=/\= Eris Deck, Main Lounge =/\=
"And you are quite correct."
To her own surprise, Sakarra did not hesitate to reach for him and let her fingertips rest against the palm of the offered hand. More surprising even, she barely blinked when Brent took the opportunity to interlace his fingers with hers, prompting a deeper, more profound warmth to rise in her blood.
The good with the bad. Well, as far as she was concerned the good was very good indeed, and the bad … would be dealt with. One way or another.
She nodded calmly in agreement with his wise observations and decided to focus on the good for the moment, specifically the opportunity to learn from and about her Companion.
"Though I am still unsure what the human custom of 'dating' entails. The references in the library computer are either vague or contradictory."
"Actually, what you and I did before I first kissed you in the hall is actually a good example of dating really," Brent said with a wink before the waitress came over with their meals that they had pre ordered from the chef. Brent had felt the need to have seafood and had a small bowl of clam chowder as well as a bit of steamed dungeoness crab and some white rice to go with it and of course some melted butter. He began to crack open the crab with what appeared to be excellent skill before he began again as the waitress left. "Well the part where I started asking you to do things with me. Not so much the nearly being killed in the holodeck or dying in flight back to the Charon," he said with a wink. "Doing things together, things that we like. Having meals together, talking. Getting to know one another. That's dating."
"Oh." She looked at him over steepled fingers, both brows climbing slowly, while the appetizing scent of green curry wafted up towards her aristocratic little nose.
"So you did in fact try to … oh." Sakarra would have chuckled at herself for not having come to the conclusion sooner, but then again she had never been good at deciphering all but the most direct signals in such matters. "You were attempting to tell me you … liked me … even before that night."
And most likely, she had responded in all the wrong ways. Perhaps she should not be surprised Brent had proven not easy to discourage, but in this light the fact he had even dared to make the bold advance after all … was something worthy of note.
"Fascinating."
The young Vulcan carefully picked up the lemonade, something she had developed a taste for after her first curious examination of what was obviously one of her Companion's favored beverages. Acrid and refreshing, it was vaguely reminiscent of sash-savas, though slightly sweeter, and she found the combination quite becoming.
"On your world, it is the customary courtship ritual then? Or is it only to indicate one desires …closer acquaintance?"
Not that she had any hope to ever truly understand the complicated intricacies of human social behavior – but inquisitive by nature, Vulcans had tried since first making contact with this race and were not likely to stop their efforts any time soon.
Brent nodded to her. "I was yes. I didn't think I was doing a very good job though as you had not changed anything about your presentation. Either being more distant and giving me a sign that you were uninterested or else acting interested. Since you were doing neither of those I went for broke and gave you a kiss to make it painfully obvious just how I felt about you," he said giving her a wink. "Glad I did actually."
Brent cracked open one of the claws and began to remove the meat before dunking the succulent crab into the butter before popping it into his mouth. When he was done chewing he responded, "Kinda. There is no one set way of having a 'courtship ritual' so to speak. Although with most humans it is the man who normally initiates things and takes the aggressive role by product of several millennia of a patriarchal society I suppose." He began to crack another crab before he turned to the second part of her question. "That second option normally is a part of our courtship rituals. How long one waits before one starts being 'better acquainted' with his or her partner depends on the couple. I almost stopped that night when I kissed you first. I wasn't sure if I would be rushing things. But then you kind of dared me to either stop or continue on. And you know how well I respond to dares..."
"Oh, indeed." This time, the slanted brow climbed in a fashion relaying quite obvious amusement, and a silent acknowledgement of the things Brent was … hinting at.
"Although it is not only patriarchal societies in which the male is the one seeking to win a potential mate's favor." Had they been alone, the smile tugging at the corners of Sakarra's mouth might have shown clearly on her serene, unmoved features. As it was, their earlier show of affection and obvious familiarity already was the subject of several conversations well within the range of Vulcan hearing and the dark haired young woman felt it prudent to present nothing but the most placid of demeanors.
She decided to turn her attention to the food for the moment and found it as agreeable as always – in a way, Miss Betty had once observed, Vulcans with their tendency to appreciate spiced dishes were the dream of every cook skilled in Cajun cuisine, since they were not only grateful patrons but fully able to discern and enjoy every nuance of the effort put into preparation of their meals.
And grateful Sakarra was, evident by the fact that despite her habit of savoring every bite, the plate was cleaned of every last morsel in short order.
"By 'went for broke' I assume you mean the inherent risk of possible rejection?" her dark gaze settled on Brent after she had nodded a courteous 'thank you' to the waiter retrieving the empty plate. "I must admit the possibility of your interest being of … this nature had never occurred to me, so I am also 'glad you did'."
"Yeah. No one likes rejection, at least everyone that I have met. Normally it means a night of getting drunk at the bar to drown your sorrows as it were and stumbling home. You wake up the next morning, deal with the hangover and you go out and look for someone else that might suit your fancy," Brent took a drink from the glass of ice water he had before raising an eyebrow at her as he set it back down. "Really. You a gorgeous very sensual young woman here with no one noticeably attached to you. Why wouldn't I find you an incredible woman who I simply must see if she feels the same way," he said with a smile. "You sell yourself short Sakarra."
This earned Brent a glance one could almost describe as bewildered, but then the young Vulcan slowly shook her head.
"I am fully aware of eliciting … considerable interest on my homeworld, for numerous reasons. Even on Betazed, although I certainly do not precisely conform to the current beauty ideal there – however, the manner in which interest is expressed is usually direct enough for even me to comprehend. It is rather that it rarely happens for a non-Vulcan to find it worthwhile and … seek to know what is beyond the surface as it were."
Gentle amusement lingering in her low, resonant voice, Sakarra steepled her fingers under her chin again. "Essentially, I am used to being regarded as a fairly attractive adornment, or perhaps a walking computer with aesthetically pleasing exterior. Not gorgeous, and most certainly not sensual. And I believe if you queried anyone present here, not one would use the latter word. The former – perhaps a select few, I am not skilled in discerning such clues."
Since the only person on board who knew better was sitting across from her, it was a bet she knew she would win.
"There is a human phrase. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Those of us who know it and take it to heart do not care about what others feel or think. I know what I like and what I see right now," Brent reached over, taking her hand as she brought it down squeezing it gently. 'I like very much.' He let go of her hand and the link before he began to eat again. "Well. I've never been to prey on other people's ignorance but well. Here I am, taking full advantage of it. And loving every second of it," he winked at her before popping another bit of crab into his mouth.
It did not precisely explain whether he had … known, or simply ventured an educated guess, but Sakarra's logic and instinct were in full agreement that the human sitting across from her was infinitely more perceptive than he cared to show. Certainly, he'd had the opportunity to observe her in a variety of circumstances, from their desperate flight through the nebula to an afternoon with the Captain's twins and the subsequent minor mayhem. But not once had she displayed any more than the unshakeable equanimity befitting a Vulcan, except … except the sudden, unexpected smile after waking from her healing trance. Remembering how she had felt at ease with Brent even then, and taken his courteous withdrawal as more proof he did not wish to cause a possible friend any discomfort, she inwardly chuckled at herself.
=/\= To be continued ... =/\=
Brevet 1st Lieutenant Brent Warren
Marine Commander
Lt Cmdr Sakarra Tyrax
Chief Helm
USS Charon
