Aborecultural - Part 4

Posted on Sun Jun 8th, 2025 @ 9:14am by Lieutenant JG Aurania (Rani) Anderson MD & Major Kett V'Laass

Mission: Season 6: Echoes of the Zynari
Location: The Ship's Arboretum
Timeline: (Backpost)
754 words - 1.5 OF Standard Post Measure

PREVIOUSLY:

"Thank you" Rani tried to reply and eventually got it out. "I'm not distressed, I promise" she reassured him. " like chocolate flavour too, I'll order us one each" she stood to do exactly this and had got her rebellious grin under control by the time she returned with the ice creams. "I hope they are as nice as they look" she said and handed him one.

CONTINUED:

Kett nodded "If I may be so bold, you should not hide your smile. Your smile suits you significantly" said Kett as he looked down at his ice cream, not making any eye contact. He was particularly attentive to small piece of chocolate in the chocolate ice cream.

Rani looked abashed. "Thank you, that's very kind." she said and offered him a tissue to wrap around his cone-wafer, or wipe his fingers instead perhaps, where the ice-cream was melting downwards and over his fingers.

"Thank you" replied the Vulcan as he took the proffered tissue and delicately wrapped it around the cone after wiping his fingers with it. "Apologies. I seem to of made a bit of a mess"

"It's an almost unavoidable consequence of eating ice cream when all around us are at normal ambient temperatures." she consoled him, at the same time having to work hard to keep her own cone from melting down her own hand. "I think it's just a matter of experiencing it enough times that you get a method established and keep aware you'll need it very quickly". Rani gave Kett a big friendly grin. He was growing on her.

"My food is problematic" said the Vulcan as he tried to wrestle control of the dripping ice cream. "Would it not be more logical to eat this type of food in more colder climate so it will not melt?"

Rani chuckled. "It would indeed" she grinned "but then perhaps we wouldn't be attracted to the cooling pleasure of the snack?"

Kett raised one quizzical eyebrow "Desserts are not logical.” Kett paused a moment and took another bite of his ice cream. “I find your company agreeable. We should do this again some time”

Rani's cheeks took on a pleasant rose coloured hue. That was high praise coming from a Vulcan, even if it did sound less if you took the words literally.

"I agree with that idea, I should like for us to meet up again." she responded. "We could discuss why things that are delicious don't have to be logical to have plenty of merit anyway"

Grinning fondly at Kett, Rani was very pleased with their encounter today.

"Would you like for us to keep the meeting place the same? Or did you have an idea of trying out a different venue next time?" she asked.

"I would suggest a different venue. Perhaps Dinners? It would be logical if delicious foods are involved."

"Yes" Rani agreed. "Logical, enjoyable AND delicious!" she grinned happily.

Having finished their ices, it seemed "logical" to ........ ~oh no, he's got me doing that now~ she thought and smiled despite herself, even though she hadn't voiced the thought out loud, she couldn't help but smile. She just felt like smiling when he was around.

Kett had no ideas what to say next. He looked a little awkwardly from left to right unsure of what to do. "Very Well then." he wiped the ice cream from his face delicately with another napkin. He stood up from the table. He was not sure how to end the conversation and or what he should do next. "I will contact you soon to arrange a venue." He instinctively put his hand up to do the traditional Vulcan Goodbye, changed his mind at the last minute, then put his hand out to shake, then changed his mind again and instead bowed a little and tried to depart.

"Yes, that would be nice" Rani replied and pretended not to have noticed his awkwardness with how to say goodbye. "See you soon, I hope." she added, smiling, finding herself suddenly talking to his retreating back.

Walking slowly back to her quarters, Rani couldn't seem to wipe the smile off her face. It was inexplicable and clearly "not logical" ~don't keep saying that, even your own thoughts only, because if you're not careful it will start sneaking out in what you say! ~ she silently warned herself but the smile was still determinedly stuck on her face and she was really hoping that he would contact her soon.

Time would tell.......



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