LtCmdr Jovenan – Howdy, pard- no, I can’t do the accent, not even in writing
Jovenan
((Jovenan’s quarters, Deck 3, USS Artemis))
Jovenan: Wait a moment, I have something for you as well.
She held the present Vitor had given her in one hand as she retreated further into her quarters. The wrapping of the package didn’t reveal anything about its contains. It was rather heavy for its size, at least compared to the gift she had bought for him. That much she could see easily as she grasped the present waiting on the table to her free hand and compared the two. The felt and leather hat didn’t weight a lot, and due to its complicated shape, any attempt to wrap it lead to much of the package being just full of air. Meanwhile, her gift had to be something compact and shaped in a way that allowed maximum volume per surface area. A metallic sphere? A rock cube? Guessing didn’t give any definitive results, but she tried anyway, being excited even if she could just wait for a moment longer to find out. She brought the clumsily wrapped hat over to Vitor and gave 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: Thank you… I am eager to open it.
She gestured towards her new sofa, wide enough for the both of them – by no coincidence – and they sat down. Still examining her gift, she turned it around in her hands and resisted the urge to just rip the decorated paper that covered it. However, this was a ritual, rooted in centuries old beliefs and customs, none of which she knew. As much as she enjoyed it, they were not her traditions, and she wanted to respect Vitor’s heritage by doing it right. She turned to him for guidance.
Jovenan: How does this work? Do we open them now, or is there a ritual?
He held his gift, looking just as eager to open it as she was, and shook his head.
Silveira: Many rituals and traditions. But as we are running a little behind, and since I am eager to see what it is, I say we just set one of them.
Jovenan: If that’s okay with you. But the next time, we’re gonna do it properly!
He leaned in closer to her with a wink, and she understood what he was going for. She closed the gap between them and kissed him. Not being a human or from human culture, missing a Christmas together hadn’t been as upsetting for her as it might have been for him, but she felt not having him near her for all that time just as heavily. She had missed all these sweet kisses and hugs, his closeness, laughter, the smirk in his face and the blue of his eyes. The kiss was quick, and they parted soon to get back to their respective presents.
Silveira: There, now let’s open them…
Jovenan: Okay…
They both started unwrapping the presents. Jovenan started by removing the tapes that held one fold together, but seeing how Vitor ripped through his, she stopped altogether and just watched him go. She was still eager to see her present, but he was just about to see what his was, and she wanted to take in his reaction in full. The shape of the hat became quickly more obvious, and soon, the dark brown felt shone through the ripped wrappers. At first, when he got the last of the paper off, he held it carefully, like fearing he might break it. She smiled at his expression when he slowly, almost ritualistically, placed the hat over his head and straightened his back. He tipped it slightly before pulling it back and opening his arms.
Silveira: Nan… I love it… It’s… It’s the best Christmas gift I could ask for…
Hearing those words, Jovenan brought her palms together over her lips, drawn to a wide smile. She was almost squealing. His enthusiasm, everything he said, it was far better reaction than she could have ever hoped for. He leaned in again, and she moved her hands out of the way for another kiss. He then tipped the hat again slightly to one side – if there was a meaning to the subtle movements of the hat, Jovenan didn’t know any of it – and spoke.
Silveira: Hot damn, giddy up, yuppy kay aye, diddly squat. ::he leaned forward:: That’s cowboy talk my little prairie rose of the desert. Let’s settle up and we will ride until sunset
Her eyebrows shot high up. Whether that was a human language or something of his own creation, she didn’t know. She assumed it had something to do with cowboys and the lingo of the Earth’s Ancient West, but she couldn’t tell for the life of her if she was being complimented or asked a question. Let’s settle down… no, settle up, and… do what? A laughter escaped her lips.
Jovenan: ::laughingly:: Love, I have no idea what you’re saying!
Silveira: Response
Jovenan: What I heard, the westerns sounded a lot like something you’d like a lot. I don’t know a lot about horses or train robbers or, uh, sheriffs, um or prairie roses, but maybe we could go to holodeck someday and you could teach me?
She brought her hand to the brim of the hat and tipped it forwards, partially covering his eyes. With his new hat and new beard, he looked different, mysterious, charming, but he hadn’t lost the boyish smirk nor the goofiness from him either. From the brim, her hand went to his cheek which she brushed.
Silveira: Response
Bringing her legs up and tugging them under her, Jovenan took a comfier position on the sofa, slightly leaning towards Vitor. She turned back to his gift to her, presently in a partially unwrapped state. No longer holding back, she ripped the paper to reveal the object within. The first thing she saw was the transparent orb, then the silvery base. When the last piece of paper was removed, she could see the object in its entirety: a glass sphere, enclosing a small tree, spruce perhaps, covered in snow. A symbol, one that she knew very well, with two swirls in a circle, was affixed above the top of the tree.
Jovenan: Oh my goodness, it’s so pretty!
Silveira: Response
She nudged herself closer to him and leaned in against him. Inviting herself to under his arm, she rested her hear head against him and gently shook the snow globe. Her eyes were wide as she watched the snow linger in the water, slowly falling over the tree and to the ground. It was a scene like she had never seen before; serene, ethereal, otherworldly.
Jovenan: I’ve never seen anything so beautiful. ::looks up to him:: Thank you. I love it.
Silveira: Response
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Lieutenant Commander Jovenan
Chief Science Officer
USS Artemis-A
E239911J11