Posted by Captain Johann Dvorak (CO) in Johann’s Quarters- Unexpected Messages

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Vora Zorell (Scientist) in Johann’s Quarters- Unexpected Messages

Posted by Captain Johann Dvorak (CO) in Johann’s Quarters- Unexpected Messages
Posted by… suppressed (3) by the Post Ghost! 👻

SNIP

Turning in her seat to face Johann, for a moment she just studied him, her maroon eyes curious.

“When I first left Tenra, I was terrified. Not just of Cortalo and what Roquan might do if he changed his mind about our agreement, but if I could actually be anything other than what I had been. But Deacon was so calm and certain when he explained the things he thought I was capable of and there was this brief moment where I wondered if maybe I could do this. Maybe I could have a life that was something special. And I know it was a process of painfully hard work, but I did it!”

He smiled slightly at the exclamation. Yes you did, he thought.

She reached a hand out and rested her fingertips on his cheek. “And along the way different people helped me see how much I’ve actually changed. I’m ready Johann. Maybe we don’t even need that bubble, even if things don’t go as well. I’m a lot more… steady than I used to be. I can handle good things coming from this as much as I think I could handle any disappointment. But it will all be that much better if you’re there with me. So let’s do. Jump in with both feet, as Terrans like to say.”

~Vora Zorell, Sciences

“Okay,” he said. He instinctively reached a hand out to touch hers, and nudged it toward his lips to give her fingers a supportive, affectionate peck. Affection then briefly changed to confusion.

Vora smiled, warmed by the small gesture.

“Tenraith don’t have a similar expression? You have water on your planet, right?” It was a silly question about a silly detail, but for some reason he was thinking about it as odd.

– Johann Dvorak, CO

“We do. Oceans and there are some large lakes, but a large part of the equatorial region is either desert or regions much hotter than that. Hotter than anything you have on Earth. We even have a region that translates to Furnanceland. Nothing can survive there. The regions we deem Feverland are survivable but not for long,” she said with a grin.

“And I thought Death Valley was dramatic,” he quipped.

Vora chuckled. “I thought it was enjoyable!” she teased.

“Water is a precious resource. A lot of our culture and technology arose from the sourcing, transportation and preservation of water. We have temperate and tropical regions and those are usually where the most surface water sources are located. Elsewhere, it’s underground.” She leaned in slightly. “In fact, there are apparently some spectacular underground cavern systems with beautiful waterfalls that are worth the adventure inland. For the adventurous, of course,” she said, her grin deepening.

~Vora Zorell, Sciences

“We’re adventurous,” he observed, grinning as well. “It’s been a while since we had an adventure. I guess there must not be that much swimming on Tenra, though. You’ve gone swimming, right? It’d be a shame if you haven’t.”

His occular implants didn’t move like natural eyes, but Vora could likely notice the way in which their motion somewhat resembled the movement of a turbolift.

– Johann Dvorak, CO

Vora still smiled but it was more thoughtful as she gazed at him. “I learned to swim at the Academy, mostly for survival. You know, not drowning and stuff. But swimming for recreation and pleasure, not really. And Cass was afraid of deep water for a long time, so when I first came aboard it just wasn’t one of those activities I did, alone or with others. Kebbran is on the ocean, and there are beaches, but I only sat on the sand once there. And I most decidedly not welcome there.” She tapped the back of her right wrist where her Cortalo mark had been. The one she had had removed as soon as she got off Tenra and the one Cortalo had cut out of her friend’s wrist. If they were going to Tenra it was a damned good thing she had had the foresight to get rid of it.

Figures, he thought.

“So you swim?” she asked, surprised d delighted that yes they still had things to learn about each other. knowing if a person swam seemed one of those random details most people would know, but on a starship unless it came up for a particular reason who would ever had a reason to know?

~Vora Zorell, Sciences

“It’s another one of those things I only do when I’m not in space,” he answered. “Which now-a-days is never.” In that respect, it was just like him and camping.

Vora grinned at him.

“We should swim someday on some nice planet. Maybe go snorkeling or scuba diving somewhere interesting, where there’s stuff to see underwater. But that requires… constricting… equipment, you know. You don’t need… well, anything, to just swim for fun.”

– Johann Dvorak, CO

“I like the idea of that.” Her maroon eyes lit up “Hey, maybe we can go swimming while we’re on Tenra. I’ll check out what the conditions are like and whether it’s feasible. And I guess we see about making plans? I know you have people to talk to, but what should I tell my possible, but likely father?”

~Vora Zorell, Sciences