LtJG Jovenan – I would rather...
Jovenan
((Hiro’s Quarters, Deck 3, USS Artemis))
After a rather uncomfortable conversation on Hiro’s and Luxa’s shore leave shenanigans and their consequences, Jovenan and Hiro were ready to move on with their sibling night. They had cooked, they had dined, and now it was the time for the desserts and playing a game. They had replicated an assortment of goodies, but now Jovenan turned to Hiro to hear his suggestion for a game.
Jovenan: So, what kind of game do you have in mind?
Jones: Hmm ... Do you know "Would You Rather?"
Jovenan had watched people play different human and other cultures’ games in the University and the Academy, but she had rarely been participating in them herself. “Would You Rather?” didn’t ring the bell for her.
Jovenan: Hmm, I’m not sure if I know that one. How do you play it?
Jones: Well, we basically go back and forth asking the other "Would you rather" one option or another. The funny part is, either is rarely a good option, so you have to justify why you'd choose the one you do.
So, the objective of the game was to choose between two non-optimal options, respond, and then pose the other player two options to choose from. Seemed simple enough, but Jovenan wasn’t entirely sure what kind of questions they were expected to ask. “Would you rather be removing waste from holodeck biofilter or scrapping carbon filters?” or “Would you rather be a security officer or an engineering officer?” were both valid questions, as far as she understood, with options neither of them would have likely chosen if other options existed. But did those questions make a good game? Maybe not.
Jovenan: Could you give an example of a question?
Jones: For instance: Would you rather be able to fly, but only about a meter off the ground OR be able to fly as high as you wanted, but you'd be super slow?
Jovenan: Oh, okay! That would be an interesting choice, I see now what you mean. But how do you win?
Jones: I guess the "winner" is whoever plays. It's more a diversion than a competition.
Jovenan nodded. The game made more sense to her now, and it actually sounded like a lot of fun. Of course, it would depend on with whom you were playing with. Jovenan was lucky that she happened to have perhaps the best possible person to play with.
Jones: So how about it? Fly as fast as you want super low or fly as high as you want super slow?
Jovenan: Oh, uh, let me think. If I could fly, even if for a metre above ground, I would be tall enough to give head pats to all of you, even Commanders Dakora and Yalu!
The thought was funny to her. Practically everyone onboard were taller than her, and those two commanders in particular were massive compared to her. Patting their heads like they were little children amused her for some reason.
Jones: Response
Jovenan: Heh! But, uh, how slow is “super slow”? Or am I allowed to ask clarifying questions?
Jones: Response
Jovenan: Okay. Hmm. The first option would allow me to move fast, but I already feel like I have to walk slow all the time and that I don’t have enough space to run. The second option would allow me to reach places I currently can’t, like high cliff walls or treetops.
Jones: Response
Jovenan: Oh, I hadn’t thought of that. Hmm, I think I would still choose the second option. I would rather be able to fly wherever I want, even if it took me some time to reach them. What about you?
Jones: Response
Jovenan: Oh, okay, I’ll come up something. Let’s see… Uh… This is harder than I thought, let me think for a moment.
Jones: Response?
She stopped for a moment to just think for something equally interesting she could ask Hiro. “Would you rather be trapped on Risa…” No, that’s not a good question. “Would you rather die in…” No, too dark. The question should be fun! “Would you rather have supervision or superhearing?” No, that’s too similar to Hiro’s, and it’s missing a twist like his question. Think!
Jovenan: Would you rather… visit 300 years to the future, but you’re not allowed to tell anyone what you saw there, or 300 years to the past but you’re not allowed to tell them about our time?
There wasn’t as much of a twist in this question either, since it was basically just an iteration of the Temporal Prime Directive, but in Jovenan’s mind it made an interesting question anyway.
Jones: Response
TAG/TBC
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Lieutenant JG Jovenan
Science officer
USS Artemis-A
E239911J11