Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Vora Zorell (Scientist) in Black Rock- A Reunion of Friends

Posted by Captain Johann Dvorak (CO) in Black Rock- A Reunion of Friends

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Vora Zorell (Scientist) in Black Rock- A Reunion of Friends
Posted by… suppressed (4) by the Post Ghost! 👻
(snip)
“Yes,” Johann said, knowing exactly what that might look like. “Again, I have to be careful about what I say, but… I think the worst case is that she gets a small dent and then feels like she’s stuck for a minute. Which… well… not to trivialize anything, but really is kind of how she gained a lot of confidence in the first place.”

Deacon nodded.

“I mean, I don’t need to tell you about her memory, and how never forgetting means she doesn’t always perceive the difference between who she was and who she is. This is another one of those times, and she works these things out when she realizes she’s the latter and not the former. Then she gains the confidence from it. It’s only complicated this time because it happened on a mission.”

It was technically true as far as the record was concerned. It was even mostly true even if one were to include the information that Johann knew but wasn’t going to talk about.

– Johann Dvorak, CO

“Yes, that has certainly been true in my experience with her too. I can see how her memory taking over on a mission would be distressing for her though.” Deacon sighed slightly. “I have a hard time remembering some days to step back and allow her to figure it out. We’ve been friends for so long and she’s been fighting for her future so long that I think I forget that she doesn’t need my help as much as she used to. And now she’s got other people who can help her as well,” he said with a genuine smile.

~Deacon Amherst

OOC: I think there was a split where I replied to this bit, but I think I’ll just run with it here anyway.

IC: “I suppose she does,” Johann said cautiously. The implicit reference to himself made him feel rather self conscious; a feeling that had been lurking slightly in the background ever since Vora proposed this event. That and he wasn’t used to thinking of Vora as someone who really needed his help. I mean, he did help her, sure but it’s not like…

Wait, he thought. What wouldn’t I do, exactly?

– Johann Dvorak, CO

Slipping around the other tables, Vora returned just then and took her seat again before Deacon could say anything more. She eyed the tuber roots and shook her head before digging back into her the last bits of her meal. She had a suspicion that they might have bene talking about her when she left, but she also wasn’t worried about it. If it was important, one of them would bring it up.

“So, been playing much music lately?” Deacon asked her.

“Uh, not so much. And haven’t done anything publicly since that open mic night a few years ago.” Vora paused with her fork in the air and looked at Johann thoughtfully for a moment. “I should though. Might help with some of the recent stress. And maybe it would be good for Jerrin too. I could take him rock climbing as well,” she said with cheeky grin towards Deacon.

You went rock climbing? Johann wondered. Oh wait, right, Geology. Still… He had assumed that she wasn’t much of an outdoorswoman given her reaction to the idea of going camping however many years ago it was now. When it all began…

Amherst laughed. “Anger issues?”

Johann smirked slightly at that question. “Well, when he gets the wrong idea about why someone is dating his Mom, yeah…” he said quietly.

Vora glanced at him. “He was strangely protective,” she said fondly. It was easy to forget in that moment, and I hadn’t been fully prepared to tell him about his father and our life on Tenra, but it was going to happen eventually, whether or not you and I were together.”

“Oh, of course,” Johann agreed, while simultaneously realizing he didn’t read it quite as a protective impulse on the young boy’s part at the time. But it retrospect, that made sense.

She considered that. “Not like mine were, but the kid needs a release of some kind. Though he did seem to make friends with our Chief of Security awhile back, so I might see if he wouldn’t mind teaching Jerrin some stuff. ” Vora paused for a moment to gather her words. “I think there are many days when I observe him and see so much of myself in him, and while that’s wonderful in many ways, I guess I’m just a bit… cautious. He’s had a hard enough life at this point that I want to make sure he’s steering in a good direction.”

~Vora and Deacon

Johann was trying to imagine what Jerrin and Range would have to talk about. A slight frown might have started appearing. “How exactly did the two of them meet? Jerrin and Mr. Range, I mean?”

– Johann Dvorak, CO

Vora chuckled. “Oh. Well, Jerrin was helping out in the science department and went to go put some items into storage as someone requested. He got the wrong room and tried to enter a restricted area. Which alerted security and Commander Range responded. And then I got called and had to defend him working in the labs, but we got it all sorted out. But he spent a bit of time with the Commander later and they seem to get along. I think at this point, the more positive male influences Jerrin has in his life the better. I can’t undo our past, but I can sure as hell make the present and future be better for him,” she said, her tone becoming a bit more intense.

Johann nodded, being silently glad that this story wasn’t as bad as it could have been.

“And you’re doing a great job, Vora, really. Jerrin is lucky to have you,” Deacon said fondly.

She smiled softly. “I never truly thought I’d ever see him again, but I’m glad we got to reinvent the story.”

~Vora & Deacon

“Where’s the story going?” Johann asked. “What’s he want to do now that he’s here?”

– Johann Dvorak, CO

“I’m not sure, honestly. His schooling was rather disrupted and lacklustre, not unlike mine, so we’re just catching him up and letting him explore. I want him to be exposed to lots of new things and see where he is inspired. He’s young still, but Tenraith mature faster in adolescence than Humans, so he’s maturing a lot faster than it might seem. I’ve only got a couple years before he’ll be considered an adult and ready to make his own decisions. Right now I want him to feel he has stability, but also the freedom to choose. And some discipline. Because he’s been a bit moody lately, and we’re having a more rough patch than I expected after he settled.” Vora knew it was impossible to keep him from making poor choices, but she could make sure how they were handled would not be detrimental. But there were no guarantees, of course.

Lt. (J.g) Zorell, Sciences

Bump