Vulcan Dinner Parties & Logical Desserts

Posted on Friday, 20 March 2020 - 6:14pm by Lieutenant Ryan Rose MD & Commander Soral

Mission: Operation: Overdrive
Location: Various
Timeline: 2393

{ON:}

Selin found herself uncharacteristically nervous. She'd clad herself in contemporary Vulcan robes, because ostracized or not she was still Vulcan. Ideally, it would be nice to be around Vulcans. As a whole they at least had manners and did not leave the temperature as if it were the middle of winter at the top of mountains.

At worse she would be shunned and forced to leave, and she'd suffered worst humiliations in her life. She was about to go meditate in her office when the door opened.

Soral was looking forward to seeing captain Vortek of the Seleya Kal. It was a most unusual Vulcan ship with most unusual Vulcans. He had no doubt that Selin would love it. He felt for the young Vulcan. He knew what it was like to have those you consider family and the greater bunch turn their backs on you. He'd contacted Vortek and told him he'd be bringing her.

Opting for a more casual dress then his uniform and it not being a Starfleet function he opened for his long Vulcan robes. They were heavy and sand coloured. He'd had a chance to cut his hair and was glad of it. He arrived promptly at the agreed upon time at sickbay. Extending his hand he greeted her in the standard Vulcan greeting.

Selin was pleased to see that her robes would not be out of place. She extended her hand "Peace and long life."

He inclined his head. "I hope you are ready for Vulcan home cooking. Captain Vortek and those of the Seleya Kal are a most unusual group of Vulcans."

"I have not had a home meal in quite some time. I look forward to it. How are the crew of the Seleya Kal unusual?" She asked, her curiosity piqued.

In a very un-Vulcan move he gave her his arm as they started their walk. "Some are like you, Vulcans that the homeworld and council as turned their back on, some have refused to marry those that were set for them and have lost their families, others are Vitash-Katoor," he said using the Vulcan term for Vulcan's without logic. They were a group of Vulcans that chose to embrace their emotions and combine them with knowledge. "Others are Romulans who believed in reunification and have clung to both Romulan and Vulcan culture." He looked at her. "Is that alright?"

Selin took his arm in the decidedly human gesture, but one she appreciated. "I am hardly one to judge, it is quite alright. How did you get to know Captain Vortek?" She asked. It seemed like there might be an interesting story there.

"It was a long time ago. I was thirteen when my family abandoned me," began. "Vortek found me wandering the streets and took me to a monetary or rather introduced me to a monk who took me to a monastery where spent my time until I left for earth." He looked on as they walked, "He always checked on me. He was Vitash-Katoor. Eventually the Vulcan council made him leave. We have kept in touch and I try to see him as often as I can. His people...I believe, are sometimes more welcoming then those on Vulcan. It is he who gives me hope for the IDIC principle."

"I am sure I will enjoy meeting him." His explanation had left her slightly speechless. "I was not aware there was a Vulcan ship that would accept those of us who are unacceptable on our home planet." They reached the docking port and entered the Seleya Kal. Selin immediately relaxed. The higher gravity and temperature made her much more comfortable.

Soral too seemed to relax. He was glad that his quarters on the Fontana would allow for temperature increase and gravity tweaks. Just as they entered a tall, handsome Vulcan with a shock of grey in his once fully black hair rounded the corner. "Soral!" He pulled Soral in an embrace. "Sorry I forgot you're not that touchy feely."

Soral raised an eyebrow. "Indeed. Something you forget every time I see you."

The older Vulcan smiled slightly. He turned to the young woman. "Ah and you must be Selin." He bowed. "You are most welcome. I am Vortek, Captain of he Seleya Kal. Welcome."

"Thank you for having me Captain." Selin offered the traditional Vulcan salute. "Might a request a short tour before we dine?" She asked, hoping to see more of the ship. She turned her gaze towards Soral then, hoping she hadn't overstepped with her request.

Vortek smiled, "Of course. I'd be honoured. I know how it is to yearn for something Vulcan when you miss home. That is why ships like the Seleya Kal and the T'Pau Kal exist. I would be glad to offer quarters when we are here for your rest."

"I may take you up on that." Selin let a small smile escape. It felt odd, but somehow liberating to be able to show her emotions around other Vulcans. As Vortek began his tour, Selin took Soral's arm again.

The tour began on the bridge of the ship. The walls were a deep clay red with dark LACARS screens with strings of Vulcan writing flashing green and purple. The walls were indented with grooves and statues of Surak gracing them. Several Vulcans moved around checking and double checking systems.

"Welcome to the bridge." He held up a hand and the room stopped. "This is Selin, our honoured guest."

The Vulcans took turns bowing and greeting her, baring her welcome. Some issuing forth a salute and others a nod and a smile. Soral had moved off to the side enjoying the contentment he was seeing on Selin's beautiful face. He was drawn to this Vulcan, somewhat unusual considering that he'd just met her.

Selin asked a few questions from the woman manning the science section, showing her background in science as well as medical. She did keep it brief though, not wanting to disturb the functioning of the ship's crew.

Vortek smiled as they walked stopping at Engineering and a few other labs and departments. As they entered the turbo lift he turned to Selin, "Soral tells me you are a doctor. Would you like to see our sickbay and medical facilities?"

"Yes I would." She replied as calmly as she could, but she was quite eager, even giving a small squeeze to Soral's elbow, where she had kept her hand a majority of the tour. She spent a little longer than she meant to exploring the medical facilities and talking with the medical staff. "My apologies. I fear I have made us late for dinner. Thank you for indulging me." She told both Vortek and Soral, slightly embarrassed.

Vortek smiled, "No apology necessary. Dinner starts when we arrive." He led them to a set of red doors. Tapping the side they slid open with a hiss allowing the group to enter. Inside, the room that was obviously a holodeck, there was a picnic style table set up with food of all kinds. Small tables and chairs were laid out to holo background of Vulcan at sunset. The room looked and smelled like home.

Vortek held a small speech introducing them and then guided them to the buffet spread where they could each fill a plate of what they wished. Off to the side a chef stood replenishing food as it depleted. Soral settled for Plomeek soups and balk'ra, a type of vegetable casserole. There was of course meat, some of the Vulcans seemed to have developed a taste for chicken although the majority kept to a vegetarian diet.

Selin had never been overly fond of plommek soup, but she did pick a salad of traditional Vulcan greens with seeds and nuts. She was also pleased to see spiced tea, and poured herself a cup.

As they seated themselves at the Captain's table Soral leaned over. "Are you enjoying being here?"

"Very much." She told him honestly. "Thank you for the offer. You were quite right. I have been made to feel very welcome."

He gave a nod. "They are here for a month. I am sure the captain will grant you entrance to the ship." Suddenly he felt at a loss for words. "You seem...happy."

That pulled her up short momentarily. Happy wasn't something she was used to feeling. Oh, she was certainly content, often so. She enjoyed her position, as being at a stockyards always provided the opportunity to work with new people and many many races. But happy. She honestly couldn't think of the last time she had felt truly happy. "I am." She gave him a shy smile, but a real one. "Are you enjoying yourself?"

"Indeed. I am... glad that you are here." It was the truth.

Vortek stood. "Selin, you are most welcome here. In honour of you joining us we wish to give you a gift." He motioned for her to come to him. Turning he picked up a small box that held a small statue of Surak. "To remind you that you are a child of Vulcan. Unique and special."

Selin took the small statue in a mild state of shock. "Thank you." Further words would not come to her. She looked to Soral, half apologizing for her meager words in response to Vortek's gift, and half in a 'rescue me' plee, all said with her eyes.

Soral stood "Captain Vortek your generosity humbles us all." He led Selin back to her seat. The finished their meal and then several Vulcans took to music. They were a happy bunch for a group of Vulcans, although considered odd by those on the home world the seemed in place.

Soral leaned over as they listened to the music. "Vortek has started a colony for his people if you wish I am sure when you are given leave time he'd transport you there. The planet is small and the gravity a bit off but the warmth is like Vulcan."

"I shall have to see." Selin was feeling overwhelmed, so her response was a bit dull. It seemed well enough into dinner at this point that she could excuse herself however. She turned to Soral. "I believe I shall call it an evening. Thank you for the invitation. If you are free after the festivities I would be pleased to share a cup of coffee with you." It was incredibly forward, without actually having to be incredibly forward. A decline of the invitation would cause neither party to lose face.

He gave a nod. He thought a moment of his earlier trip. "Of course." He stood and they walked over to Vortek saying their goodbyes.

"Come and visit us often." Vortek said to Selin.

"I shall endeavor to do so." Selin replied, offering the Vulcan salute before taking Soral's arm.

Soral waked with her and they left the ship. "Where would you like to have coffee?" He asked not quite ready for the evening to end.

"Would my quarters be acceptable? I am lucky to have them set in a more comfortable range."

He gave a nod. "Of course." He carried her statue gift for her. "But perhaps tea instead. I understand that Mint tea can be quite good in the evening after a big meal."

Selin took a moment to try and figure that one out. Had the man honestly thought she'd wanted coffee? They approached her door, interrupting her train of thought. "Yes of course. I have a lovely loose leaf mint tea." She stepped 'up' as she entered her quarters. It was nice to be back in warmth. The short walk over had reminded her how cold standard was. She stepped aside allowing him to enter. The front room was set up with a large meditation area. The walls decorated in deep hues of red and gold, very little of starfleet grey peeking through anywhere.

"Your quarter's are lovely." He said looking around.

"Thank you. A little piece of home I can keep with me."

He thought a moment. "I almost forgot. After our conversation I was walking along the promenade and I saw something I thought you might like."

"Soral." She gently chided. She'd been given more than she was comfortable with already.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a box. Within it was lovely hair clip made from a Vulcan stone. It was the IDIC symbol. "I thought it might remind you of home and how unique you are," he said handing her the box.

She took the box, admiring the contents before finding a spot to display on a nearby display shelf. She pulled out a traditional Vulcan tea set and a box of loose leaf tea. As she started preparing the tea she asked. "So can you tell me about your upcoming assignment?"

Much like the Japanese ceremonies on Earth there was something so graceful about tea ceremonies of Vulcan and he looked on feeling comforted. "I will be on the Fontana. I am taking over as the executive officer of the ship. It is... an unexpected assignment but it holds many possibilities."

He thought a moment. "I am curious, what drew you to medicine?"

"My parents were farmers. They expected me to follow in that tradition. But I did not enjoy the unpredictability of the process. I found that science made sense. I almost went in that direction, but was drawn to cellular biology, which grew into a desire to study medicine. It has been a good fit." They continued to talk. Selin greatly enjoyed the chance to speak in Vulcan, erasing any unclarity that always happened during translation.

There was a bit of an awkward silence. "I must apologize...I am not very good at conversation. It has been a while since I spoke with a.. beautiful Vulcan woman." Or any Vulcan that didn't involve work.

Selin offered him a soft smile. "It has been a very good conversation. I have been enjoying myself. But perhaps there has been enough talking." She placed her hand on his face and raised a questioning brow. "You do not need to leave."

If Vulcans were a being that could sweat he knew that he'd be producing an ocean. There was silence. "I...that is...do you wish to...do you wish me to stay?"

Selin could see he was nervous. So she kept it simple. "Yes."

"I see....on the sofa?" For an XO he was a tad dense when it came to relationships of any kind.

"No. I believe my bed would be the most comfortable." If she had to spell it out for him, she would. It was actually a bit endearing.

"I see. It has been a while since that has ... occurred too." He gently covered her hand, that cupped his cheek. "I believe I would like to stay."

"Good." Selin stood, guiding him up with her hand still on his cheek and led him to the bedroom.

{OFF:}

Lt Cmdr. Soral
Executive Officer
USS Fontana

Dr Selin (apb Dr Ryan Rose)