PT 014.5 Sleepover

USS Adventure06/22/2020

Pretty late into the evening, you are in your cabin, when there is a knock on your door.

Xho06/22/2020

*answers it! She's already changed into her pajamas and washed her face. ... her PJs are actually a pair of violet silk men's pajamas with a fuzzy lining. It's the same color as her uniform.*

USS Adventure06/22/2020

Aevarnis is there, she's dressed in her uniform, but is carrying a stay over bag which likely has her PJs in them.

[9:59 PM]

"Hi. I hope I'm not too late. I wasn't sure when a good time was."

Xho06/22/2020

Not at all. Come in.

[10:00 PM]

*moves to let her in.*

USS Adventure06/22/2020

She does so. "I was hoping I could change here. I didn't feel dignified walking through the halls in some shorts and a tank top."

Xho06/22/2020

That's fine. ... I *am* rather nervous.

USS Adventure06/22/2020

Aevarnis moves to a side room to change. "Oh? Why?"

Xho06/22/2020

I have never done a "sleepover" before.

USS Adventure06/22/2020

She calls out from the room while changing. "Oh. Do drow not socialize that way? Well, I wouldn't worry about it. This is strictly for professional purposes."

Xho06/22/2020

No. ... I did get snacks.

USS Adventure06/22/2020

Aevarnis exits wearing the aforementioned women's boxer shorts and tank top. It's a very dressed down look. "Ah. Great. Snacks are never a bad thing."

Xho06/22/2020

... the references were somewhat... alarming.

USS Adventure06/22/2020

"...references?"

Xho06/22/2020

I did ask ARTI what a sleepover *is.*

USS Adventure06/22/2020

Aevarnis: "Ah. Doing your research. Makes sense for you. But I don't think you need a lot of prep for adult sleepovers."

Xho06/22/2020

That does make sense.

USS Adventure06/22/2020

Aevarnis: "I'm not sure I see what's alarming about it, though. It's mostly just a bunch of kids games and then passing out from a sugar rush."

Xho06/22/2020

Much of it appeared to revolve around fertility rituals and mating habits.

USS Adventure06/22/2020

Aevarnis: "...a few of them. Mating's a strong word for it, though. It's mostly just making out in a closet."

Xho06/22/2020

... why a closet?

USS Adventure06/22/2020

"Privacy, I guess. Think it just adds to the atmosphere. Most of it's about...feigning adulthood from the perspective of being a child or teenager."

Xho06/22/2020

Ah. Fortunately we are adults. If you feel it has some therapeutic value... but my closet is not very large.

USS Adventure06/22/2020

Aevarnis chuckles. "I think we can skip the 'fertility rituals and mating habits' parts and just focus on eating snacks and trying to rest."

Xho06/22/2020

*visibly relaxes a little bit.*

[10:17 PM]

Good.

USS Adventure06/22/2020

"I am sorry if I put you on edge. I was mostly just making a joke. Slumber parties are a cultural touchstone where I'm from."

Xho06/22/2020

Drow children are virtually never unsupervised, particularly not in the more prominent houses.

USS Adventure06/22/2020

"...that sounds extremely stifling. How do you learn to be a child?"

Xho06/22/2020

... and consider the timing. I have taken *one* partner in 10 years and there were nine spectators. Of whom I was not aware. I hope they... grade on a curve.

USS Adventure06/22/2020

Aevarnis: "...you're aware I've had a session with all the souls bound to you?"

Xho06/22/2020

*does bring out the snacks! Fruit, veggies, some crunchy carb-based things, dried mushrooms with some sort of spicy stuff on them. A few non-alcoholic beverages to choose from.*

[10:22 PM]

I am sure they will require *years* of therapy.

USS Adventure06/22/2020

"None of them watched you have sex."

Xho06/22/2020

... and I am not sure how one "learns" to be a child.

[10:23 PM]

... really? ... good.

USS Adventure06/22/2020

"You did still have a modicum of privacy in that time. They did grant you that."

[10:24 PM]

"...I think it's important you know that."

Xho06/22/2020

... I will have to thank them. That *is* a relief.

USS Adventure06/22/2020

She nods.

[10:25 PM]

"You should talk to them. In a way, they are probably the nine people on this ship who can most understand what you're going through."

Xho06/22/2020

I would be concerned I was imposing on them. I am sure they are glad to get away from me. I would be glad to get away from *anyone* I was virtually attached to for a week, let alone a decade.

USS Adventure06/22/2020

"...fair. But sometimes confronting mutual trauma is the only way to truly understand how everyone is affected. I have a group therapy session, and you are free to join us."

Xho06/22/2020

*offers her the snacks.*

[10:28 PM]

I will do so.

USS Adventure06/22/2020

She takes some (what do you provide?)

Xho06/22/2020

((Oh, you must have missed the line I wrote above.))

USS Adventure06/22/2020

((I did, I'm sorry. I am also running for Caleb.))

[10:30 PM]

She will take one of the mushrooms and eat it.

Xho06/22/2020

((They are spicy! But not unbearably so.))

[10:31 PM]

... I will try.

USS Adventure06/22/2020

Aevarnis: "All anyone can ask. This is good. What is it?"

Xho06/22/2020

Spicy dried mushrooms. Snack food from home, or a very close replication. Sage is a *very* capable cook.

USS Adventure06/22/2020

Aevarnis: "Mmmm. Our chef is quite skilled. I don't know how he does it with just the supplies we have."

Xho06/22/2020

I do not know.

USS Adventure06/22/2020

"You know, most sun elf dishes are actually quite spicy. I've seen very few humans who can stomach them."

Xho06/22/2020

I would enjoy trying them.

USS Adventure06/22/2020

"...do you have a kitchen in here?"

Xho06/22/2020

A small kitchenette area. I do not often use it.

USS Adventure06/22/2020

She grabs some of the vegetables and mushrooms and heads over there. "Do you have any other food in here? I can call the kitchen for supplies."

Xho06/22/2020

Not much. I *do* generally eat, but typically not here.

USS Adventure06/22/2020

She grabs some more veggies and some sticky bread and a frying pan.

Xho06/22/2020

... it isn't going to involve mating practices or selection by glassware, is it?

[10:42 PM]

*did follow her, though.*

USS Adventure06/22/2020

She chuckles. "No. No offense, Commander, but I don't feel *that* close to you."

Xho06/22/2020

I may have misunderstood what ARTI said.

USS Adventure06/22/2020

She pours some oil over it and begins chopping all the plants into fine bits and mixing them into the bread.

[10:44 PM]

"I believe ARTI was referring to a game called 'spin the bottle'. It is a bit outdated."

Xho06/22/2020

How does it work?

USS Adventure06/22/2020

"You gather everyone together to sit in a circle around a bottle. One person is chosen to spin it and whomever the bottle's neck points to when it stops spinning has to kiss the spinner."

Xho06/22/2020

Ah, a game for a larger group. A frighteningly random game for a larger group.

USS Adventure06/22/2020

"There are other variants. Sometimes they just have to do a dare given to them by the spinner, or say which boy or girl they like. It's all very childish."

[10:48 PM]

She takes the now fried, spiced bread and begins cutting it into strips.

Xho06/22/2020

Unsupervised? ... that smells wonderful.

USS Adventure06/22/2020

"Entirely unsupervised. This isn't going to be as good as it should be, I'm afraid. It's a bit of a rush job. It's called Daoinnkulaa, or Star Bread."

[10:50 PM]

She presents them. They look like bread sticks.

Xho06/22/2020

*takes one and nibbles.*

USS Adventure06/22/2020

There's a definite heat to it. It's definitely spicy. But not super spicy. You also get a bit of flavoring from the broccoli and a firm crunch."

Xho06/22/2020

That is *very* good.

USS Adventure06/22/2020

"Thank you. I'm not a chef, but I know how to make some things."

Xho06/22/2020

I know very little about high elven culture or cuisine.

USS Adventure06/22/2020

"I know very little about the same for your people. Perhaps this is a chance for cultural exchange."

Xho06/22/2020

A positive one, which is a nice change. There has been some hostility toward me in the past from elves. Understandably. I have become... perhaps more wary than is necessary.

USS Adventure06/22/2020

"Is it understandable?"

Xho06/22/2020

There were significant casualties on both sides, whether it was called a war or not.

USS Adventure06/22/2020

"Maybe so. But you and I were not soldiers. I wasn't, at least."

Xho06/22/2020

I was not either. I am not *that* old.

USS Adventure06/22/2020

"There is a difference between owning the sins of your forefathers and taking blame for them. If you hated me simply for being a high elf, I would not view that as acceptable."

Xho06/22/2020

It would not be.

[11:03 PM]

There were efforts to... rehabilitate some of the structural forces fostering enmity between Drow and other races. I learned Elven before I learned Common.

USS Adventure06/22/2020

"...rehabilitate?"

Xho06/22/2020

Fix. Eliminate.

[11:04 PM]

Changing textbooks to more accurately reflect events and persons.

USS Adventure06/22/2020

"...this sounds like systematic cultural brainwashing."

Xho06/22/2020

I suppose so. I am not sure how much of it was part of the conditions of joining the Federation and how much was simply a good-faith effort to better reflect reality.

USS Adventure06/22/2020

"...I do know that drow society was engaged in a number of atrocities in it's day, as our society was as well. I am sure these had to be reconciled for joining. ...but I feel removing the drow perspective from history is...harsh."

Xho06/22/2020

I do not think it was removed, just... fixed. I have seen some of the old textbooks; the material removed was... distasteful. Extremely inaccurate.

USS Adventure06/22/2020

"...ah. ...perhaps I am approaching this without proper context."

[11:10 PM]

"I apologize."

Xho06/22/2020

*nods.*

[11:12 PM]

It is better now. Enough that it is shocking to go back and read the old material. Children being taught all orcs are stupid, all tieflings are untrustworthy, all other elves are inferior. Unkind and extremely incorrect.

USS Adventure06/22/2020

"Ah. That is different. Pride in one's culture shouldn't come at feeling superior to others."

Xho06/22/2020

But when we still had those beliefs, and acted accordingly, people were still willing to come to our aid. That showed the material was incorrect, so in at least some cases... the demands to fix it came from our people, not just the Federation.

[11:16 PM]

After working in close proximity with the other peoples, it had to. Our ship would easily show that as well. We all have something to offer.

USS Adventure06/22/2020

"I believe it would."

[11:17 PM]

"You do not cover up your atrocities, I would hope. Or rewrite the history."

Xho06/22/2020

No. Though I think it has been difficult for the older generations. Some of the old beliefs persist longer than they should.

USS Adventure06/22/2020

She nods. "I do believe I can relate to that. My parents actually held similar perspectives on Orcs. But Duma is proof enough of how intelligent they can be."

Xho06/22/2020

I am still somewhat embarrassed to be his commanding officer rather than the other way around. It does not seem quite fair.

USS Adventure06/22/2020

"Oh?"

Xho06/22/2020

He accepted a demotion to be here. He did make a compelling case that the respective positions suit each of us better, and he seems happy to be where he is, but I do still feel they may just as well have chosen otherwise.

USS Adventure06/22/2020

"They who?"

Xho06/22/2020

The admirals who selected the officers. ... traditionally, the captain would have done that, or would at least have had significant say in those decisions.

USS Adventure06/22/2020

"Hm. We were formed very strangely and I am sure there is tension with how it was handled."

Xho06/22/2020

Yes. I am actually extremely surprised I was chosen for this position, not because of my record but due to the politics.

[11:26 PM]

I did not expect to make it past lieutenant junior grade, to be honest.

USS Adventure06/22/2020

"Politics play a part in just about everything, Commander. Even when they shouldn't, sadly."

[11:26 PM]

"But, for what it's worth, I do think Duma's perspective is correct."

Xho06/22/2020

*nods.*

[11:27 PM]

I do not feel he or the captain resent me, which I *was* concerned about initially.

USS Adventure06/22/2020

"...how do you feel knowing they don't?"

Xho06/22/2020

Relieved, largely. Somewhat surprised.

USS Adventure06/22/2020

"Surprised by the situation or because you feel they should resent you?"

Xho06/22/2020

That is a good question. Surprised that they do not resent me, I suppose. I have tried to do the best job I can.

USS Adventure06/22/2020

"...I would say, from my position, I think you're doing a fairly good job, perhaps even a great one. I don't think anyone's really been where we are before, so I am not sure how to judge it."

[11:31 PM]

"...how would you judge it? Both yourself and the mission?"

Xho06/22/2020

I feel we have done very well, in extremely difficult circumstances.

USS Adventure06/22/2020

"...I would agree."

Xho06/22/2020

I have *greatly* enjoyed my time here.

USS Adventure06/22/2020

"I am glad. Many seem to have, actually."

[11:36 PM]

"...I hope to see you around here after we get back."

Xho06/22/2020

I hope they allow me to stay. I hope they allow us all to stay.

USS Adventure06/22/2020

She nods. "...would you like to try trancing? Begin this experiment?"

Xho06/22/2020

Yes.

USS Adventure06/22/2020

She assumes a meditation stance.

Xho06/22/2020

*actually lies down to trance, but does make a point of closing her eyes. Because she does stop breathing and it does look like she's died.*