LtCmdr Jovenan – Time works funny when going faster than light, so we can agree it’s Christmas in March
Jovenan
((Jovenan’s quarters, Deck 3, USS Artemis))
As soon as the door swooshed closed behind her, Jovenan spread out her arms to a stretch, arched her back and yawned. She kicked the boots from her feet, placing them next to each other by the door before heading further in and opening the flap of her uniform. She headed to her sofa, a new addition to the otherwise bare décor of her quarters, which she had eventually decided to get after some internal debate. Getting large piece of furniture in her quarters had meant that this was not just a space she lived in, this was her space, her home, and she’d expect to live there for a bit longer than just temporarily. That should have been obvious for a few years now, but for some reason, it had taken so long to accept that she wasn’t going anywhere and that she had the right to make chances to her home, no one would question it. She opted not to think too much of the changes and events in the last year that had helped push her to that conclusion, and instead just sat down to the loveseat.
She sighed. No creatures chasing her, no standing guard for anyone else, no adrenaline pumping in her veins – it was a regular day, with regular day work and regular day tiredness. The return to normal was rarely a challenge after a mission, but some of them changed a person and required more effort to get used to. Although the mission itself had been among the most brutal ones she had ever had, on personal level, recovering from it had come faster than from some other missions. She hadn’t lost anyone, the ship’s corridors were still buzzing with life, and she didn’t have to see the fallout in the news. Ignoring the discoveries about the Dark Things, and once the changes from using the teleporters were fully reversed, they had no reason to remember any of this happened. She had no reason to think of it. Not even now. Just… relax after a regular day of work.
And on a regular day, came regular life.
Silveira: =/\= Silveira to Jovenan, I hope you're not busy, I plan on dropping by your quarters in… Ten minutes? If you remember I have something for you… =/\=
Jovenan had been pleased to hear Vitor calling for her. Despite just getting to her quarters – home – from work, she found energy to spend some time with her boyfriend, especially given how few times they could actually do so in the last months. Then came the matter of him giving her something. What could it be? She vaguely remembered that when they were welding the ruptures on the Karnack, she had mentioned she had got him a present and that he had done the same.
Jovenan: =/\= Jovenan here! Of course, Vitor! What is it? Is it the Christmas thing? =/\=
Silveira: =/\= You will have to wait and see. Be right there… Sil out. =/\=
Pursing her lips, Jovenan pretended to be shocked that he wouldn’t answer her question, but her face turned to a smile almost immediately. It had to be the Christmas thing. She was getting excited. It was somewhat delayed, but she could finally celebrate a feast that must have been important to him, and she could finally surprise him with something nice.
Jovenan: =/\= See you! Out. =/\=
The commlink terminated, and Jovenan stood up from the sofa. Stored to her closet – hidden, as the custom required if she understood it correctly, although hiding it had been only nominal – she retrieved the present she had got for him. Back when it had been Christmas, she had wrapped it by hand in decorated paper with a level of inexperience that reflected in the warped cuts and wrinkles in the wrapper. For a moment, she considered just redoing the wrapping with replicator, but she decided against that. Placing the present to her bed for now, she instead focused on figuring out if the gift-giving ritual required some a specific garments or other ornaments. It was too late to start researching it, but she remembered the red robes on one of the people in the Ferengi advertisements, and the overall colour scheme of reds, whites and greens everywhere in relation to the celebration. She could still replicate something appropriate for the occasion.
It didn’t take too long before the doorbell chimed. Jovenan straightened her carmine A-line dress before hastily leaving the present on the table and then returning to the door. A smile on her face, she opened the door, finding Vitor, in t-shirt and jeans, with his beard now trimmed. She didn’t even get to move aside for him when he stepped in, placed his free hand on her waist and pulled her closer.
Silveira: I missed you my love.
Jovenan: Me too.
Their foreheads touched, and they rested in each other’s embrace for a moment. Her eyes closed, Jovenan allowed her smile to grow even wider. This was what she had missed the most. She didn’t know or care how long they had been just standing there when they finally opened their eyes and he leaned in for a kiss. He still had a beard, but it wasn’t as stabby or coarse as she might have thought, not since he had been able to maintain it. It fit him well.
Once they parted, he brought his other hand from behind his back, revealing a present. Jovenan’s eyes gleamed in the sight of it. It wasn’t unexpected, of course not, but seeing it in person was very different from just the thought of it.
Silveira: Merry late Christmas
Jovenan: Aww, thank you! Merry late Christmas!
She took the present from him. The wrapping paper rustled lightly as she turned it in her hands. The paper hid the contains, and almost as a reflex, the scientist considered if she could scan it to find out what it was. That was obviously not what the tradition was about, so instead she brought it closer to her ear and shook it gently. It didn’t make an audible sound, so besides being slightly heavy for its small size, Jovenan didn’t have much to go off from.
Silveira: Response
Jovenan: Wait a moment, I have something for you as well.
Holding her present in one hand, she walked over to the table and took his present to the other. The present, containing a dark brown cowboy hat, with an iron buckle in the middle of a leather band around the crown, was rather light, so she held it in one hand and brought it to him.
Jovenan: I got it from Ferenginar and thought it would suit you. Commander Munro explained to me what it was. I hope you’ll like it.
Silveira: Response
She gestured towards her new sofa. Sitting down, she studied the package again. Her knowledge of the celebration extended this far: they got presents for each other, wrapped them in paper and handed them over. The significance of everything else Christmas related she had seen in the Ferengi advertisements or on Earth during her Academy years was still unknown, so she wondered if there was something she was missing. Did they eat cookies now? What was the role of the large bearded individual? Should she sing? She turned to him.
Jovenan: How does this work? Do we open them now, or is there a ritual?
Silveira: Response
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Lieutenant Commander Jovenan
Chief Science Officer
USS Artemis-A
E239911J11