Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Spock had been on Earth for only two months, making preparations for his acceptance to Starfleet. He researched the graduation requirements, and after deciding which classes to take for the rest of his attendance in Starfleet, started to review the required texts for each class.
Spock also came early, because he wanted to observe human behavior.
His mother was human. She was something he could at least compare expectant results to, but Spock did not realize how much she had really assimilated to his father's culture until he was at the epicenter of her species' nucleus.
The 337 attempts at making articulate conversation with various humans other than his roommate did not progress much, and any inquiry Spock may have had about certain idioms, people usually dismissed him as if implying the lack of insight was his own fault. Usually, even his roommate seemed to be frustrated with him.
Terry Stephenson. "A nice, wholesome name with a typical 25 year old human male's attitude." was how he described himself.
Spock considered him more of an animalistic creature rather than a human, though there was not much difference. Terry constantly made advances to other females both on and off campus, was inebriated and hardly had time to purchase his books before classes started.
Spock thought about his roommate's positive attributes as well to remind himself that Terry was not the worst option to inhabit with. Terry's personal items were always impeccably organized. There was never any trash in their room for long. Terry always kept himself groomed properly wearing his hair short and dressing in simple khakis and white cotton shirts when he was not occupying his uniform. And he listened to Spock, truly. Terry at least made a somewhat reasonable effort to understand Spock's way of thinking, even if he did not agree with it.
Terry on the other hand considered Spock to be an overgrown computer. Spock knew this, because his roommate had told him. Though not overtly racist, Terry just wanted a roommate who was not as boring.
"What do Vulcans do for fun?" Tom asked Spock one evening, while laying across his bed reading a magazine with scantily clad women adorning the pages.
Spock looked up from his PADD he was reading while sitting at his own desk. "We fill our free time with meditation and research."
"No, no, no! I mean, don't you ever play sports, cards, computer games, chase girls? Do you ever do anything to just enjoy yourself and pass the time?"
"It would be illogical to just 'pass the time'. Efficiency is a core belief in Vulcan culture."
"Oh right, I forgot. I'm just glad I'm not you man."
Terry's last comment startled Spock, as much as a Vulcan could be startled. Vulcans are reasonable and peaceful, healthier, more physically adept, much more intelligent and cognitively capable and their senses were superior. Why would a human not want to be like a Vulcan? Spock thought about it and the answer escaped him. He could only infer one rationally plausible reason. Humans are also undeniably stubborn.
"I think I'm gonna take you out to a bar with me." Terry put down his magazine and sat upright.
"What would be the purpose of that?"
"So that you can socialize. Meet new people. People other than me at least. You know, talk, drink, dance. You really have to loosen up and try and socialize."
"Given the results of my previous efforts to engage in conversation with humans, it is very improbable that the difference of location should yield opposite results."
Terry shook his head unsure of what to do with his anti-social Vulcan.
"Nor do I dance."
"But you've really gotta learn how to interact with people, Spock. You're going to be here for the next few years. Do you want to stay completely isolated with me as your only link to the public at large? At least make an effort for my own sanity."
"I have tried." Spock gave a small sigh. "Humans do not want to converse with me. I cannot be held responsible for their reluctance."
"No, but try being a little less obnoxious. Ask simple, inquisitive questions rather than racial inquires that insult our humanity."
"It is also not my fault for your rash and arrogant tendencies. If humans are unwilling to see the truth in my words then there is no purpose of me speaking."
"Well, for starters, go without deep, meaningful discussions, and try to make small talk.'
"What is that?'
"It's pointless banter."
"Engaging in pointless banter would be - "
"Illogical and inefficient. I know, Spock, I know, but that is how many humans start a conversation. Just try it, please."
"How would I go about that course of action?"
"Find something interesting about a person and comment on it. Try looks for starters. Say something to someone about the way they look – and don't be negative or condescending about it."
Spock lowered his head and returned looking through his PADD. "I will attempt it."
"Good. Then maybe you can talk some other poor person's ear off all the time and leave me to read in peace." Terry said as he too returned to his reading.
Spock looked back up at Terry confused. "You speak at length with your other acquaintances."
"But I'm not used to handling Vulcan conversations. They're very taxing." Terry pressed his fingers to his temples.
"I do not find that to be true."
"Hush, Spock."
Spock found it simple to navigate his way around the large campus. Such skills were natural for Vulcans, and he considered it disturbing that his "counselor" was very adamant about him carrying a map. Were humans always this incapable?
He reviewed his schedule in his head deciding the most efficient times to execute his work, to meditate and to conduct other various studies. Again his counselor was worried, only this instance was about the numerous classes he was taking. Had she never met a Vulcan before? Even though his workload was full by human standards, nine classes, there were many first semester prerequisite and multicultural classes he was obligated to attend. To compensate for lost time, Spock needed to fill his schedule.
It was Monday. The first day of classes for the semester.
His classes for Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays were the rudimentary kind. Ethics, Human Behavior (under the impression that the class might actually do him some good.), Art History (his mother liked Terran art), and Calculus 4 (even though his studies already eclipsed calculus 4). Spock felt that it was absolutely unnecessary for him to be required to take such classes.
Tuesdays and Thursdays were somewhat more stimulating. Xenolinguistics, Quantum Physics, Astrophysics, and Statistical Analysis of Trajectory. Saturday was an independent research lab.
Once at the point of destination for his first class, Spock stepped in, seated himself at the center of the front row and waited for class to begin.
He observed as an professor, late in his life, entered the room, addressed the class and started to lecture.
Do humans truly require a class to understand about proper conduct? Ethics...is boring. Spock felt that there was no need to elaborate the thought.
He also did not understand how this class was allowed to be titled "Ethics" when all the class consisted of was the elderly professor recalling stories of his youth. Not that he could have taught Spock something new, since the Vulcan had already read over the whole text. He started reviewing each chapter and key term in his head to regain some of his efficiency.
Slightly put out by the lack of seriousness, Spock made his way to his second class of the day, Human Behavior. He entered the room and resumed his same sitting location. Spock was preparing himself for the same superfluous lecturing style, when a small voice captured his attention.
"You're in my seat."
Spock looked up and saw a slight woman, approximately five feet and one inch in height. Her frame was small but curvy and looked comfortable in her constricting red uniform. She had shoulder-length brown hair and green eyes, that were staring at him.
"I was not aware that seats were assigned."
"They were not, but you're still in my seat. I need to sit there." The female looked slightly frantic but still confident as she continued to address Spock. "I'm sorry, it's just that I'm slightly obsessive compulsive and...you're in my seat. I prefer front and center."
Spock considered her for another moment internally confused but quickly stood and moved fluidly to the next seat down. During his relocation, the female sat where he had previously been.
"May I inquire why you need that particular seat."
"It is the most effective place to sit, neither my vision or hearing are impaired, and it's placement commands my full attention to the teacher. Also, being in the center allows for me to have the same amount of chairs on either side of me. If things aren't symmetrical, I tend to have panic attacks." the female tensed her forearms and fingers demonstrating an intense reaction.
As she did this, Spock noticed her finger nails were painted yellow. Fascinating.
The two sat next to each other for a few minutes without speaking. Spock was interested in the conversation they had shared. The female seemed unperturbed by his appearance, logical when explaining her necessity for preferred seating, but bizarre.
The sudden image of Terry's impish face enlightened Spock. "Small talk"! The Vulcan inclined his head slightly in the direction of his new experiment. He analyzed everything about her. Should he talk about her impeccable jaw structure? How her eyebrows were fuller than how females typically wore them? How the dark, black dot on her nose was off center one eighth of an inch?" There were so many fascinating aspects about her, Spock did not even know where to begin.
Another moment of enlightenment.
"I find the color of your finger nails highly interesting." Spock felt confident that he would be able to lure her into a conversation with that comment.
The female, who had been facing forward, turned her head to Spock confused. He face, was beautifully simple and showed no hint of actual interest, nothing of the internal conflict he was having, no indication of becoming friendly; just serious. The female smiled pleasantly at him. "Thanks." She turned to faced the front again.
Spock searched his brain for something else to say, frustrated that his brain had few answers for him in this situation.
"Why did you paint them that color?"
The female returned her eyes to Spock's. "It's a cheerful, happy color."
What an odd and unnecessary response. Spock decided that trying to speak with humans was a futile mission.
"Why are you here on Earth?" the female addressed Spock catching him off guard.
Was a conversation topic this critical still considered small talk? He was silent for a moment as she watched him intently. She still smiled at him, a look that made Spock feel suddenly at ease.
"I decided to join Starfleet rather than pursuing acceptance to the Vulcan Science Academy."
"Do you like Earth?"
Spock paused again. No. He did not like Earth at all, but Terry had reprimanded him for being condescending. Spock did not want to insult the female.
"The differences between Earth and Vulcan are great, and I have found interacting with humans to be a difficult task. Your culture is unfamiliar to me."
The female's smile increased in size, showing her teeth in the process. The alteration made Spock want to continue his lecture about the differences of their cultures in hopes of eliciting another similar response.
"So you do hate it." The female turned away. "I don't blame you."
Spock arched an eyebrow at intricacy of her meaning. "Vulcans do not express feelings such as hate."
"But you still have those feelings?" The female lifted her own eyebrows at him.
This was definitely not small talk. "They are repressed by my culture."
"But they're still there. Even if you don't acknowledge them, right?"
"Well...yes, I -"
"Then quit arguing with any of my statements, especially since they've all been true." The female returned her attention to her PADD and did not talk to Spock for the rest of the class.
Even with Felicity's short legs, her long stride carried her across the campus quickly. She was exhausted but wanted to get back to her apartment quickly. She and Tracie lived off campus to ensure that they were able to live together, considering Tracie was not attending the academy.
Five classes was all Felicity could do. Four was tough, but she needed to get through the academy quicker than normal. School was becoming far too redundant. Given her previous degree, Felicity could get through the academy in two years while taking five classes each semester.
Felicity had three classes that she went to on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Human Behavior, Art History and Forensic Investigation IV. She needed electives, loved behavior patterns, did a lot of art, and figured learning more forensics wouldn't hurt. Tuesdays and Thursdays were Crime Detection and Investigation and Beginning Security.
The day started quite smoothly with Tracie already bitching about her coworkers and the patients that came into the doctors office she relocated to. Felicity didn't pay her much attention but heard bits and pieces like, "...like this one patient, Rude Roy...", "...bitch doesn't even know how to sit at a desk." and "God, I look fat in these white scrubs".
Walking to campus did not take long since Felicity and Tracie lived so close. Felicity smiled and nodded to people on her way to class. Hoping that she was being proper with this overt display of socialism. Smiling indicated to people that you were sociable, and Felicity was, just not with boring people.
Her first class was something of a hoot. Right when she walked in, Felicity almost had a mini panic attack. Someone was sitting in the front and center seat. No one ever sits in the front and center seat!! That was when Felicity's obsessive compulsive won out over her sociable self.
The man who had been sitting there was a Vulcan. I guess that would indicate why he was sitting in MY seat. He's a guy that likes to learn. Felicity felt even worse forcing him out of HER seat considering how cute he had been. He father had political dealing, not the devious in nature kind, with many Vulcans and none of them were as sexy as this one had been.
He was long-limbed. Taller than Felicity, but that really wasn't hard to be. Smooth skin; angular features...God, now you're fantasizing about a Vulcan! Gorgeous, brown eyes; adorable eyebrows. Full lips. I wonder how pathetic I would be considered for finding a Vulcan VERY interesting... It was difficult to get the image of his perfect body and the way he practically danced around the seats to move for her out of Felicity's head. I bet he's a good dancer.
Thinking back on their conversation, Felicity was still slightly embarrassed at how rude she probably seemed.
She took her immaculate notes, complete with labels and indentations, and when the class ended, She bolted out of the door, eager to save herself from less embarrassment.
Arriving to her second class of the day, a whole 27 minutes early she noted, Felicity decided to sit in HER seat and brood about how mean she was and how she really did need a sign for all rooms indicating that this particular seat had an owner with slightly sociopathic tendencies.
HAHAHAHA!!! You've gotta be kidding me. Felicity laughed to herself as she watched her Vulcan "friend" come into the room.
Shit.
"Couldn't get enough of me could you?" she asked without bothering to acknowledge her embarrassment.
"Pardon?" The confused Vulcan asked standing in front of her.
"I was just making a joke to relieve some of the tension I was feeling about our last conversation."
"I see." he continued to eye her thoughtfully. Stare at me all day, big boy.
"Well, though I am less inclined to move as you were earlier, you can still sit by me, if you want. I can continue to interrogate you with audacious questions and make rude but correct assumptions." Felicity indicated to the seat next to her.
The Vulcan still watched her. She could she his prudence wavering as he finally decided to sit next to her. He sat very still as if trying to understand a complex equation then turned to Felicity.
"Cadet - "
"You can call me Felicity." You've got to quit interrupting him.
"That would be inappropriate."
"Why?"
"It would indicate that we are in a less than professional engagement."
Felicity thought about that for a moment. Seemed fair. She insulted him and questioned his culture...he was allowed to control the intimacy of their conversation...at the moment.
'"Alright. What were you going to say? Sorry I keep interrupting you."
The Vulcan continued to survey Felicity. "I was attempting to inquire why you started such an improper conversation with me before."
Felicity smiled and chuckled. "Huh, well, I was curious about you, decided to bypass all of the pleasantries and get straight to the point with the questions I really wanted to know the answers to." Felicity paused, then added with a wince, "Do Vulcans use more protocol when wishing to discuss something of genuine interest, or are they concise and get right to the point?"
Spock pondered the question for a moment. "It tends to be a bit of both."
The smile returned to Felicity's face.
"What is your name?"
"Spock."
"Well then Spock, please call me Felicity."
"That would be inappropriate."
It had been a very interesting day.
Please review! :)
