LtCmdr Jovenan – All the missed, obvious opportunities
Jovenan
((Chief Science Officer’s office, Deck 9, USS Artemis))
Jovenan gave Vitor a kiss on the cheek. It was a quick kiss, a simple gesture of affection, but she could still feel the thrill of it. Mere hours ago, she could have only dreamed of being able to do so without fearing of crossing a line or scaring him off. Now, she gave her boyfriend a quick smooch on the cheek before resting her head against his chest. It was all still very unusual and alien to her, having a boyfriend she could just lie on the floor with behind locked doors and rest against him, but she wanted to take that all in and never let go. She closed her eyes, listening to his heartbeat and breathing, forgetting the haste and the perils of the mission.
Jovenan: I just want to lie down here for a bit longer.
She felt safe in his hold, and the hand that came to caress her hair again sent bliss throughout her mind and body. The office floor was not as soft as a bed or a sofa, but she was perfectly comfortable against him. She wouldn’t have wanted to be anywhere else at that time.
Silveira: We can stay here as long as you want.
As long as she wanted. At that moment, she would have wanted to stay there to the end of the universe and the time itself. They’d be floating around in a shared embrace in a bubble, and the universe and the time itself would grow dark and wither, except for the pair that shared a kiss among the embers of the last dying star, envious in its solitude of them having one another. But it would not be so, they’d get up soon and continue their work and their lives – and it wouldn’t be so bad, because they’d be part of each other’s life from here on. Jovenan doubted anyone would miss her for a day or two, but Vitor had something important coming up that would have to postpone their new couple time.
Jovenan: When are you due to depart for the survey mission?
Silveira: I am not really sure, a few days I think. I admit I didn’t pay much attention to that detail.
A few days or so. They could do with that. She didn’t know exactly what she was hurrying towards, as if being a couple was an action that would be interrupted by the mission and needed to be done before it. They’d have plenty of time together afterwards.
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.
His hold had tightened, and he was now also caressing her shoulder. She placed her hand on his chest and brushed it a little, as if to see whether she could do that. No one spurted through the locked doors to stop her.
Silveira:
Oh I don’t think Sada would be that much of a bother, I am pretty
sure she isn’t the kind to ask questions about relationships. But
if she knows I fear she might worry about taking me during shore
leave, considering I could be spending the time with you.
I
don’t want that thought increasing her anxiety.
Jovenan: I could see that happen. She just has this rigid sense of separation of work and personal life. I’m not sure how she’d feel about a relationship between colleagues. She’s unpredictable like that. ::pause, smile:: But that doesn’t matter, does it?
She raised her head a little and opened her eyes. He, too, had lowered his head for a rest and had closed his eyes, and he was now smiling. The smile was infectious as always, and with a wide beam on her face, she returned to resting against him.
Silveira: Other than that I am very much okay with shouting across the ship that the most beautiful, intelligent and amazing girl on the ship is my girlfriend. Although I might be biassed, because I love you.
Her eyebrows rose a little. By the end of the sentence, it was obvious that he was talking about her. The most beautiful, intelligent, amazing? She blushed while lifting her head again so that she could look at him. Did he really believe that? She bet she could have found a more beautiful and intelligent girl just outside the doors, in the Science Centre, but regardless, his evaluation was affirming. Her boyfriend thought she was pretty and smart!
Jovenan: Me? Well, if that’s what you’re going to be shouting at people, don’t forget to tell them that I have the bravest, funniest, wisest boyfriend of all Starfleet.
She placed her arm across his chest and squeezed him in an embrace. Her eyes were gleaming while she looked at his resting face, hoping that he would realize that she meant every word of it.
Silveira: Besides, it's not unexpected. I mean the Captain prompted us to get together, after interrupting us, I am sure she caught up on something. And I am pretty sure that Talos noticed how I was looking at you at the last award ceremony.
Jovenan’s eyebrows darted up again.
Jovenan: Oh? Were we that obvious to everyone else?
Silveira: Response
She wondered how many knew about the feelings they had for each other. Some of them might have known it even before she had recognized it in herself, given how many times the two had needed to talk about keeping their friendship and avoiding talking about other matters so not to hurt each other. Did Gnai spot the longing looks between them on MacKenzie’s ancestral yard? Did Doctor Sadar think they spent an oddly long time helping each other at their last cooking date, or did it start only after that? She didn’t even know how long she has loved him. It wasn’t a specific date, it had developed on its own. Perhaps it had been there from the beginning, on the Excal briefing room and by the side of his sickbay bed after the incident with the sword on Meranuge.
Jovenan: I get that she was trying to get us on a date, but I guess I didn’t really think it that way. ::pause, giggle:: Now to think of it, we were pretty obvious that time, weren’t we? I wonder what the Captain thought was happening behind her while she was playing the game.
Silveira: Response
She pulled herself upwards so that they faces were at the same level.
Jovenan: You know, I kinda wanted to kiss you that time but didn’t know if I should. We could make it up for all the missed opportunities now.
Silveira: Response
----
Lieutenant Commander Jovenan
Chief Science Officer
USS Artemis-A
E239911J11