from the ship’s supplies. I thought it was the high time to start thinking this place as something more than just where I sleep. ::pause, adjusts her position against him:: I’m glad you like it.
He moved a little, lowering him to almost lie on the sofa. She extended her legs over the sofa, resting her head against his chest. The rhythm of his heartbeat was a calming music in her ears.
Silveira: I like it very much. It feels very comfortable. I am almost tempted to ask for your permission to take the shoes off and raise my feet up.
Jovenan smiled and laughed a little.
Jovenan: Permission granted.
Silveira: Response
She moved with him, allowing him to take off his shoes and lie comfortably. Lying on her side, partially over him, she yawned and stretched her muscles briefly before planting her hand on his chest and tilting her head so that she could look him to the eyes, as much as their position allowed.
Jovenan: I’m very glad I got the sofa. It’s now my second favourite thing I’ve got for myself. ::smile:: You’re the number one.
Silveira: Response
Moving her hand from his chest to his chin, she brushed his beard. She let her fingers run through it, listened to the subtle rustle as did so, feeling the coarseness of each strand and the sharp edge from when he had cut them. He had only had the beard since the mission, and he had been clean-shaven since they had met, so it was still new to her.
Jovenan: Are you ::yawn:: planning to keep the beard?
Silveira: Response
She brought the hand back to his chest and closed her eyes. A smile on her face, her breathing was getting slower as the warmth and the steady beat of his heart lulled her.
Jovenan: I like you… both… ways…
Only a peaceful sigh and the sound of a smooth breathing followed to complete her sentence, before a snore escaped from her lips.
Silveira: Response
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Lieutenant Commander Jovenan
Chief Science Officer
USS Artemis-A
E239911J11