Disclaimer: I hold no rights to any of the worlds depicted within, only the content of my own dreams.
The paint was chipping from the walls, and the floorboards were stained and scratched from many years of wear and tear. The windows were dusty, the bathroom hardly appeared like it could satisfy local building codes and the kitchen was certainly growing it's own eco-system. Furniture still sat in various stages of unpacking; Most would certainly never be unpacked and instead be relegated to the deepest depths of numerous closets. It wouldn't bode well to get rid of gifts; but that certainly didn't mean that she needed a set of Vulcan bells and gongs in her living room.
The dark-haired woman padded barefoot across the floor; nursing a mug of Tea in one hand, while tugging at the strings of her jacket with the other. She sniffed delicately she paused at the mirror hanging on the wall; her reflection stared back with it's dark eyes and even darker thick curly hair. Her hair was certainly not the romanticized luscious curly hair either, but something that resembled thick growth of thorns, which had broken many a brush in it's days.
It was only because she hated the stares that her ears attracted that she hadn't buzzed it short years ago.
In a self-compromise of sorts, she juggled her Tea in the crook of her arm and pulled her hair into a reasonable bun. It was only going to remain up while she was secluded inside, and thus the chance of yet another slack-jawed joe staring at her was minimized enough. Still, it was rare that she allowed herself the luxury of a bun, as it left her ears too exposed.
Exposed they certainly were; her left ear sharply angled into a familiar Vulcan shape, while the other as round and as human as they could possible be. Whether this was the results of her hybrid DNA; a hot glue-gunned collection of features, or whether her one ear has simply grew deformed, like so many Vulcan newborns, she wasn't entirely sure. All she did know however was that both ears combined attracted too much attention, and too many bigoted opinions.
And she had no intentions of electing for reconstructive surgery, and being forced to make a decision between her two halves.
Taking her tea back into her hands, she padded towards her desk, and relaxed into the seat before she poked at the desktop monitor blearily. Moving everything in, by herself, the day before had taken too much out of her. Exhaustion, combined with the incessant racket that signaled the beginning of another year for Starfleet Academy, produced an even worse result.
Within seconds the call from her monitor had been sent out, and the screen was quickly replaced with an image of a blue-eyed man, with dark hair just a little too shaggy to have been cut that way. His features were soft, combined with raised eyebrow, and two rows of spots going down each side of his body from his forehead.
The blue-eyed man stared disapprovingly through the desktop monitor, eyes narrowed as if trying to determine what other horrors were hidden, just out of his vision. In the few seconds that he had inspected her apartment, he had clearly formed his own opinion, "Where are you located?"
"Good morning to you too, Elieth." The dark-haired woman sarcastically replied, raking a hand through her long tangled hair, "Have you had a good day? I know I have, I missed you too."
"Ha'tha ti'lu T'ana," Elieth replied bluntly, "Your point has been made. Mine still stands. Where are you?"
"Tiana. I am 'located' in my new apartment," The dark-haired woman retorted, "San Francisco; actually I can see Starfleet academy from my window. You could come over and throw water balloons at cadets with me, if you want."
"Hardly an appropriate use of my time T'ana," He rolled his eyes, "Nor entirely legal, as you may be charged with assault."
"Tiana." She retorted hotly, "It doesn't count if they're cadets."
"A cadet rank does not remove them from the Terran, or Starfleet, legal system," Elieth responded dryly, "Perhaps you require more time to reflect upon your irrational distrust of Starfleet officers?"
"Irrational? My mother was a Starfleet officer," The dark-haired woman countered, "In any-case how's the family? I heard Simora just accepted a chef's position on a Vulcan science-vessel?"
"You have heard correctly; we are content," Elieth paused, "However, you have not succeeded in your attempt to divert the topic of this conversation. My reservations on your apartment being neither a healthy nor productive environment are valid."
"Duly noted Captain," The dark-haired woman saluted, "Are you coming down next week for the annual meeting of the 'ulef whl'q'n nenikaya travek'? Hint, the answer is 'yes'."
"Despite spending a large portion of your childhood on Vulcan, your understanding of the language is sub-par," He commented, "Besides, I certainly do not require a support group because only one of my parents were Vulcan."
"Despite aligning yourself with your Vulcan parentage, you sure are the sassiest guy I've ever met," She snorted, "So, am I setting out another seat at the veggie bar for you, or are you going to ditch us again and go and continue your joyride on the Merchant Ship T'saln?"
Elieth raised his eyebrow, "I have already tendered my RSVP as per your instructions. The T'saln is currently docked at Jia'anKahr, although we will be departing in the next 4.8 hours; we will be spending shore leave on Earth- a fact which is quite pleasing to our human crew members."
"Jia'anKahr?" She questioned, before a smile grew across her face, "How's T'Mir?"
"She has just passed the first trimester of pregnancy."
"..Wait, seriously?" Tiana beamed, "Why wasn't that the first thing you told me? You're going to be a father; I'm going to be an Aunt! Girl or boy? Have you decided on any names?"
"This is precisely why I did not inform you of this occurrence immediately," Elieth responded dryly, "I believe that T'Mir intends to inform our k'war'ma'khon when we are all gathered at our annual event. She has however, granted that our ko-kai would be granted prior knowledge, and due to our current situation she will accept submitted names for consideration."
The man paused for a second to allow his companion time to allow the knowledge to sink in, "I believe Simora has submitted the names 'T'nae' and 'Suven', although T'Mir has expressed that she would prefer to find a name that balances the mixed Trill, Andorian and Vulcan aspects of the child's heritage."
"Tell her I'll give her a list." Tiana vowed, with a solemn expression.
"Shaya tonat," Elieth responded, "I have one final query to ask of you. Today I was privy to several rumors concerning a half human who petitioned the Vulcan High Command for the recognition of their own Clan, which would offer only half-vulcans a place within its walls. They claimed that they would take full responsibility for any hybrid Vulcans who have found themselves without a Clan, and to take pressure off the High Command by removing these people from pre-existing support structures funded by the high Command itself. They apparently presented a convincing case. "
"Fancy that."
"You are playing a dangerous game, for one so young," Elieth noted, "I am concerned that you have not considered all the ramifications of your actions. It is rare that new clans are created, and never before has one been granted to someone who is of two worlds. It is being questioned if you could introduce enough members into this new clan to have a self-sustaining House, and whether you will be able to politically create ties between clans. Failure would mean certain death for many potential members. "
"You will have a child soon that is of three worlds," Tiana responded, lifting her head proudly, "And if we cannot find our own place within this universe, how will they? The fact remains that our of 25 Vulcan hybrids- that we know of- only six have functioning Clan ties, and that doesn't even consider that only two are involved in their Clans. take myself for example; in name I have a clan, but in practice? What happens when these people have their own children? I mean, look what happened last month- we almost lost a family member because they had no idea about Pon Farr, or half-Vulcan physiology in general. We need these support structures in place, where we can at least say 'look, we can provide you with information to keep yourselves alive'."
" I have full confidence that you will fight for the completion of this task, if out of nothing more than sheer will power. If that day occurs, I and my family, would be honored to take a place within your House, if you would allow us," Elieth held his hand up, to silence her before she responded, " T'Mir and I discussed this potential outcome as soon as we had heard a rumor of this occurrence. What we are questioning however, is whether you would be able to cope with the demands of Vulcan Politics. It is no secret that you have chosen a path to balance your dual heritage, but that in itself, can be viewed as emotional weakness. I advise you to speak to Simora as soon as possible. She has experience in the climates in which you will need to adjust your behaviors. "
"Thank you, El." Tiana replied, "Rom-halan!"
"Sochya eh dif," The blue-eyed man responded, "We will send notice when we are in orbit, T'ana."
The paint may be chipping from her walls, and the floorboards stained and scratched, but the problems that the apartment had were easily fixable, and superficial at most. Because in the end, it was still going to be home, and her own to do as she pleased. It would be big enough to house the ulef-whl'q'n, the half Vulcan's who made up her family, and while her house wasn't as fancy, or as old as some on Vulcan, it was still good enough for now.
Family; for that she'd willingly tolerate brown-nosed cadets and their obsessive militaristic patriotism to Starfleet, who lived across the street, and the stringent Vulcans who may stand in her path to create something good out of the problems they have created.
Because it was home.
100% hers, and it was going to be built up stronger than anything before.
Translation
Ha'tha ti'lu: "Good morning"
Ulef whl'q'n nenikaya travek: "Half Vulcan Support Group" *A direct word for words transliteration.*
Jia'anKahr: A city, in the Lyr T'aya region of Vulcan.
T'saln: A ship named after a Vulcan composer who lived prior to the 21st century.
k'war'ma'khon: As close as family but not genetically related.
Shaya tonat: Thank you
Rom-halan: Farewell/good bye
Sochya eh dif: Peace and long life
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