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

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

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Vora Zorell (Scientist) in Johann’s Quarters- Suspicions
Posted by… suppressed (1) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

“Okay, that works,” he said.

“That would include Siennadye, with whom I had a very unique connection. One that wasn’t romantic in nature. It was just a kind of… like… whispering. I mean, in practice. For some reason my thoughts are especially easy to hear for her. So that became a kind of side conversation that other people couldn’t listen in on. But that’s it.”

Was it though? he wondered briefly. He had to be a little honest here; he did miss it once she was assigned off of the ship. A lot. Perhaps more than he should have. He could see rather easily how it would have happened if things were just a little different. But he wasn’t going to dwell on that here.

“I don’t even have that with Sienna. I mean, I gather that she’s capable of it, but she avoids doing it. Now it makes sense as to why. And if there’s more of it now, it isn’t going to lead to anything, because I’m not that man she’s missing. I’m the man who is marrying you.”

– Johann Dvorak, CO

Vora nodded slowly, digesting his words. It would be too far to leap to conclusions, but he had done nothing wrong and was reassuring her at every step. Inhaling fully, she exhaled. “I guess I just need that reassurance. I don’t need to explain to you how weird this is for me. I’ve been through a lot and I’ve grown so much since I’ve been on this ship. I don’t discount that. But at the same time, there are these old patterns lurking under the surface. The one I have never had with you is a distrust of intentions. I learned to distrust most people’s intentions, not just men, but especially in interactions, I could never be sure entirely what was real or not. But with you it’s felt so… natural. I don’t doubt your intentions or your feelings, but I recognize that as we move forward through what is certainly a murky situation, I might nee d a litte more reassurance than usual.” Yes, that felt true and it wasn’t about him, but it was a way he could help.

~Vora Zorell, Sciences

“Certainly,” he said. “I think that’s entirely reasonable, even though it might not feel that way.” He seemed to stare into space for a second as he pondered it.

“I suppose… emotionally… it must be as if I had an ex suddenly show up,” he said. “Except she’s not my ex. And my exes would not ‘show up’ because they work hundreds of light years away. No, actually, I work hundreds of light years away. At the edge of the known universe. But that’s not why I hang my hat in Tennessee.”

He didn’t actually hang his hat in Tennessee. He didn’t even wear a hat, unless he was visiting a planet, and even then not every time. At least your ex wasn’t this confusing when he showed up, he thought. He just wanted to kidnap you… Very sensibly, Johann managed not to verbalize this thought.

– Johann Dvorak, CO

Vora frowned, the turn of phrase one she just couldn’t quite parse. She almost went to ask but then shook her head. No, it wasn’t the important part here. “I’s someone you know, but you don’t really know them the way they know you. Or, the way they think they know you. But I think that’s the hard part. You work closely together, so yes, you do have a connection, a working rapport. Like I said, I’m not worried about anyone’s intentions here, but…” Gah! Why was this so hard? “I think you need to clear the air with her, confirm what we’ve figured out and then let me know how you’re both going to proceed.”

~Vora Zorell, Sciences

“Right,” he said, confirming that was the course of action. There was a slight hesitation at the end of it.

“How you’re both going to proceed” repeated in his mind. There was something about the way she said that which didn’t sit quite right with him. There was something there left unstated. Something he wasn’t sure if he should probe at further.

“Is there a way you would prefer us not to proceed? Besides the obvious, I mean.”

– Johann Dvorak, CO