LtCmdr Jovenan – Who knew the office floor made such a comfy bed?
Jovenan
((Chief Science Officer’s office, Deck 9, USS Artemis))
Silveira:
I am thinking that we should still be friends, so let me ask
you…
Jovenan, will you give me the honor of being my
girlfriend?
Jovenan leaned back on her seat a little. His hands were still on her back, holding her in a sort of loose hug. She didn’t break away from the hold, not this time, she didn’t want to. Unlike earlier, her mind wasn’t troubled with doubt or hesitation, rather she was surprised by the proposal. It made sense that he might ask it, considering the mutual love confessions, sure, but she didn’t actually know what it was like to be someone’s girlfriend. She felt entirely unprepared for the role.
Jovenan: Oh. ::thinks:: I never thought I would be a girlfriend. I’m not sure if I know how to be one.
There weren’t that many established, long-term couples Jovenan could have drawn example from. Her main point of reference were her own people, the Edo, but formal and exclusive relationships among them were exceptional rather than the norm. Thinking of her own parents and other older family members, none of them had a girlfriend, a boyfriend nor any other type of significant other, unless you were open to expanding the term to mean potentially a large portion of the community. There wasn’t even a good translation for many of these words in her native language of Somian Edo, only imprecise synonyms or poorly understood neologisms.
The relationships on the Artemis weren’t much more consistent with her understanding of what it took to be a couple, either. There were Genkos and Commodore Nicholotti, who had been in a relationship for a long while now, but who seemed to meet sporadically. Then there were Sam Richards and Talos, although that was a fairly new development – she had only heard about it last shore leave – and there was even a longer distance between them. Meanwhile, some of the couples in the University or in the Academy had appeared inseparable, and other people had mentioned living with their spouses.
Surely there was something to prepare for this task? Training? Reading? There was a small section for romance in the ship’s library, maybe she should try and study them.
Silveira: That’s something we will find out together. Every relationship is different. We will have to learn together. ::he shrugged:: But the fact that we love each other is the best start for us, and our… Adventure.
Her gaze darted back to him after wandering elsewhere while pondering the question. He had already made her feel more open and comfortable with her doubts and issues that had made her fear he might not love her. Why not take the journey as an adventure? A smile rose to her lips.
Jovenan: Yes. I’ll be your girlfriend.
His smile got wider than she had probably ever seen. Seeing him so happy was infectious, spreading the warmth to her too.
Silveira: And I will be your boyfriend.
Jovenan leaned in again for a hug. Embracing him tight, she enjoyed having him so close, hearing his heartbeat, feeling his skin against her skin, his smell, his presence. She had hugged him many times before, but this was the first time as a couple. There was nothing unusual about that, nothing to hide or be bashful about; she was hugging her boyfriend. It was fun to think about that. Her boyfriend. She had a boyfriend!
Jovenan: ::excited:: I have a boyfriend! ::leans back, looks at Silveira to the eyes:: You’re my boyfriend!
She rushed to kiss him again. Perhaps too enthusiastic, she fell forwards towards him, putting a lot of her body weight against his kneeling body and causing him to fall. As his hold of her tightened, his hand supported her landing while he fell all the way to the floor, with her lying on top of him. When they broke the kiss, he laughed, and she released a withheld, pleased sigh.
Silveira: Careful, I was afraid you would hit your head on the desk.
Jovenan: Sorry. ::rests her head against him so that her ear is against his chest:: And thank you for looking after me. I love it.
Lying there, against him, the sounds of his heartbeat and breathing were so much stronger. She closed her eyes, just enjoying the calming effect they had on her. He started caressing her hair; the patting and the massage to her scalp felt extremely nice.
Silveira: I will always look after you. You mean the world… No, the Universe to me. Why don’t we … ::He frowned and leaned his head back dropping it on the carpet.:: Dammit…
She raised her head and crossed her hands under her chin over his chest. His expression had changed to a frown. She didn’t want to overthink it, but she would have expected him to remain happy with her.
Jovenan: What is it? Is everything alright?
Silveira: I was about to say we should plan something, but I already told Sada I am going with her on a survey… Since we are going to Risa and my grandparents are there I thought it was a good way to not spend much time with them. ::He rolled his eyes:: I love them but… You know how family is and if you think I am… Exuberant you should see them… ::He frowned.:: Then again… Perhaps not yet…. Anyway… I am sorry my love…
Oh. He had signed up for Doctor Sadar’s survey mission, the one that was scheduled to lasted for weeks. She understood his frown; now she didn’t want to part from him for that long a time either. She didn’t want to keep him from going, after all, they’d have to be separated for many times on work, missions and all those conferences and Starfleet briefings and all that, but just for this once, she would have wanted to share Risa with him.
Also: “My love.” Those two words made her blush a little. It felt curious hearing him address her like that, not wrong, but certainly new. Couples called each other like that, and they were a couple now. What should she call him? The Federation Standard had the word “honey”, which referred to both a word of endearment and an edible substance made by bees, which had always been somewhat bizarre to her. Could she use that word? If he was going away for weeks, she’d have time to learn what couples called each other in Portuguese. He might like that.
Jovenan: It’s alright, we both have our jobs, and they are going to require some flexibility. Besides, we have all the time in the universe once you get back.
Silveira:
Your right we will still have plenty of shore leave to spend time
with one another
You know, I think that's actually something we
always got right, splitting between personal and professional time. I
think somehow we always managed to balance… ::he raised an
eyebrow:: You… Did you lock the door? I mean… Nobody is coming in
to find us here… Right?
She laughed a little, remembering how they were interrupted first by MacKenzie and then by one of her subordinates. Granted, she couldn’t exactly stop anyone from trying to reach them, but she could lock the door. It wouldn’t stop the senior staff, the security nor the medical personnel in case of emergency, but those people trying to break in would probably give them time enough to get off the floor first. Besides, there were no rules against lying on the floor together when you were a couple… that she knew of. She had never thought those kinds of rules would ever be applicable to her. Now she had a boyfriend!
Jovenan: Computer, please lock the door. ::to Silveira:: There. That should make sure that even the Captain rings a bell before walking in.
Silveira: Response
She quickly gave him a kiss on his cheek before resting her ear against his chest again and closed her eyes.
Jovenan: I just want to lie down here for a bit longer.
Silveira: Response
She supposed there was a reason they were in her office instead of either of their quarters, but she didn’t remember it. Was she writing a report for something? Yes, for a mission. They had been on a mission, right? It probably didn’t matter, she could do it later. She didn’t even raise her head but continued chatting with him on the floor.
Jovenan: When are you due to depart for the survey mission?
Silveira: Response
Jovenan: Mm-hmm. Do you think we could tell others about our relationship? If you want to, of course. But maybe only after you come back from the mission, I’m not sure Doctor Sadar would stop bothering you about it if you’re going to have to spend the next weeks with her.
She was a bit hesitant to just start talking to people about their relationship. It would be awkward, maybe even embarrassing at first, but she couldn’t help expecting the exhilaration of being able to casually use the words “my boyfriend” in a conversation.
Silveira: Response
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Lieutenant Commander Jovenan
Chief Science Officer
USS Artemis-A
E239911J11