<<Another BackLog taking place shortly before departure, the evening after Itsak tr'Sahen's surprise visit>>
[USS Charon, Deck Three]
Her face hovered near the last three candles still providing their warm, peaceful light to the otherwise dark room, and the young Vulcan tilted her head. A silent smile shone in her eyes and she retreated, walking towards one of the windows. The golden shimmer at her back flickered briefly as small amounts of air were displaced, and then steadied as the currents settled into stillness once more.
Gazing at the stars, she was at once feeling oddly at peace with herself and unsettled by the events unfolding around her. Nothing was as it seemed. The young Vulcan was not sure whether she should be grateful that every instinct warned her of something obscured, something more profound than annoying politics. Humans insisted that ignorance was bliss. Maybe in a way, they had a point.
What good was it to know there was a storm gathering over the desert, when you had no way of knowing when or where it would strike? And still, every fiber of her being rejected the mere idea of letting it catch you unawares, so you might never know what it was that killed you, avoiding the terrible anticipation.
The smile reached her lips, come and gone in the blink of an eye. It was not in her nature to turn her back to the blinding sands. And anticipation might hone your senses in ways you had not previously thought possible. Though she loathed to play the games T'Pelar and the others obviously insisted on, she knew how to observe and bide one's time. For right now, it would have to be enough.
Sakarra's bare feet padded across the carpet, and light, silken robes whispered in the silence as she collected a bottle from the depths of a wooden chest. A well meant gift it had been, and it would finally be appreciated. A few murmured words to the computer illuminated the darkness into a comfortable copper glow, not unlike the evening light over the hills of Kir, though without the all permeating heat of Nevasa's rays.
Yes, this would do.
She was hardly surprised when the door chime rang only a few seconds before the agreed time and turned, setting down the glasses with barely a noise.
"Enter."
Brent had told her what to sing a few days ago to the letter. He supposed that he should have guessed that Sakarra would take him up literally on three days after he told her what he wanted to sing for her. He had gotten the call just a little bit after he had gotten off duty. It gave him some time to grab a shower and pick up a small something to eat before he headed on over to Sakarra's quarters.
He had not yet had the party that he had threatened to have to pay back the owners of Eris Deck. He had a late dinner there once where the owner had offered him a slightly smile and seemed to nod knowingly. Apparently Sakarra had not been kidding when she had mentioned that gossip traveled fast on this starship. He had considered having the party then and that night. If he was drunk when he told the old man to behave himself maybe it wouldn't seem so bad... However something along the lines of common sense kept Brent from doing that and instead he figured to plan it for later.
When he heard her voice he entered into her quarters and smiled. He saw her in the lovely silk dress and resisted the temptation to whistle. One must be polite, while they had lost all control over their senses this was still technically their second date. Brent didn't want to scare her away. "You look fantastic," he said. Brent himself was in a casual set of clothing, simply a pair of slacks and a long sleeved t shirt. If he had on a tie he might have looked in place in a board room. He moved over to her and placed his arms around her before giving her a quick kiss. He looked around at the surroundings letting his arms fall away from her less they both get too excited before the main event was to happen. He spotted the bottle and gave her a smirk. "And what's this," he asked her motioning over at the bottle.
"The kind humans who insisted I should accept this as a gift referred to it as 'A wee drop of the creature'." Sakarra's low, resonant voice held a definite echo of amusement, even after the much too brief kiss and his polite withdrawal. "However, if my Gaelic has not suffered unduly from lack of practice, it is in fact seventy-year old Irish Whiskey. It was my impression you were rather fond of such beverages?"
She studied his face for several seconds, and finally came to a decision. Slowly and deliberately, the young Vulcan held out paired fingers to the man standing at a close enough distance that she could not only sense the light increase in his body temperature, but feel the familiar scent enveloping her. Black eyes sparkling with a completely unsubdued smile, she nodded to Brent to match her gesture.
"Older than my grandfather," Brent said with a smile as he looked at the drink. "I am fond of such beverages, I have always been fond of them. Perhaps we should have a taste of it sometime later hmm?" he said. He really didn't want to have her lose her composure before the singing. She had promised him a song and he wanted to hear her sing. Now afterwards, when she was done with the presentation. A little bit of cutting loose, letting the hair down, whatever you wanted to call it. That was totally appropriate then. "If it was a gift then it is very thoughtful of you to share it with me. Thank you," he said.
He watched her almost point at him with her trigger and middle finger and for a moment wondered what she was doing. When she motioned for him to do the same he caught on. He paused for a moment drawing his hand up before he mimicked what she was doing before waiting to see what she was going to do.
Like the touching of minds, there were near infinite shades of meaning to this simple gesture. From the smallest spark of joyful recognition that was little more than a kiss breathed ever so lightly on another's cheek, to an experience so sensual it could drive one near mad, and everything in between. Always and never the same.
With delicate care, the young Vulcan settled her fingertips against Brent's.
An affectionate welcome, like the sensation of a tender, lingering kiss and then a spark of humor when she discerned the reason behind his hesitation.
"You are most welcome." A silent chuckle reverberated through the light thread and with a graceful motion the small, warm hand moved away.
"It has been traveling with me a long time, but the people who gave me this," she nodded towards the table "were quite adamant it should be shared in pleasant company. The occasion seemed appropriate."
At last, Sakarra couldn't help herself and winked, so fast one could have nearly missed it, before she pivoted around and strode past the pillows on the floor where her Ka'athyra was waiting, along with a half full glass of tea.
"Traditionally one would offer a guest a glass of cold water" she glanced over her shoulder, not bothering to hide the shimmer of mirth in her eyes "but I've learned it is considered polite to ask first. Lemonade?"
When he felt the kiss against his cheek and assumed that she felt the same Brent smiled. "Ahh, I see," he said. "Is that the common way for lovers to say hello," he asked her as he saw her turn and move over towards what he assumed was tea for her. "Ice water would actually be perfect," Brent said before he slowly followed behind her and looked to the floor where everything was. "I am your audience," he said. "Where do you want me to sit for you," he asked her.
"Common? Hm, in some ways, yes." Although her features remained serene, the smile in her resonant voice was lingering even when she got the water from the replicator and swiftly floated back towards the pillows.
"Where you feel most comfortable." The young woman settled on her favorite pillow without so much as disturbing the water's surface and handed the glass to Brent with a brief tip of the head.
"It would be illogical to seek out a less than pleasant position if one wants to focus on appreciating a song, no?"
Brent made the note to expect that in the future. He wondered how many other surprises and questions would lay in store for them. He had not even begun to look into Vulcan 'dating' rituals or practices but he figured he should at least look at them once or twice. Not that they could do him much good here as it was entirely possible that Sakarra would pick and choose what ones she would follow, being half Betazoid.
[To be continued …]
Brevet 1st Lieutenant Brent Warren
Marine Commander
Lt Cmdr Sakarra Tyrax
Chief Helm
USS Charon
