JP: Lt Zenno & Ens Saava - The Scandalous & The Mandatory, Part 7 of 10
Cobalt Penumbra
((Small Dining Room, Saava’s Family Home, Vulcan))
The small dining room could fit at least 40 people. Zenno felt like he was on stage with just the five of them at a central table surrounded by at least 10 waitstaff.
They laid a tray of some kind of vegetable hors d'oeuvres on the table and Zenno was enraptured. Everything looked so tasty and spectacular. If the flavors matched his expectations, he’d never stop until every last morsel was gone. With Delvok’s help, he had read up on dining etiquette and he knew as the guest he was expected to choose something to eat first.
Making sure everyone was seated and ready, he made a reach for some yellow and blue fruit compote. But the sound of a throat clearing from Saava’s direction made him pause.
Saava looked at him, slightly shaking her head as he returned her gaze. The fruit compote contained too much fruit acid for Zenno’s digestive tract. If he ate it, his night would probably not be as restful as it should be.
Heartbroken, Zenno looked for something else. There was a small cake with berries, He reached out for that but was again warned away by Saava.
The cake contained mostly fat and sugars. Zenno had reached for the two most unsuitable things on the table. Her parent’s business was focused on passion but Father’s personal delight was in food and it was on display this evening. Again, Saava almost not noticeably cleared her throat.
Zenno looked down at his empty plate and then around the room. They were all staring at him, except for Sevik who reclined back and had his arms folded. He seemed to be amused by this entire state of affairs, if a Vulcan could be so.
Zenno: Uhhh… everything looks so good. I, uhh ::little laugh:: just don’t know what to pick. ::nervous smile::
Looking back at the array of plates, he moved towards a tray of leafy greens which looked to be rolled around some grain filling. He kept his eyes on Saava who with a nod and a blink affirmed the choice.
Saava knew that food was one of the few areas in Zenno’s life that he - despite better knowledge - rarely got right on the first try.
Zenno: Oh these look great.
Taking two, Zenno transferred the green leaf rolls to his dish and within half a second of moving his hand away, one of the servants came from behind with a sauce boat and threatened his dinner plate with a ladle full of some thick condiment.
Zenno: I don’t... I don’t. Want. That. No thank you. ::Hands protecting his dinner::
Servant: Of course.
The servant moved away and Zenno looked back at the table just in time to see T’Vin’s look of disapproval. Sevik gave him a knowing nod with a gleam in his eye. Saava looked down at her empty plate. And Saavin, well he just looked at his wife for instructions.
With a wave of her hand, T’Vin signaled that now the family may now partake and they made their selections.
The dinner conversation was simple and somewhat halting. But Zenno had many questions about the City, the river, if people swam in it, and about the design of the house.
He judged it to be a fairly harmless conversation and he was pleased that he seemed to be navigating the evening without causing too much embarrassment for himself or Saava. That was right up until he asked about the event they were to attend.
Zenno: And I understand that we will be going to a wedding anniversary? That is wonderful. Would you please tell me all about the couple?
At that, Saavin spoke up as they were his cousins. He was almost enthusiastic in describing the success of his cousins and their marriage. They had seven children and he began to explain what each one was doing. It was clear that Saavin did have a great care for his relatives, which was a positive development.
While Saavin was going on about child number three, Zenno noted that Saava was deeply engaged in conversation with her brother about some topic or other. Sensing his chance, he reached for the berry cake and put one on his plate without her noticing, all the time nodding along and showing interest in Saavin’s story.
As the older man was wrapping up on child number seven, Zenno picked up his berry cake. To keep the Father of the house going, he asked…
Zenno: And so it’s just a social event? Will there be speeches or any kind of ceremony?
And that’s when he took a bite of the berry cake. It was like a dream in his mouth. But then T’Vin spoke.
T’Vin: There will be no ceremony for the anniversary couple. But there will be an engagement ceremony for Saava. We will choose her mate tomorrow evening from amongst the most eligible suitors on the planet.
Zenno: *cough*
And the bite of berry cake was half out of his mouth when Saava’s head turned.
Saava: Zenno! You were not supposed to eat those! They are not nutritionally balanced!
Saava stopped herself as Zenno did not stop coughing. She felt a little embarrassed at the emotional outburst she had just shown in her mother’s company.
Zenno: *cough* Wa.. water. One moment. ::Drinks::
Wiping the cake residue off his face with a napkin and attempting to clear his spinning head, Zenno tried to make sense out of what T’Vin was saying.
T’Vin: That is why you are here, are you not? To prove yourself as a worthy suitor for our daughter?
While still speaking to Zenno, T’Vin turned to her daughter with a steely glare.
T’Vin: Or did she not tell you? That would be interesting. Our little Saava has been busy hatching plots and now hopes for some Starfleet friend to save her.
Saavin: Yes, hatching plots.
Saava felt ra… Saava felt disapproval of her mother’s words rising in her stomach. Zenno was not some Starfleet friend - and he was not only here as a tool to help her get out of all this mess. He was here, because he was possibly the only thing that would keep her from returning to the spaceport at once.
Zenno had studied physical violence. He had trained for more hours than was reasonable. And he was absolutely sure that if he wished, he could have snapped that woman’s head off before she even sensed that he had moved to do so. But that would not solve anything. Would an emotional outburst do more? No, it would be a breach of Vulcan social protocol. The rules of this engagement were becoming clearer to him.
Zenno: ::Calm, controlled:: I have been blessed to know Saava for many years. We were in the Academy together, and played in many sporting matches together. And I have learned that she has mastery over herself and her own life. Woe to him or ::looking at T’Vin:: to her that fails to recognize it.
Saava stayed quiet, but looked at Zenno for a very long and thankful moment before turning her head to her mother. Sevik just looked around the table, raised his eyebrow, and then started taking notes in a small PADD he produced from his jacket.
T’Vin: Tell me, Mister Zenno. What do you do in Starfleet?
Zenno: I am the Security Chief on the USS Khitomer.
T’Vin: A common policeman! One who spends his days with criminals and all sorts of seedy types. ::To Saava, softly and venomous:: Did you really think it would work? This plan of yours? Ponder well, daughter. Your logic has failed.
Why didn’t she speak up? Why did she just take it? Zenno had never seen her like this. T’Vin’s provocations were nothing, but seeing Saava so low… that’s what made his guts churn.
In their Academy days which seemed so long ago now, when they’d played the Squares they had physical contact all the time. The game was fast and physically violent. They slammed into each other at full speed, grabbed the game shuttle at the same time, bumped into each other’s limbs and bits a thousand times in the course of a match. But there had never been a single touch of skin outside the parameters of the Parrises Squares, not even incidentally. Zenno knew enough to know that unexpectedly touching a Vulcan was a social breach of the highest order. To do so with the fullest measure of tenderness, and perhaps more? Uninvited? It was scandalous.
What was once scandalous was now mandatory.
He slowly put his hand to the side under the table where the family could not see and grasped hers. She gripped it back, warm and soft and he could feel her almost trembling.
What was he supposed to do? How could he help? He didn’t understand what was happening or what Saava would want him to do.
Saava: Mother, I will not have this…
T’Vin: You will. And in time, you will thank me for preventing you from making such an error.
And then T’Vin turned to Zenno.
T’Vin cocked her head slightly to one side and continued.
T’Vin: And as for you, Starfleet Policeman, you may go if that is your wish. Or stay and subject yourself to further embarrassment in front of all the best of Vulcan, if it pleases you. But know that you cannot, are not, and will never be part of this family. She is as far above you as the pinnacle of Mount Seleya is above the desert snake in the gorge. ::briefest of pauses:: Come, husband. We have work to do and I have all that I require from this… situation.
Saavin hurried around to his wife’s chair and pulled it back for her. While he was hidden from her view he looked at Zenno and his daughter with a not-unkind expression. Zenno imagined that Saavin was often in circumstances where he felt like he had to make apologies for his spouse.
Saava looked down. She could barely see Zenno’s hand on hers, but enjoyed every second of feeling his cool touch. The nurse in her could not help but notice that Zenno had the perfect temperature for his species. He seemed healthy being several degrees cooler than she was. But most importantly, he was giving her strength where her parents should have been. Her mother had never understood that she did not want to be part of this elitist family. She was a common nurse. Maybe, all she needed was a common policeman. It was logical.
After the parents had left, Sevik slowly rose.
Sevik: ::To Zenno:: She can be needlessly cruel at times. It is… a hobby of hers. ::To Saava:: I am sorry, Sister. It’s beyond me to control or channel them. ::Pause:: I imagine you two have some things to discuss.
Leaving, he paused and spoke over his shoulder.
Sevik: If I can do anything, I will.
With Sevik gone, the servants cleared the plates and then Saava and Zenno were alone. He was still holding her hand, hoping it gave her some strength.
Zenno: ::gently:: Why didn’t you tell me?
Saava’s eyes scanned the table in front of her. One thought was chasing the next. She didn’t feel comfortable at all. She didn’t feel in control. Her mother’s behavior had always made managing her own emotions a bigger challenge than it should have been.
The answer to Zenno’s question had so many layers. She did not tell him, because it was embarrassing to do so. She did not tell him, because she couldn’t imagine facing Mother without his support. And she did not tell him, because she thought he might in fact be the most suitable candidate in the room tomorrow. All those were reasons she preferred not to discuss. She was vulnerable right now and not in control. She did not want to discuss the more challenging aspects of the situation just yet.
Saava: The Tamarian fruit cake contains too much acid. ::pause:: You share my father’s passion for food. You don’t share his forgiving digestive system.
Her voice was weak. Her attempt to change the topic was half-hearted at best. She knew Zenno would notice. But she needed some time to process what had just happened.
Zenno: ::softly:: Even now, we are to speak of food? Saava, my dear friend, there are more pressing matters.
Saava: He brings home all kinds of foods from his business trips. My mother does not approve, but she gives him some latitude since he obeys her will in all other areas of life.
He nodded with understanding, letting her work it out on her own time.
T’Vin was certainly a nasty piece of work, as his friend Grall used to say. But Zenno did detect that perhaps T’Vin and Saava had such a combative relationship because they were alike in some critical areas. They both wanted to be in charge of everything all the time. Zenno was socially inept and he knew it. But he also knew that he should not bring this up right now. If anything could bring Saava to a rage, it would probably be a comparison to her Mother.
Zenno: It’s good that she permits him that. I would also say that whatever terrible things T’Vin has done, I owe her gratitude. I detect at least one wholly unblemished good act that she has performed.
He left the other part unsaid. He didn’t need to. She knew what he meant. And he knew that she knew. And that was enough. He was not skilled in xenosocial interactions, but he had learned some facets of the subtlety that was the hallmark of Vulcan social interaction.
Saava very lightly squeezed his hand to show her thankfulness for his support. They stayed quiet for a few moments and the Vulcan knew how hard that might have been for Zenno, not to start talking about something again.
Saava: Your absence from this event was not a viable option. Being open about what is happening here tomorrow might have caused you to reconsider your decision to accompany me. It was the logical choice to withhold some information.
Zenno: We’ve known each other a long time but I suspect you don’t know me as well as you think. ::pause:: Saava, why do you tolerate this? Why subject yourself to this treatment? You could have just ignored her and stayed on the White Pine. The worst they could do would be to cut you off.
She gave him a measured look.
Saava: You just claimed that I do not know you as well as I might think. Perhaps the reverse is also true. Zenno, I do not have a positive relationship with my parents. But I am Vulcan. I understand duty and the responsibilities we owe to our families. There are reasons why our culture survives and thrives. I choose to honor that. I am a traditionalist in this way and I will obey the proper forms. That is what I meant earlier when I spoke of the rules. I ask for your support in this.
Zenno: Then you shall have it.
Saava: It took a lot of effort to ignore my mother’s messages over the last weeks. It was only a delaying tactic so I could formulate a way out. But no plan materialized. But I am certain that at the end of the day, I will not be married to one of Vulcan’s best. We must determine how to make that so within the correct social parameters.
Zenno: ::Gentle humor:: They can’t all be terrible. Perhaps one of them would appreciate your aggressive dietary counseling?
Saava would have snorted at his question, if it would not have been appropriate for a Vulcan - especially a Vulcan of her position.
Saava: The candidates are superficial, elitist and boring. Otherwise my mother would not have approved.
Zenno: I doubt that those were her criteria.
Saava: A deep thinker might see fit to challenge her and that would not do. She always needs it her way, Zenno. She wanted to have Sevik to marry and take over the business in the future. As you have witnessed, he goes his own way and he does not comply. I am her next attempt.
He couldn’t help himself.
Zenno: ::sottovoce:: I have *no idea* what it’s like to be around someone who wants to be in charge all the time. Must be very challenging. ::smile::
She turned and gave him a look. He smiled kindly at her. She would have something to say about that later. But anything she could say now, would likely prove Zenno’s point.
Saava: We have always made the best out of our trips, have we not? When the transport was canceled, we watched the game at a local tavern. When a game was canceled we visited the local arts museum and made one of your Foodie tours through the city. And when you were not allowed to play due to injury, we made it a challenge to predict the game’s outcome. Let us try to make the most of whatever is to come tomorrow.
Her little speech was more for herself than for Zenno. But he appreciated her positive outlook, especially after all that had happened.
Zenno: I fear that I will not be the instrument to free you from this path.
Saava: I do not want you to feel instrumentalized. My mother behaves as she does because she does not approve of me.
Zenno: For what little it may matter, I approve. And I know there are many on the White Pine who would approve. You are a blessing, regardless of what she says.
Saava nodded. She put her second hand on top of his before rising and letting go of his hand.
Saava: Stay to the right side of the table. Everything green is good, everything yellow or red is off limits.
Zenno: Good, food helps me think. I’m working on an idea. Tell me more about the rules.
Ensign Saava
Nurse, Medical Division
USS White Pine
As simmed by
Lt. Connor Dewitt
Chief Engineer
USS Khitomer
A239901CD3
And
Lt Zenno
Security Chief
USS Khitomer
A240006Z13