LtCmdr Jovenan – No one told me there would be a girlfriend test
Jovenan
((Sadar-Aqila quarters, Deck 6, USS Artemis))
Sadar: Dating!?
Judging by the shock and confusion in Doctor Sadar’s face, Jovenan could tell that the news had not been expected by the friend of the new couple. She could see why the Doctor may have been surprised by the announcement of her and Vitor’s recent decision to start dating, but the way she questioned it made Jovenan worry that she might not approve of it. However, Vitor’s hand in hers helped her overcome her insecurity; Doctor Sadar could still see the affection they had for each other.
Silveira: I admit I wasn’t the most discreet with my feelings. I am surprised you only now noticed something.
Jovenan laughed a little. She had had a hard time believing that some of their colleagues could have drawn conclusions of their feelings for each other before Jovenan had herself recognized them. Meanwhile, Doctor Sadar, one of the closest people to them, had remained as oblivious to the subtle signs as Jovenan had expected everyone to be. Perhaps the signs had been more difficult to recognize the closer the observer was to them.
Jovenan: Apparently, we were obvious to some other crewmembers long before we decided to start dating. The Captain even tried to set us up for a date together. She did succeed too, so I suppose we should thank her.
Smiling, Vitor rolled his eyes. She felt the same way. The Captain interrupting them had been awkward at the time, and Jovenan had considered turning down the Captain mandated date, but looking back at those days, she wouldn’t have wanted it any other way after all. That said, she preferred if Captain MacKenzie would learn of her success in matchmaking through other channels than Jovenan informing her of it. Despite the personal intervention in the slowly progressing relationship, there was a layer of professional detachment between her and the Commanding Officer. Besides, Jovenan didn’t want to encourage barging in a room without knocking first and taking up to involve oneself into the interpersonal interaction of one’s subordinates, no matter how beneficial it had been in the end.
Silveira: I will think about it.
Even though Jovenan and Vitor were enjoying chatting with each other, Doctor Sadar’s expression spoke of her thoughts. The normally anxious person looked even more frightened than usual. The two joking around probably had not helped in calming down the poor Doctor. Jovenan wondered if she should take her friend’s reaction more seriously so that the reveal wouldn’t hurt their relationship further.
Sadar: H-How long?
Jovenan: We only, um, formalized our relationship a few days ago, but you could say that it has been a long time coming. ::looks at Silveira:: I guess it became harder to hide my feelings by the Frontier Day, but I felt too unready to start a relationship at that time.
Silveira: It took us… The time we needed, even if we didn’t knew when it was.
Despite trying to make Doctor Sadar feel better, she had remained silent, and the nervous expression hadn’t faded away. Jovenan started to feel bad for her, they had properly derailed the nice dinner their friend had prepared for them, making it all about themselves and robbing Doctor Sadar of the attention she deserved.
Jovenan: I’m sorry, Doctor, I hope this news doesn’t change the dinner plans. We considered telling you later, in case you had something else important, but there was no reason to deny it after you asked about it.
Sadar: Oh! Uhh, no, absolutely not! I-I’m sorry for asking something so personal of you, Lt. Commander! ::wrings her hands:: I-I didn’t intend-
Jovenan bit her lower lip. It seemed that her attempt to make Doctor Sadar more comfortable with the situation had caused her only to become more insecure and almost panic. Luckily, Vitor was more competent in responding to her emotions and was already speaking by the time Jovenan realised her attempt had failed.
Silveira: No Sada please… ::he smiled at Nan:: It was our pleasure to share this news with you. I am glad you are the first to know about us.
Jovenan: That’s right. You don’t have to apologize for asking something personal from us, we want to share those things with you if and when you’re comfortable with it!
Doctor Sadar’s expression was peculiar as she appeared to think of what they were saying. Her face seemed to shift from signalling her nervousness to something else, though Jovenan couldn’t tell her feelings exactly. Was she about to cry? Oh no, were she and Vitor forcing their personal life onto their friend too forcefully?
Sadar: C-Congratulations, both of you. I am genuinely overjoyed on your behalf.
A wide smile took over Jovenan’s face as relief and joy rushed in. She would have been devastated had their friend rejected their relationship. Vitor squeezed her hand gently, clearly feeling the same way as Jovenan.
Silveira: Thank you Sada. You're a good friend.
Jovenan nodded. Talking about personal things to others was often anxiety inducing, but she wouldn’t have expected the revelation to be this nerve-wrecking. Of course, Doctor Sadar was unlikely to break her friendship with them because of this, but in Jovenan’s mind, the chance of rejection had been real. The congratulations came as a relief to her, but looking at Doctor Sadar now, she got the feeling that she wanted to say something more.
Jovenan: You are! ::pause:: Or… Is there something else on your mind?
Sadar: O-Oh, it’s, uhh... I-It’s... W-Well... ::deep breath:: O-On Mizabet, when a close friend intends to start a coupling, it is the duty of their friends and family to perform a, uhh... Well, it’s essentially a, uhh, compatibility evaluation? ::raises her hands:: O-O-Of course, I-I don’t mean to infer in any way that you aren’t compatible, b-but I felt that, uhh... W-Well... ::clears throat::
Turning to Vitor, Jovenan was surprised to find his eyebrows arched. Did he have doubts about the evaluation? That Doctor Sadar would perform the ritual or whatever it was and rule them not a good match after all? The corner of Jovenan’s lip twitched a little: they had very different personalities and histories, and so recently into the relationship they may have been blind to the flaws in it, but surely Doctor Sadar would not be able to find anything that a reason to encourage separation. They had declared their love for one another, why would they have any doubts about it now?
Silveira: I hope that’s a poor translation. ::He looked puzzled at Nan:: I mean… It's a sort of ritual? Or a party?
Jovenan: What does it entail?
Vitor leaned over to listen to the explanation. Jovenan slurped some more soup, holding the spoon in her free hand. She didn’t know yet how to feel about being evaluated. The two have known each other for almost three years now, surely they knew each other well enough if there was a quiz.
Sadar: Response
Silveira: Interesting, I would feel very honored by that Sada.
Jovenan nodded with subtle head movements while eating her soup while it was warm. Was it wrong of her to think the evaluation could provide anything but a positive grade? She loved Vitor, but the relationship was new, and it had come almost as a shock to Doctor Sadar. Was it possible that it could sway her judgement? Was there even any judgement involved, or did Doctor Sadar only want to honour her friends in the manner she was familiar with?
Sadar: Response
Vitor turned to her and looked her straight with his blue eyes.
Silveira: What do you think, my love?
Blush crept onto Jovenan’s cheeks. They had been calling each other with cute pet names the entire evening, even when they shouldn’t have, but “my love” was the best of them. Smiling, almost bashfully, she shrugged.
Jovenan: Okay. Sure! Is there something we should do or say?
Silveira/Sadar: Response
Jovenan reach over the table and took Vitor’s other hand, too. She looked up to his eyes; even when sitting, he was significantly taller than her. Her heart was beating faster again, but she didn’t know if it was the “evaluation” or if it was the excitement of being his girlfriend, openly, in front of a third party and a shared friend.
Jovenan: Did I already say that you look charming in that suit?
Silveira/Sadar: Response
Jovenan: Apologies, Doctor. Please begin.
Silveira/Sadar: Response
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Lieutenant Commander Jovenan
Chief Science Officer
USS Artemis-A
E239911J11