LtCmdr Jovenan – You make me say all the silliest things
Jovenan
((Chief Science Officer’s office, Deck 9, USS Artemis))
Jovenan: Come in!
Jovenan tried to stop obsessively straightening her skant uniform when the door opened. She had no reason to be nervous, it was “just” Vitor and “just” a work related, brief meeting. Still, she had recently often found herself flustered without a particular cause when meeting him, before relaxing as they talked and spent time together. Such a feeling might have been annoying had it been someone else, but with Vitor, she knew he was a safe person to be vulnerable with, and instead of avoiding the otherwise unpleasant anxiety, it only made her more eager to meet him, as contrary to any conceivable logic as that was. Even now, when he simply crossed the threshold to her office, her heart took a few faster beats, but that only made her feel more energetic.
Silveira: Hello.
The smile on Jovenan’s face widened. It was an unconscious decision in her part, but even when she realised the change in her expression, she had no reason to hold it back, instead allowing her happiness to shine through.
Jovenan: Welcome! How do you like my office?
The question was an example of her awkward babbling. She had had the office for some year now, and yet she had failed to decorate more than a few potted plants and an Edo symbol; there was not really anything to comment about. There were a myriad of better questions than that: How are you? What happened on the planet? Are you hurt? What are we? Instead, she was asking about the office. Granted, for as long as the door was open, her administrative assistant or anyone else in the adjacent office space might hear them, so it was better to safe the personal questions until he’d at least make it past the door.
Silveira: It’s very nice. ::he smiled at her.:: It suits you.
Jovenan hoped Vitor didn’t think of her as boring. She knew that she hadn’t put much effort in the interior design of her office nor her quarters, and that she was rather bland compared to the outgoing, almost wild human. There were many things she had intended to do so that it wasn’t just Vitor who kept doing nice things to her, but even when she continuously failed to absolutely anything in that regard, he didn’t seem to get bored by her or stop spending time with her.
Vitor was carrying something with him. She had expected a PADD considering the work they were intending to get done, but the object was a bag in the rough shape of a cube. It wasn’t even Starfleet issue case they would store samples nor anything she’d imagine the tactical department to use. She looked at him with curiosity rising to her expression.
Jovenan: What is this?
Vitor winked and gestured towards the desk.
Silveira: Well, it's the reason that brought me here, why don’t you take a seat?
Looking at Vitor and the bag, Jovenan was confused. Did the bag have samples inside it after all? Did Vitor take something from there without permission, was it something she needed to analyse? His expression didn’t seem to indicate that there was something of serious nature in the bag. Fumbling a little, Jovenan backed to one of the chairs.
Jovenan: O-okay?
When he dropped the bag, Vitor had a mischievous smile on his face. Jovenan had come to like the smirk a lot. She didn’t see something like that often back on the homeworld, and in the University and in the Academy, a similar expression often indicated trouble or bad intentions. On Vitor, it was a sign of playfulness, of subverting expectations of the overtly structured world in a non-hurtful way. The expression alone could make Jovenan feel cheery.
And, indeed, Vitor surprised her by pulling out a smaller container, utensils and paper towels. She still couldn’t see where this was going, but it was far better than what he had announced as his intentions.
Silveira: Forgive the formality, but as Chief Tactical officer I believe it is my duty to take care of the crew, and since you are our Chief Science officer, I am pretty sure you haven’t got anything to eat in hours. ::He set up his side of the desk and sat down in front of Nan.:: So… It's snack time Commander. This is the professional part
The confused look quickly changed to glee. Vitor was right, she had barely eaten anything the entire day, which would have made her work much more laborious if he hadn’t forced her to stop ignoring her hunger. The expression changed again when she realised he was keeping up with the professional tone. She couldn’t quite match his mischievous smirk, but there was a faint hint of impishness in the corner of her mouth.
Jovenan: I see. I have to commend your dedication to your office, Lieutenant.
Jovenan adjusted the utensils and leaned in with Vitor to see what was inside the containers when he opened it.
Silveira: And since we were interrupted I feel I still owe you for the profiteroles. This is personal. Also there was one more thing… Medical…
The role she had been playing in their little game dropped when she recognized the delicacies. Profiteroles were the dessert Vitor had intended to serve her on their date last shore leave before they were interrupted! Her eyes sparkled with joy, realising that he was interested in continuing where they had left. Still, at the mention of the medical, her eyebrow rose a little.
Jovenan: Oh?
He winked again, raising his spoon.
Silveira: If you said no, I would have to eat all of them by myself. I am sure Sada and Genkos wouldn’t approve of all this sweetness.
She blinked a few times, considering the words in a confused silence for a few seconds, before pulling her hand in front of her mouth when the laughter was about to break through. It was such a simple joke, yet she couldn’t stop giggling.
Jovenan: No, you’re right, they wouldn’t! ::small pause:: This amazing, Vitor. Thank you.
Silveira: Response
For a moment, she observed Vitor eating a profiterole; she had never had one, so she needed to learn how to eat them the right way. Soon, she took her spoon and copied what he had done, taking a spoonful of the pastry and its soft filling, all covered in molten chocolate. When the spoon reached her mouth, the taste blew her away.
Jovenan: Wow, these really are sweet!
Silveira: Response
Jovenan: Yes, I love them! I wish we wouldn’t have been interrupted before tasting them, it would have been perfect. Although, I got to taste something equally good instead…
Jovenan’s eyes had been on Vitor’s, but soon after saying that, she quickly dropped the gaze down to the pastries. Her fight against blushing failed as she sucked her lips in, thinking what she had just said. oO Too far, too forwards! Oo The bashful embarrassment, the rush of sweetness of the profiteroles and the warm memory of the kiss clashed in her mind.
Silveira: Response
Slowly, Jovenan took another spoonful of the desserts before raising her gaze back from the desk to Vitor. She’d try again not to be rendered so silly by her friend’s gesture.
Jovenan: So… How are you? With the mission and all that.
Silveira: Response
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Lieutenant Commander Jovenan
Chief Science Officer
USS Artemis-A
E239911J11