Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Vora Zorell (Scientist) in Zorell Quarters- Family Matters

Posted by Captain Johann Dvorak (CO) in Zorell Quarters- Family Matters

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Vora Zorell (Scientist) in Zorell Quarters- Family Matters
Posted by… suppressed (2) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

“Agreed,” Vora said. She took in a deep breath and calmly exhaled before entering her quarters.

Inside, Jerrin was sitting on the sofa surrounded by padds on the glass top coffee table and on the cushions around him. He glanced up and gave her a nod of acknowledgment. “I ate already, like you suggested.”

“Okay, good,” Vora said. She looked back at Johann and gave an encouraging smile. “Can you set aside your work for a minute? Johann and I have something we wanted to discuss with you.” She purposefully used his first name to indicate (hopefully) that this wasn’t official ship business.

Jerrin eyed them both curiously, despite his frown. “Okay…” he said, gathering the padds on the couch and moving them to the table.

~Vora and Jerrin

Just say it, Johann thought, repeating his own advice to Vora. Keep it simple.

“Jerrin, your mother and I love each other very much. So we’re planning to get married.”

– Johann Dvorak, CO

Jerrin blinked in slight surprise. “Oh.” His mind began quickly working through what this meant and suddenly he had a ton of questions. But when he went to ask even one of them, his mouth simply opened and nothing came out.

Oh no, I broke his brain! Johann thought. He managed to maintain his composure without exerting any visible effort, in what would be an impressive display of discipline if it were noticed.

She had glanced briefly at Johann to gauge his reaction and quickly looked away lest she lose her own compose.

Vora moved over to the couch and sat next to Jerrin, tilting her head to catch his gaze. “I know it’s going to mean a lot of changes in the near future, but not nearly as many as it might seem.”

Jerrin didn’t say anything, but he also didn’t seem outwardly upset at all.

“Jerrin? Look at me,” Vora said softly.

When he looked up he noted the hopeful look in her expression and he could also tell she was trying to not look quite so happy. Had he noticed that before? Her happiness? He couldn’t ever recall. “Are we moving quarters?” he asked.

A practical question, Johann thought. He took it as a good sign.

“I don’t know exactly how we’ll handle everything.” She gestured to the three of them. “We’ll have to sit down and figure out all these details. But Johann is an important part of my life and I want it to always be that way, but you and I are family and that’s not changing. We’re just going to make our family a little bit bigger. Alright?”

Jerrin looked up at Johann, and studied him. Despite some initial confusion about the man, he had seemed to be good for Vora. Or was it the other way around? He wasn’t sure. There was too much in his head for him to be able to sort out exactly what he wanted to say so he simply nodded. It was a genuine nod though.

~Vora & Jerrin

Johann still didn’t know Jerrin well enough to read what his reaction was, but he could tell that this wasn’t a bad reaction. He returned the boy’s nod with one of his own. Then he briefly looked at Vora, and then back at Jerrin. Then he repeated that again before taking a step closer and squatting slightly so that he was at Jerrin’s eye level.

“It’s OK, I don’t know what I’m supposed to say now either,” he said quietly.

— Johann Dvorak, CO

Jerrin searched Johann’s face and at least could see the sincerity there. “This is a little weird,” he admitted quietly and then shrugged. “Not exactly the weirdest thing I’ve ever experienced so I guess it’ll be fine.”

Well, that’s the spirit, kid… Johann thought flippantly. He considered saying something, but before he could…

Vora knew that was as about as much o an endorsement as they would get under the circumstances. Leaning over, she kissed Jerrn on the forehead, eliciting an irritated scowl.

“Really, mom? Must you?” he grumbled.

Johann stifled a chuckle, but not perfectly.

She got up and grinned. “Yes, I must. Mother’s prerogative. And I’m going to suggest maybe the three of us have dinner tomorrow, or something. We can get to used to spending more time together while we work out the answers to all the questions that will invariably come up.”

“All right,” the teen said quietly.

~Vora & Jerrin

“My schedule is clear,” Dvorak confirmed. One would have thought they might have planned that part in advance, but then again, they we’re pretty much winging every step here.

He’s right that it’s weird, he thought more seriously. But the weirdness is actually pretty central to how the whole thing works. Which is kinda backwards but in the good way. He was thinking in part so that he’d remember this particular observation later and probably share it with Vora when they had a private moment again.

– Johann Dvorak, CO