Mornings were causal on this ship, in fact they had the feeling of normality, of home; a brief illusion that one wasn't hurtling through the void of space. Adelaide yawned as she entered the common room, not yet changed from her pajamas, her hair a mess of flowy brown curls, a warm frame to her face.
"Good morning Enelden." She greeted, steering away from the kitchenette to see what he was up to.
"Ah," he glanced up and smiled, shutting his tablet and forcing a stretch. "Good morning Miss Dalton."
"You're not usually awake before me..." She took the chair from the opposite end of the table, moving it closer to sit. "Is everything okay?"
He was relieved by Adelaide's gentle compassion. "Yeah, yeah, my mind was wandering too much, figured I'd come out early to distract it."
"Goodness," she placed her hand on his forearm, "now you best not be keeping secrets from me." She leaned in, a kind form of intimidation, if it could be called that.
He couldn't help but smile, both nervous and appreciative of her willingness to pry, it was the opposite from the way his family operated. "I don't know, sometimes I miss being on planet. The earth, the presence, the atmosphere."
He rubbed the back of his neck. "Often, frequently. Maybe more so in waves, I don't know."
Pity twisted her brows. "If you could do one thing right now to follow your dreams, no consequences, what would you do?"
"I don't know, hmm-" He briefly pondered.
"No no, don't think, just say it." Excitement glimmered in her eyes.
"I would publish my poems, or return to Bellatrix Prima, to my apiaries."
"I don't know, I would... Enjoy it. The sun, the honey. I'd make mead, as warm as the leaves for autumn, joyous and fruity for summer!"
"See, that sounds so beautiful." Her gaze lingered on his glimmering eyes, the genuine smile. "You are so happy to talk about these things. Why don't you go out in the world and do it? You're young, you are financially stable. The opportunity is there."
"I couldn't leave this job. I'd have to be insane to go out on a whim and try something entirely different."
"Now that's not the words of the boy I know." She scolded. "Is that what you believe, or is that what you've been told?" He was appreciative, she could see it in his timid smile.
"If I did that I think you would be my only support. I couldn't. Starting up my own honey farm, it's too pastoral, it's not the Silvak way."
"Dear, you don't think your family would support you?"
"I think they absolutely would. It might take them a bit to understand until they realize that you're happier."
"I talked about doing things like that growing up. The only job suggestions that made my parents happy were the medical field, or anything else my brothers were doing."
"When you are a parent, and one day you will learn what this feeling is like, you can be overwhelmed with wanting what is best for your child. Of course your happiness is important to your mom and dad, but they also think of things that are hard to comprehend when you're young. Career stability, job availability, pension, health care-- all of this to name a few things. Your parents will support you, but first and foremost they're going to worry about you. It comes from a well meaning place even if they aren't the best at displaying that."
Enelden sighed, nodding his head with a mind wrapped up in thoughts. He didn't have an answer, only things he could reflect upon. "Thank you,-"
"Dear, no need to thank me. I'm only giving you some perspective to consider." She hugged him, pulling him into the warm, comforting scent of her navy sweater.
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