Chapter Four
Stardate 2271.197
McCoy critically appraised his appearance in front of the mirror in his bathroom. He wore black pants, a grey shirt, and a navy jacket. He was freshly showered, shaven, and with his hair brushed back. There was no reason to be nervous, he told himself. Tonight was only the first date for him and S'nell on Earth. But McCoy hadn't been on a date since the Academy and he knew that S'nell was not used to dating. She told him Andorians spent time together but she hadn't elaborated on the details. Even so he doubted it was the same as Human dating.
It will be fine, McCoy told himself as he caught a shuttle to Baltimore. He wasn't ashamed to be in a relationship with S'nell but he knew it was very unusual for an Andorian to date someone not of their own species. There would be talk and he didn't want anyone to think that he was dating S'nell because he liked the exotic and was unsatisfied with Human women. What mattered to McCoy wasn't the colour of his girlfriend's skin but rather her personality and how she treated him.
Some time later McCoy stood in front of S'nell's front door in Baltimore.
"Evening S'nell. It's Leonard. Are you ready to go?" McCoy asked as he pressed the communication button on the control panel beside her front door. She'd given him the door code for the door of her apartment building but not for her own door. He'd felt the curious gaze of the security guard that had been manning the transporter pad in the lobby but he hadn't reacted to the man.
"Give me a moment. Stay." S'nell replied. Before he could ask who she was talking to the door opened and S'nell walked through. He moved aside slightly and looked away as she punched in the code to lock her door. She wore grey dress pants, a black shirt, and a green jacket with flat brown shoes.
"Before you ask Leonard I wasn't talking to you when I said stay. I was addressing the cat that I share my home with. She's very friendly and not shy around strangers. I wasn't sure if you would wish to meet her, so I thought it best to ensure she stayed inside the apartment." S'nell explained as they began to walk to the car park underneath the apartment building.
"You have a cat S'nell? What's her name?" McCoy asked in surprise.
"I didn't name the animal because that's a Human idea. She is a valued companion animal to me. But that does not mean I will signify that she is the same as a Human by giving her a name." S'nell stated.
"That's not why Humans name their pets." McCoy protested.
"Then why do they? Are domestic animals not considered one of the family, as I overheard a Human colleague once describe their dog?" S'nell wondered.
"Yes. But it's also because it would be a bit strange to call dog or cat if you ever lost them." McCoy explained.
"So you also consider these domestic animals as possessions then?" S'nell asked.
"Having a pet is about more then just ownership." McCoy claimed.
"So it's a symbiotic relationship then. In other words you each have something to gain from being in the presence of each other." S'nell stated.
"I never really thought about pet ownership like that but I suppose so." McCoy wryly remarked.
"Would you be interested in looking after a dog now?" S'nell asked as she drove her hover car to the restaurant he had chosen.
"No. I like dogs but I don't have the time for one now. The only thing I do miss are the walks once in a while." McCoy considered.
"In that case feel free to walk my cat once you two meet." S'nell offered.
"You walk your cat on a leash?" he asked in shock. What breed of cat would allow that, he wondered.
"Yes, on a daily basis. I ensure that she plays with toys daily as well, not to mention the twice daily feeding and weekly grooming. I've given up having a bath after she jumped in and wanted to play in the water once. But she stays away from the sonic shower." S'nell said.
"Does she fetch toys too?" he wondered sarcastically.
"Yes. That is one command among several I've trained her to respond to." S'nell claimed.
"Your pet sounds like a dog in a cat's body." he replied, now curious to meet this animal.
"Perhaps. I have heard the breed described in such a fashion." S'nell responded.
"Where did you get a cat anyway?" McCoy wondered.
"I recently found out about the animal from a colleague at work whose sister breeds the animals and had a litter. Compared to other cat breeds, the Ocicat requires a lot of attention so she was having trouble finding appropriate owners. At the time I had a great deal of free time in the evenings. I thought it might be an interesting experience to take some time out from reading research or literature to care for an animal. Otherwise the creature would eventually been sent to an animal relocation facility where they would be dead if they were not adopted after one year. So I agreed to care for the animal after having the cat spayed, microchipped, and checked as healthy by a vet. I still take her on annual checks to the vet." S'nell explained.
"Does the cat stay elsewhere when you go on a vacation?" McCoy asked.
"Yes. But for the most part evenings and weekends are the times of the week when I schedule my leisure time." S'nell stated.
"Does every event in your life have to be scheduled S'nell?" McCoy inquired.
"I prefer it to be. Why would I be spontaneous? Daily structure is as vital to most Andorians as etiquette is." S'nell mildly replied.
"Why is that?" he wondered as he parked the hover car on the street. She did not answer him until they had entered the restaurant and were seated at a table.
"Structure is like the ice under the feet of an Andorian. If there is routine then you can trust that your life will likely happen as you plan, in the similar way that you can trust to the thickness of the ice after a cold winter. If there is not routine then you are left wondering what will happen and are forced to be reactive, just like crossing ice after a warm spell when you have no idea of the thickness of the ice or any crevices you cannot see inside. I know it is hard to understand for a Human but that is the best I can explain why Andorians value structure. Now may I ask how many women have you been involved with romantically in the past Leonard?" S'nell wondered.
"Six women and two of those I was married to. What about you S'nell?" McCoy answered as he allowed her to change the subject.
"The last individuals who I was intimately involved with was my bondgroup. I loved N'elini but not in the physical sense." S'nell responded.
"Were children the only reason you didn't marry your bondgroup?" McCoy wondered.
"That was the primary reason. Most people think that all Andorians marry. But only about ninety percent of Andorians do. That's because Andorians are matched in a bondgroup for genetic compatibility first and foremost. You don't even meet your potential bondgroup until you are sixteen and then it's in front of your whole clan as a part of your coming of age ceremony. None of you see the other three Andorians again until you all decide you wish to undergo the sadvee charlli. This ritual loosely translates to the time of engagement which happens between the ages of eighteen and twenty years old and lasts for six months. This time together is universal among Andorians, as it is considered essential to determine long term compatibility as much as possible before a marriage. During such time, all Andorians in the potential bondgroup are given instruction in various topics that are considered important to the success of the upcoming marriage. As you might imagine, living with three other strangers all of whom you are expected to get to know in and out of the bedroom while training for your career is complicated."
"So bondgroups can fight over many things. But you are expected to identify with the others in your bondgroup before yourself and remain together despite your differences. Although many bondgroups do fall deeply in love and so eagerly embrace marriage by the end of the six months together my experience was different. By the end of our time together they knew I did not want to have children with them. As a result I readily agreed to leave the relationship when the other three of them suggested it. The other three Andorians I was with have undoubtedly found another zhen by now. They are most likely parents as well though that possibility is more uncertain." S'nell explained. He was about to reply but the waiter choose that moment to come to the table and take their orders. He ordered a vegetable platter while S'nell had the meat platter. They both drunk water.
"Here I thought Human relationships were complicated. But it sure sounds like Andorian ones are even more so." McCoy mused after the waiter had walked away.
"All relationships are complicated Leonard. It doesn't matter what species they are or what kind of relationship it is." she responded. McCoy nodded then changed topics to the weather. He could tell S'nell was surprised that she was expected to eat the meat using the bread provided rather then utensils. But she adapted readily enough and seemed to like the meal. His vegetable platter was quite tasty, he thought.
After McCoy had paid for the meal he drove them to the harbour and parked the car again. Then they walked along the harbour in silence for a time.
"If you wish to hold my hand or put your arm around my shoulder or waist then I would not object Leonard. Though I would prefer not to be more publicly affectionate then that." S'nell said.
"What if someone sees us together? Not that I mind but a Human and Andorian together is very uncommon and people will talk." he remarked.
"I do not care for what other people think of our relationship. You are a wonderful man Leonard and I am glad to be involved with you." she told him. He smiled at her and took her hand. They walked over to a railing and then stood and watched the sunset.
"It's beautiful is it not?" asked S'nell quietly as the sun sank over the water.
"Yeah it is." McCoy replied. She looked at him closely.
"Why do I get the feeling you are not just talking about the sunset?" she asked.
"Because I wasn't." he answered. She sighed.
"I appreciate the compliment. But there is no need to flatter me Leonard. My feelings for you will not change if you do not give me constant reassurance of how you feel about me." she told him.
"Dammit, that's the whole point of being in a romantic relationship S"nell." he protested.
"Is it? Oh I see. Then I will not say anything further in future if you wish to compliment me." she remarked. Then S'nell looked away for a long moment.
"I apologize Leonard. I am unused to Human dating practices, and I did not wish to offend or anger you." she continued.
"That's OK. It's been a while since I've dated too and I'm rusty at this." McCoy admitted. She raised both antenna at him.
"What does rust have to do with romance?" she wondered.
"It's an expression. It means you haven't done something for some time and so are unfamiliar with how to do it." McCoy explained.
"I see. Then we will both figure things out as we go on." she replied as she leaned in closer to him.
"Right. Well, the sun's fully set so I should get you back home." McCoy said. She nodded and they walked back to her hover car. They were silent as she drove him to the shuttle port, got out of the car, then stopped in front of the building.
"Thank you for a lovely evening Leonard. Next time I will take a shuttle to San Francisco and meet you at your apartment." S'nell said.
"All right. I had a good time too S'nell. I'll see you soon. Good night." he told her. She nodded and briefly caressed his cheek with one hand before she turned and walked back to her hover car. McCoy turned and walked inside the building to catch a shuttle back to San Francisco.