Disclaimer: See Chapter 1. Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed!
Oratt watched Kuvak type with focus. He turned when he heard his own message ding. He had discovered she found all of her classes favorable, and now he was going to dig a bit deeper. There was a part of him that desired to know if she was the one he believed her to be.
starsandstitches: It's so good to hear from you tonight. It's been fun so far. If I lag a bit it's because I'm eating a sandwich while we talk. 5:32 PM
Osu: Do you wish me to let you eat in peace? 5:33 PM
starsandstitches: No, sweetie, it's fine! My sister is busy and I am enjoying having dinner with you :D 5:34 PM
Oratt blinked several times to make sure he was seeing the words on the screen correctly. She had called him sweetie, a human endearment, and she had only known him a week at most. It was strange, and yet it made his fingertips tingle and his ears feel warm.
Osu: What kind of sandwich are you having? 5:34 PM
starsandstitches: Avacado, tomato and cream cheese on pita. It's delicious. 5:35 PM
Osu: That sounds appetizing. I am pleased you're enjoying your food. 5:35 PM
starsandstitches: What are you having? 5:37 PM
Osu: Stew. 5:37 PM
starsandstitches: That was rather vague! Stew, he says...there are only 1000 kinds of human stews, and heaven only knows how many Vulcan kinds. 5:39 PM
Osu: Forgive me. I am having a stew made with Vulcan and human tubers. And a vegetable stock. There is no specific name for it. 5:40 PM
Oratt froze. He nearly typed the proper name of Kuvak, who she knew as Alienman. If he were not careful he would give it away.
Osu: Alienman cooked it this evening. It may be a family recipe of his, but it is not one I am aware of. It is similar in taste to your potato soup, the kind with the dumplings in it. It is agreeable, but it does not sound as appetizing as your sandwich. 5:40 PM
He paused a moment.
Osu: Do you need any help with your homework? 5:41 PM
He steepled his fingers before him, wondering if she would ask for help with homework that he perhaps assigned.
starsandstitches: Sweet stars above, I thought you'd never ask. My teacher assigned us ten pages of reading and several questions, and I'm confused about number 10 on the first page. 5:43 PM
Osu: Tell me the question. 5:43 PM
Oratt smirked as she replied with a poorly worded question about the Vulcan nervous system, and he recognized it as one of the questions he had assigned.
Osu: The author is attempting to make you explain the electrochemical reactions responsible for brain activity. 5:46 PM
starsandstitches: Thank you! I was about to get on that other forum and slog through all the useless commentary about his class to get to an actual explanation about the question! And you saved me from that! In fact, hold up...let me share this with the other students. 5:46 PM
Oratt puffed; she was in his class. Now, the hunt was on (without using his means as as a faculty member) to discover his star's identity. He turned to Kuvak, who was now looking at something on his desk. "I have discovered she is in my class."
Kuvak nodded. "Agreeable. Any idea who she is yet?"
"No. It is my thinking that I will be able to clue it together soon without using my resources as a teacher."
Kuvak's eyebrow raised. "Is that a challenge to me as well?"
Oratt thought about it for a moment. Indeed."
"Then so be it. I will begin to puzzle it together myself as well." Kuvak beamed slightly. He heard his comm beep and turned to it, opening not an instant message but private mail to his official address. He frowned as he read it. "Oh, this complicates things..."
Oratt frowned and stared at the minister. "In what way?"
Kuvak glanced over the notice from his clan mother, and Oratt heard his own comm start to beep. His clan mother had contacted him, requesting that he receive a woman from Vulcan in two weeks. Her name was T'Rela, and her picture made her out to be a beauty. But the thought of perhaps finding stars and having her for himself made T'Rela seem much less appealing.
"Indeed," he agreed. "Her name is T'Rela. Who is being sent to you?"
"T'Keth, of the clan T'Lorin."
"The mighty force behind the purging of Gol," the doctor mused out loud. "She is most likely a formidable woman, Kuvak."
"We both have been put on notice?" Kuvak asked his friend.
"We have and I am disagreeable to this as well, Kuvak...but we have a duty..." he replied with no conviction whatsoever.
"I know it is illogical, Oratt, but I have...the desire to meet and take a chance with my Mudgirl."
"Your Mudgirl?"
Kuvak shifted in his chair. "Yes, my Mudgirl. Whoever she may be."
Oratt sighed. "And I would rather pursue something with my enigma than one who wishes status."
Both of their comms beeped again. "We will speak on this matter later," the doctor said, turning to his station. "The females we are truly intrigued by wish to speak to us."
Kuvak nodded and turned back to the comm.
mudgirl: Alienman, you still there? 6:10 PM
alienman: I am. Forgive me, but I had to attend to a personal matter. Now that that is complete, I am free to speak to you again. Did you enjoy your dinner? 6:10 PM
mudgirl: I did! ^_^ tomato, cream cheese and avocado on whole wheat pita bread. I added some basil, and it is fabulous! I wish you could taste this sandwich, Alienman. 6:11 PM
alienman: You do realize that offering food to a Vulcan male is...what is the word, a come-on? 6:12 PM
mudgirl: *blushing hard* Oh I didn't know that. Do you feel that I've come on to you? 6:13 PM
Kuvak took a deep breath and typed before propriety would stop him.
alienman: I would not be adverse to it if you did. 6:13 PM
mudgirl: Alienman! I am blushing! You don't even know what I look like! 6:14 PM
alienman: Oh but I do...your beauty shines easily through your words. 6:14 PM
mudgirl: Seriously, my face is red now! Even starsandstitches is noticing it! 6:14 PM
alienman: Is is an agreeable reaction? 6:15 PM
mudgirl: I think so...I know so. ^_^ 6:17 PM
…
starsandstitches: What did Alienman say to Mudgirl? She's blushing over here. 6:13 PM
Osu: I do not know. I should hope he is not compromising his propriety. 6:14 PM
Oratt glanced over at Kuvak, who was smirking. "Kuvak, what did you say to her?"
Kuvak turned to him, "I compromised propriety a bit..." He moved so Oratt could read what he had said.
Oratt shook his head. "You are smooth in matters of females. I will try to learn from thee, Osu."
Kuvak smirked. "It has only taken me six months to say such things, and perhaps it is the...impending Vulcan female that has pushed my hand slightly." He blinked. "Mudgirl and your Stars live together."
Oratt's eyes went wide. "So they do...interesting. A tidbit for our investigation."
He sat down and typed.
Osu: He is apparently engaging in a human custom of...flirting. Is she disagreeable to such a notion? 6:17 PM
Kuvak leaned over Oratt and typed quickly.
Osu: And if I were to do the same, would you would you be disagreeable to my attention? 6:17 PM
Oratt turned and glared at Kuvak who was now returning to his seat.
"You said you wished to learn," Kuvak said, staring at his comm again.
starsandstitches: She's giggling now, like she's three years old again. I think she likes it. 6:18 PM
Why, Osu, you're making me blush! What are you and Alienman up to? 6:19 PM
Osu: We are flirting. 6:19 PM
starsandstitches: Aw! Well, I think Mudgirl could pass for a tomato over here, she's so red...I feel warm too. 6:20 PM
Oratt blinked, a sudden twinge of arousal surging through him at the thought that he was making her hot.
Osu: Does that sensation please you? 6:20 PM
starsandstitches: Swear you won't judge?
Osu: I swear I will not judge you. It does not do to judge here...this is, after all, a place to talk and be free. 6:21 PM
starsandstitches: I'm blushing, and I think I like this...do you like this? What if I told you you're the sweetest man I've ever met? 6:23 PM
Oratt turned to Kuvak. "Let us go and meet them now."
"Tonight?"
"Yes, before the other women arrive."
"I am not adverse to it. It is a bold move..." Kuvak mused, gripping the sides of his chair.
Oratt's comm beeped.
starsandstitches: Did I scare you away? 6:26 PM
Osu: Not at all...I am contemplating...this idea, Stars. Vulcan men do not take such things lightly...flirting is a serious thing. 6:27 PM
starsandstitches: Contemplating what, Osu? Tell me? 6:27 PM
Osu: We were considering meeting you. Though if cautionary tales of your planet and subspace communication are correct, you have every right to be distrustful of a face to face meeting. Perhaps in time we can meet in real life, so I can see this lovely little human who calls herself starsandstitches. 6:28 PM
starsandstitches: I swear you're going to give me diabetes with all this sweetness. ^_^ Are Vulcan men naturally good at flirtation? 6:28 PM
Osu: By no means! I am attempting to be genuine with you, to give you my true thoughts. 6:29 PM
starsandstitches: You must have a heart of gold. 6:29 PM
…
mudgirl: Now Stars is blushing and squeeing...what is going on, Alienman? 6:28 PM
alienman: He is expressing what I believe we both wish...and that is the desire to meet you both face to face. 6:29 PM
mudgirl: I thought you'd never ask :P 6:29 PM
alienman: You are not adverse to meeting me? 6:29 PM
mudgirl: No, I'm not. We've gotten to know each other rather well...and silly me, I trust you. 6:30 PM
alienman: I would not wish you to totally trust me, Mudgirl...beneath the thin veneer of logic rages a beast, one who would be agreeable to taking you and making you his own at any cost. 6:31 PM
mudgirl: Oh my...wow... 6:33 PM
alienman: Have I revealed too much, perhaps frightened you? 6:33 PM
mudgirl: I find that more intriguing that frightening. You do know how to flirt. 6:34 PM
Kuvak blinked rapidly, his posture stiffening, and Oratt glanced over at him. "Kuvak?"
"She finds the thought of the beast intriguing," he breathed. "I did not realize...human women, of all people..."
Oratt turned back to his conversation, and Kuvak typed a response.
alienman: Then you are not adverse to this notion either? Is there any part of me that you are adverse to? 6:36 PM
mudgirl: Honestly...no. I wonder if humans and Vulcans are sexually compatible. I mean...do we have the right parts? 6:37 PM
Kuvak blinked and swallowed thickly. His fingers tingled as he typed.
alienman: We are compatible in that way. I have a lok as your human men do. 6:37 PM
mudgirl: so why don't you ask me on a date, Alienman? 6:39 PM
Kuvak sighed and closed his eyes.
alienman: What if you were one of my students? 6:40 PM
mudgirl: I hadn't considered that...well then, I guess we'll have to wait and see what happens, won't we? 6:41 PM
alienman: We will. I have the distinct notion that something might happen very soon. 6:42 PM
(A/N): sensara: I'm certainly getting diabetes over here from all the sweet talking.
fameanon: Forget diabetes, Oratt and Kuvak give me vulcanphilia! They're certainly making the reviewers hot.
sensara: That's impossible, because they were already hot to begin with! ;) Now show us your vulcanphilia in the reviews!