Tila stood up from her desk and began to prepare to go home. It was finally Friday! She knew that the time of day she usually left was about when Tiren would go to work on his handmade creations. He had already gone less than an hour before into the very back of the shop to begin working and she didn't know where he might be in the creative process. Since she did not want to disturb him, she decided not to step back there to give her good-byes.
All of her possessions having been gathered and placed into her bag, she slung it around herself and onto her back, ready to trek over to the public transport that would drop her off on the edge of the desert where her parents lived.
"You are about to take your leave?" Tiren asked as he suddenly walked back out of the back and into the office section. She was already in the process of slipping her feet back into her shoes.
This habit she had of divesting her feet of shoes the moment she entered the hardwood office section of the shop, for some inexplicable reason it caught his attention that first day, the sight of her bare feet. Perhaps, he thought later, it was because he had noticed she was wearing some form of varnish on the nails of her toes. It had been a rich light gold in color. Though he had only seen it for all of two seconds before he forced himself to look away, it was as if he had taken a mental snapshot of the sight.
He'd found himself mulling over the meaning of such a thing for nearly an entire week. Why would one color ones nails any shade? Was not the natural state sufficient?
Though he did not understand why she would do such a thing, as an artisan he could not bring himself to pronounce it an illogical activity. She had only, after all, made her body into a living canvass. And the golden tone chosen to adorn her feet was a shade that complimented her dark olive skin color quite well. What he did find illogical, however, was his constant mulling over the fact that she seemed to be wearing a new color on her toes every week. And this week's color was a deep shade of blue. He had even begun to predict the probabilities in his mind of what color she would pick each week. He had yet to achieve a correct result.
He forced himself to stop thinking of the color attached to her toenails and thought of the fact that she was leaving for the day. Now that he knew her patterns of pre-departure, he understood that when she put her shoes on she was either leaving the office to go and meet with a client or she was about to go home for the day.
"Yes, it's about that time," she said to his question as she stood near the doorway, paused there to listen to whatever else he might have to say before she left. "Are there any clients I have to meet with tomorrow?" This was when he usually informed her of rare one-time Saturday meetings for off-worlders with requisitions for him, Fridays on her way out.
"No, I do not," he said as his steady quiet face looked over at her side profile since she was already turning to leave, hand on the door release switch. "What will you do with the rest of today?" he asked. It was still daylight out. It would not get dark for hours, yet.
She paused and turned back around fully to regard him closely, halfway frowning. To ask such a question was very unlike him. She then realized she didn't know him, not truly. It had only been a month since they'd met. "I was about to go shopping for groceries for my mother and then go home, maybe make dinner tonight if she doesn't feel like doing it. I haven't really decided what exactly I'll do after that." They both just stood there for a couple of seconds as an awkward silence stretched between them.
Why would he ask about her plans? Then she registered the almost uncertain look about his body language. He had gone to the back of the shop before, but she hadn't heard him in his usual process of chopping and splitting wood, not even sanding down previously finished pieces. Was he experiencing- "You need inspiration," she realized, aloud, face full of surprise before she could stop herself from speaking aloud.
He seemed noncommittal in his admission as he clasped his hands behind his back, lips set, eyes suddenly unable to meet hers. "I do seem to have run up against- a block."
She felt honestly bad for him and made an offer she didn't really think he would take her up on. "You can come with me if you'd like. I don't know if you'll find inspiration at the produce section of the Korean market on the edge of Shi'Kahr but you sure can try."
To her shock, he looked over at her with an almost tangible air of satisfaction. "Yes, I shall do so."
##
It was not too strange for her to have such a large man walking at her side. Samuel -he had called her up twice so far since she'd left Earth- was taller than her, but he was not too much bigger physically. He seemed to weigh a mere fifteen pounds more than she did. It always bothered her that she was so much curvier to his thinness, but at least that was one thing he didn't mind about her. He had always complimented her on what he called her 'superior womanly form'.
Now here was Tiren walking beside her in the streets, tall as well as big in frame. To have the hulk of him beside her made her think of her grandfather and she smiled almost sadly at the thought of him. That was the big tall man she was used to walking next to her all these years. And really, who could fill his shoes? Samuel had most certainly not.
The streets were not full of people. It was a reminder that it was the time of day when most Vulcans were still hard at work. She found herself looking up at Tiren and thought of his artist's block. It didn't occur to her until then, but he had a very nice face. It was not at all pretty, but very handsome and solid with strong features, truth be told. And his lips were perfectly shaped, she found herself thinking.
Seemingly from nowhere, he spoke. "Just a moment ago you became sad. May I ask the reason why?"
Her answer was not forthcoming because she was in such a state of shock as to why he would ask such a question based on emotion, even if the emotions were hers and not his. She opened and closed her mouth several times. What he'd just done was a breach of several rules of etiquette on Vulcan. She hoped he didn't do this in his everyday life. Maybe, she realized, he had only asked her because she wasn't a Vulcan. For some reason that possibility annoyed her and she couldn't understand why.
A brief flash of frustration crossed his usually unemotional face but then it was quickly gone. "I beg forgiveness for my breach. It was improper of me to ask such-"
"My grandfather," she answered out of nowhere. She didn't know why she answered him, but she realized she wanted to tell him. "I miss him." She felt stupid right after she'd said it. If he was able to pick up emotions from what her face told, she had most certainly been gone from this place too long. No one was supposed to be able to tell a thing from her facial expression. Though she was not a Vulcan, she expected herself to be a certain way when outdoors on this world!
At first he said nothing in return. He seemed to be thinking of his next question carefully. "Did you see him often?" he finally asked.
"At least once every week," she said with a small nod. She was upset with herself for having gotten upset at his initial question but she was also upset with herself simply for being upset with herself. She didn't understand what was wrong with her! He was, for some reason, trying to show concern for her and she had missed that point. She realized then that she never saw him with any friends. Maybe that's all he needed was a friend. Even Vulcans, she supposed, had to be in need of person to person contact at some point.
He looked down at her as they walked the sidewalk and though she wasn't looking directly at him, she experienced the sensation of being watched by an intense set of eyes. "I have had occasion to meet with him several times, your grandfather. He is a gifted artisan in many ways. It is an honor to serve at the joint establishment of him and my clan mother."
She found herself saying, "Grandpa's specialty is pottery and volcanic glass." She felt stupid at once. Of course he would already know that! He obviously knew the man's work well. Why was she having such a hard time with this conversation? Why was she analyzing everything she said, kicking herself for the most minor things?
He already knew the older man's specialty but didn't see the need to point that out to her. She was obviously speaking purely from a place of pride. And although pride was not logical, he did not expect deep logic from her.
His mind turned to other thoughts, then. Tiren did not understand why he'd lost inspiration in his work, though he suspected what the culprit might be. If he could find another way of seeing and experiencing things, his desire to create might return, could it not? What better way to find another point of view than to keep time with someone he ordinarily would not? It was gratifying, however, to realize she did not mind him following her in her activities to find that other point of view.
The two conversed off and on as they found their way across town. Tila was finally able to relax and stopped analyzing everything said as she shopped for her mother's items. Once she was done and ready to go home, she walked out of the market with him following closely behind. "I'm about to go home now." And they just stood there for a couple of seconds, his eyes looking down into hers. She had idea what he was thinking.
Why was he just standing there, not speaking? Maybe he didn't want to go home yet? "Would you like to come with me and have dinner with us? You helped me with the shopping, the least I can do is feed you, right?"
He did not know if that would be wise. "Your parents would perhaps not wish to have unannounced visitors."
"Oh, they're not like that. Especially dad. It's no problem, really," she assured him. "They eat vegetarian a lot of the time since dad's half Giseth and mom's half Korean, so it wouldn't be an odd meal without meat products."
The thought of foreign cooking tantalized his senses. "Then I shall accompany you," he said immediately wishing to have further inspiration for his work.
She realized then, this was exactly what he did need, a friend. And truthfully, so did she. Tila decided at that very moment to treat him as such and stop over thinking everything that came out of her mouth whenever they talked. "I move into my new apartment in less than a week, anyhow." She thought about it and then smiled a little. "You can help me pack up my room today!" she joked.
"I can?" he asked dryly, wondering how he'd been recruited for such work.
"Find inspiration in the mundane. I dare you," she said with a straight face. But he knew he was being teased by her. He mysteriously found he did not mind. "If it is tolerable to your family, perhaps I may extend my time with you. It will serve to fuel my creativity to observe different ways and customs, to partake of food not of Vulcan origin."
She shrugged happily, glad they were saying more than 'hello' and 'good-bye' to one another like they'd done for the past month. "Sure. If you like."
##
As Tiren spent the rest of Friday, piece of Saturday and most of Sunday with them, her parents didn't know what to make of it. Him staying for dinner on Friday was not what stood out to them. It was when he arrived Saturday morning with an offering of breakfast for the family that made their eyebrows climb in confusion.
He spent most of his time with Tila helping her pack up the old items in her room that had been left there when she went to Earth. Her move to her new apartment was the following week on the outer edge of Shi'Kahr.
Tila's mother simply couldn't help it and spoke to him directly about her thoughts. "Tiren, this is unusual. We are very acquainted with your family, but we did not meet you until a month ago and yet now you help our daughter with packing up her room?"
She looked at her mother, just a little bit peeved. Was she trying to scare him off?
But without a beat, he responded, "I am finding inspiration in the mundane."
Tila found herself laughing almost against her will.
##
By the time they entered the office on Monday, Tila was only just containing her excitement. She would move into her new place on Tuesday and couldn't wait for the privacy! She loved her parents, but going back to live with them after years of being on her own was beginning to feel like a huge mistake.
Her father hadn't been too bad to live with again. But mom…all mom ever wanted to know was one thing.
"When will you start dating again?" she asked Sunday night after Tiren had gone home.
"Mom, I don't know," she said truthfully, a little exasperated. All her mother ever wanted was for her to get married. She realized then that she must be a real failure in her eyes since she was knocking on 30 and not even dating.
"So you aren't dating anyone?" she fished.
"No."
"Why aren't you dating?"
"Mom, I just got back here like a month ago! When have I had time to meet anyone?"
"You spend too much time with that Vulcan," she commented. "He's so large he's probably scaring away all of the human men that want to speak to you! Something isn't right there! A Vulcan shouldn't have that many muscles."
She sighed tiredly. "That is just totally racist, mom!" Her mother was driving her nuts. "Come on. Haven't you seen the men that protect clan mothers? They're huge!"
"Well you never answered my question, when will you start dating someone? Someone available!"
"You mean 'someone human'," she muttered under her breath.
"What did you say?"
"I really don't know, okay?"
Her mother then got a look of glee on her still very attractive face as she pulled out her PADD. "Well maybe you just need a little bit of help. So look what I've got for you!" Tila looked down at the screen and couldn't believe her eyes. Her mother had compiled a list of mostly human men, complete with profiles that stated all of their basic information. She was actually so stunned she couldn't speak.
"And what a coincidence!" her mother was still talking. "All of these available men live right here, on Vulcan! This one," she said as she scrolled down to page two, "he lives right across this side of the desert with his parents."
"Well what about Samuel, mom?" she asked because she knew her mother didn't like him. She found it funny that neither of her parents cared for Samuel on the two occasions he had called for her. Tila thought her mother, at least, would like him simply because he was a suitor. Not so.
"That boy is not serious about you. I can tell from the look on his face. He only wants to have fun with your body." She knew her mother was probably right since he was currently 'seeing other people', but her mother was the last person she wanted to discuss fun, sex and men with.
She sat in the office that Monday thinking of how her mother had made her pore over page after page of available prime men. Finally getting down to business, she was able to push her mother's crusade to get her married to the back of her mind.
At some point, Tiren made his way over to Tila's desk wishing to speak with her. She was on a view-call, so he pulled up a chair silently and sat off to the side out of view of the other party. She was used to him doing this when he wished to ask her something without interrupting her call, so it didn't even phase her.
By the time she ended the business call, he had been waiting patiently for what seemed like forever to her but was in fact less than two minutes. "Tiren," she was finally able to acknowledge him. "What do you need?"
"Tila, may I ask you a question?"
She smiled at him. "By all means."
"What help do you have moving into your apartment?"
She sighed as she thought of her predicament. "I rented a shuttle to move my stuff, but that's kind of the extent of my help. Dad is going to be across planet on that day. He was really upset when he realized his business couldn't be delayed and he wouldn't be able to help me. And mom is going to help me put stuff into the shuttle from our house, but I've prohibited her from coming to my apartment and helping to unload. She had an injury last week and I don't want her to hurt herself again."
"I shall also help," he announced.
Tila frowned. "Tiren, you don't have to."
"I will not allow you to do so alone since we have become friends now. It is strenuous work, is it not?"
Tila wanted to get teary eyed but held it in. When had he decided she was his friend? "Tiren?"
"Unless you do not wish the title of 'friend'," he said seeming ready to take it back.
She saw just a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes and was shocked that she knew him well enough to catch that. "I am honored to be your friend, Tiren," she said quickly, wanting to put him at ease. "However, moving is just awful and tedious. Why would you volunteer for such a task?"
"Because you, amongst all my friends and relatives, are one of the only people who did not mind sharing your time simply to give me-" he paused to look for a word, "a muse. You have been most unselfish and I logically think it best to repay in whatever manner I can. I wish to spend what time I have helping those I see fit."
"None of your relatives helps you out when you need inspiration?" she asked.
"Clan Mother has on several occasions," he said, "but I do not wish to inconvenience her with my presence. She is very busy and unavailable lately."
"I can't even imagine," said Tila as she wondered about all the things Clan Mothers had to do. "Well, thank you so much! I haven't been home long enough to reestablish any of my childhood friendships. And to be frank, the members of your clan are the only family friends I have to call upon and I really didn't want to inconvenience any of them either, so I just didn't ask."
He realized then that the two had something in common. Neither one ever wanted to inconvenience others, so they oftentimes wound up not asking for what they might need. "You and I are friends," he said, "therefore let us make a promise that whenever help is needed, I from you or you from me, we will speak freely of it without worry of inconvenience. If one of us is busy, we will simply say so."
She couldn't help but smile at his on-the-spot decision. "I can live with that."
##
Tila found out, later that day, that Tiren had already decided not to attempt to create another artifact until the need to create moved him. She also realized he planned on spending all of the extra time with her until then. It was almost laughable to her, being a muse for a Vulcan artisan. But she did it.
She'd sat for her grandfather on several occasions to be sketched, and even Valen had made art inspired by her when she was a very small child. She had had no idea, back then, but seeing her as a little girl captured the Vulcan's creative mind and sent it into a stir, particularly her endless catastrophic energy and a penchant for breaking anything delicate in a five mile radius. As a little one, she'd been effectively banned from walking about the shop by the clan mother T'Kaletul until she was able to sit still on command for at least five minutes at a time.
The move went well on Tuesday late that afternoon. Her mother felt terribly about not being able to help Tila as much as she wished. She admitted to pain in her leg at one point but felt much better when Tiren showed up and began helping to finish load the shuttle. Her mother was thawing to the idea of a friendship between the two. She even offered him refreshments while they were moving things.
Tila didn't have too many items, would truthfully have to shop for lots of things for her apartment. Her parents had donated several small pieces of furniture but she refused to strip them of anything larger. She wanted to do things and buy items for herself.
Tiren flew across town with her and inspected her new place. The place was what he had once overheard another person describe as a matchbox. It was small, but he supposed it was sufficient. He wished to say something positive about the location since he sensed it was what she was waiting for from him. He did not understand why it was important for him to validate her emotions but he found himself forcing out the one positive he could see. "It is very clean."
"Ah, thank you!" she beamed at his compliment. "I came in last night after work and scrubbed this place from top to bottom."
At first, he felt a sense of satisfaction for having put a smile on her face for saying, apparently, the right thing. But then he thought of her coming there after a day of work to give the place an in-depth cleaning and realized, She must be very fatigued. He looked closely at her. Yes, he saw small signs of tiredness in her bearing.
But she was pushing past the tiredness, she was so supremely happy to have somewhere to call her own. "I didn't even have my own place on Earth, you know? This is my first time in my own apartment, all to myself," she said as she folded her arms and looked around at the almost tiny space.
"Do you have further plans for today?" he asked as they finished moving the last piece of furniture into her small apartment.
"I wanted to go and do some shopping," she said as she sat down tiredly.
"What do you not yet possess that you wish to purchase?"
Tila looked at her tiny empty living area and started to laugh. "Do you honestly not see the lack of furniture here?"
"Your bedroom is full," he objected.
"My living room is nowhere near full and I don't even have a table to eat on. And speaking of eating, I have no food in my kitchen, no plates to eat off of, no cups, no nothing extra. I don't even have forks or spoons."
"I contain all of those things," he said.
"You mean you're going to give me your kitchen stuff?" she asked, confused, as she began to rummage through a box.
"No, I simply wished to offer you a place to sleep and eat for tonight since you seem to be quite tired from the strenuous events of yesterday and today. I will cook for us both. Tomorrow after work perhaps we may shop together."
She sat there and looked up at him, not able to get past those words. It was almost as if someone mentally dropped a delicate glass object in her mind and an entire party of thought stopped to gawk inwardly at his careless words. Obviously this Vulcan had no idea of what he'd just suggested, so she forced herself to resume regular un-pervy thoughts. "That's very generous of you," she said, not even thinking to accept.
"We are friends, are we not?" he asked, as he always did when he got even a hint that she was about to turn down whatever he offered.
She groaned inwardly and sighed. "Yes, we are friends, Tiren. But-"
"And do not friends help one another when it is needed?" he asked as he kneeled down close to where she sat, his eyes looking deeply into hers.
He was giving her that lecture again and she found herself nodding. "Yes, Tiren, they do," she said tiredly.
He began removing the items in her hands and placing them back in the box, the decision already made in his mind. "You are fatigued. You will damage yourself if you resume this level of work any further on this day. I would ask that you be my guest for the evening. Be logical, though I know it is not your nature, and do not tax yourself any further."
She wanted to laugh at the subtle dig he had taken at her. But she took a close look at him and all at once what she had been ignoring for weeks was staring her in the face. Besides being handsome, he was tall and big in musculature and she could never tell why. But the fact that he was half Romulan was there, in his face, in his bearing, in the slight V shaped protrusion of the top front of his forehead. Why hadn't she realized this before? And how was it she even knew what it was he was?
The biggest question in her mind was why did it not bother her? She always assumed if she ran into a Romulan, she would be scared stiff. But he was- he was more than just a label. He was her friend. "I would be honored to accept your help, Tiren."