Title: S310B Male Logic Author: ZenosParadox Rating: PG
Summary: RS, Tu. Trip and Malcolm apply male logic to explaining kisses. Coda for Similitude, Episode 10, Season 3.
Notes: Mild spoilers, written November 29, 2003. Disclaimer: The character names belong to Paramount. This fiction was written solely for personal enjoyment.
MALE LOGIC
"Trip?" asked Malcolm as he approached the man in the deserted mess hall in the afternoon.
Trip looked up with a sigh, grateful that it was Malcolm and not the more exuberant Travis or inquisitive Hoshi. Sim's funeral had been that morning and he didn't want to deal with questions.
"Have a seat, Malcolm. I wouldn't mind some quiet company about now."
Malcolm smiled lightly, but remained standing. "Actually, I have something I'd like to discuss with you. It can wait, though."
Malcolm was about to leave when Trip said, "Hey, Malcolm, come on. You don't have to be that quiet. I just don't want to talk about--about him."
"Actually, my topic concerns Hoshi."
Now Trip was intrigued, but couldn't prevent his smirk as he said, "Finally notice she has a nice bum, did ya?"
Trip registered the look that flashed across Malcolm's eyes and changed his tone, "Whoa. You look serious. What happened? Did you insult her soup again?"
"No, not yet anyway. But that's the problem. I'm supposed to have dinner with her."
"I thought you typically eat dinner with Hoshi and Travis."
"Yes, but tonight she's cooking and I'm supposed to have dinner with her in her quarters."
"You've got me stumped here, Malcolm. You've eaten in her quarters before. What's the problem besides your sticking your foot in your mouth?"
"She kissed me."
"Beg pardon?"
"Hoshi kissed me."
Malcolm saw Trip's eyebrows rise. "Well, I mean I kissed her before when she, uh, never mind, but that was just for a reality check."
"You've got a weird way of checking reality, but I think I like it," muttered Trip, only to have Malcolm frown at him.
"It wasn't that kind of kiss, but this time, well." Malcolm sighed, "Actually, she kissed Travis, too, but just on his cheek."
"I take it you got some lip action?"
"It was just before we used the shuttlepods to tow Enterprise--do you know about that?"
Trip nodded. Indeed, he had a déjà vu experience, but assumed the source was the record of the operation. "I read the report. So, Hoshi was smooching all and sundry. Doesn't sound like her."
"You know, it was rather strange because T'Pol was standing in the launch bay when she kissed us." Malcolm's voice trailed off as he considered this.
"I don't suppose Hoshi kissed her, too?"
"What? No, of course not, but now I remember! Hoshi did say something to T'Pol about good luck before she kissed us."
Trip was now very interested in this little interlude. Trip had the strangest feeling that Sim had managed to get a kiss from T'Pol, but he came to believe it was just a persistent dream of Sim rather than reality. Trip had been struggling with that issue since he had seen the Vulcan standing across from him at Sim's funeral. Had he somehow received some of Sim's memories? And were these memories of dreams or real events? He shrugged off his thoughts and answered his friend.
"Malcolm, it seems innocent enough. I don't think you have to worry about Hoshi having you for dinner, so to speak."
"It's not Hoshi's reaction I'm worried about, it's mine." Malcolm's confession was reluctant, but he needed to get it off his chest before he blurted out something stupid to Hoshi.
"You mean you got more than a 'good luck' feeling from Hoshi's kiss?" As Malcolm nodded, Trip added, "Well, it's been awhile since we left Earth, so you were just responding like any normal male. Don't make any more out of it."
"Trip, I know my own body. This response was not driven by sexual deprivation. It was different, it was--it wasn't lust. It was sweet and warm and I can't stop thinking about her."
"But you don't want to do anything to damage your relationship with her," said Trip in full understanding.
"Exactly, so I think the best thing to do is avoid Hoshi until I can get my head together."
"Sounds like a good move to me. I'd do the same thing."
"Really? Well, then, I guess I'll just have to tell Hoshi I'm too busy to have dinner with her."
And I'll tell T'Pol that I don't need any more neuropressure, thought Trip. The men nodded firmly to each other, and Malcolm offered his hand. "Thanks, Trip. It's really good to have you back."
~~~~~
"I'm glad your problem didn't keep you too long in the Armory," said Hoshi as she ladled the soup into a bowl.
"It was just a minor glitch." Then Malcolm muttered under his breath, "I finally came to my senses."
"What was that? It was a problem with the sensors?" asked Hoshi as she turned around with her own bowl.
"Yes, that was exactly the problem." Malcolm smiled, then noticed Hoshi's expectant look. Right, time to taste the soup and not hurt her feelings. He could do this, he told himself. If he could eat his mother's concoctions, he could ingest almost anything.
Malcolm took a spoonful, blew on it gently, and swallowed quickly. He tried to hide the surprise on his face, but couldn't prevent the small smile as he said, "It's delicious."
"I'm glad you like. I've got some pineapple upside-down cake for dessert, too."
"You didn't have to go to all that trouble."
"It's my way of apologizing for laying one on you in front of T'Pol."
Malcolm blinked once. "You mean the--"
"Kiss in the launch bay. I didn't mean to embarrass you and I feel bad about using you like that."
"Using me?"
"T'Pol and I were talking about how humans say good-bye. I think she was concerned about how to bid farewell to Sim."
Malcolm nodded, so she continued. "I was reviewing gestures like a handshake and a hug, but when we talked about kissing she thought it had to mean, uh, an intimate relationship."
"I see. So you decided to demonstrate a kiss that had nothing to do with, er, intimacy," said Malcolm. The disappointment rang through his heart, but it was coupled with a bit of relief, he told himself.
"I wouldn't put it quite that way. I wanted to show T'Pol a friendly kiss for good luck," said Hoshi. And then I got carried away, she added to herself. "I hope you're not upset."
"No, I understand. Thanks for explaining everything, though," said Malcolm sincerely. They sipped quietly at their broth for a moment before he added, "You know, T'Pol went to see Sim before he--he went to sickbay."
"How do you know?"
"I maintained surveillance on Sim after his attempt to run away."
Hoshi was surprised by this revelation. "Were you under orders?"
"It's my job, Hoshi. If Sim hadn't volunteered, I would have been the one to ensure his delivery to sickbay."
Malcolm looked away from Hoshi thinking she would be repulsed by his dogged fulfillment of duty.
"You must have been relieved when Sim went of his own free will," she said softly.
"Yes, yes I was," responded Malcolm. He looked into her eyes and saw understanding. Funny. He had that sweet, warm feeling again and Hoshi wasn't even kissing him.
"So do you think T'Pol said good-bye with a kiss?" asked Hoshi.
"Of course not. She is a Vulcan after all."
Hoshi just smiled at the application of male logic. They were always underestimating the women around them. "Well, we'll never know. Now try this cake. You've never tasted anything this sweet."
Malcolm's gaze lingered on Hoshi's mouth for just a moment before he accepted the cake. He was glad he had discarded Trip's advice about avoiding Hoshi. Sometimes male logic wasn't all it was cracked up to be.
*****
Author Notes: I wanted something to explain how T'Pol came up with a kiss for Sim, so this is my idea. Revised from the original story where Trip had recovered Sim's memories rather than being vague about them.
Thanks for reading. No reviews are necessary.
Summary: RS, Tu. Trip and Malcolm apply male logic to explaining kisses. Coda for Similitude, Episode 10, Season 3.
Notes: Mild spoilers, written November 29, 2003. Disclaimer: The character names belong to Paramount. This fiction was written solely for personal enjoyment.
MALE LOGIC
"Trip?" asked Malcolm as he approached the man in the deserted mess hall in the afternoon.
Trip looked up with a sigh, grateful that it was Malcolm and not the more exuberant Travis or inquisitive Hoshi. Sim's funeral had been that morning and he didn't want to deal with questions.
"Have a seat, Malcolm. I wouldn't mind some quiet company about now."
Malcolm smiled lightly, but remained standing. "Actually, I have something I'd like to discuss with you. It can wait, though."
Malcolm was about to leave when Trip said, "Hey, Malcolm, come on. You don't have to be that quiet. I just don't want to talk about--about him."
"Actually, my topic concerns Hoshi."
Now Trip was intrigued, but couldn't prevent his smirk as he said, "Finally notice she has a nice bum, did ya?"
Trip registered the look that flashed across Malcolm's eyes and changed his tone, "Whoa. You look serious. What happened? Did you insult her soup again?"
"No, not yet anyway. But that's the problem. I'm supposed to have dinner with her."
"I thought you typically eat dinner with Hoshi and Travis."
"Yes, but tonight she's cooking and I'm supposed to have dinner with her in her quarters."
"You've got me stumped here, Malcolm. You've eaten in her quarters before. What's the problem besides your sticking your foot in your mouth?"
"She kissed me."
"Beg pardon?"
"Hoshi kissed me."
Malcolm saw Trip's eyebrows rise. "Well, I mean I kissed her before when she, uh, never mind, but that was just for a reality check."
"You've got a weird way of checking reality, but I think I like it," muttered Trip, only to have Malcolm frown at him.
"It wasn't that kind of kiss, but this time, well." Malcolm sighed, "Actually, she kissed Travis, too, but just on his cheek."
"I take it you got some lip action?"
"It was just before we used the shuttlepods to tow Enterprise--do you know about that?"
Trip nodded. Indeed, he had a déjà vu experience, but assumed the source was the record of the operation. "I read the report. So, Hoshi was smooching all and sundry. Doesn't sound like her."
"You know, it was rather strange because T'Pol was standing in the launch bay when she kissed us." Malcolm's voice trailed off as he considered this.
"I don't suppose Hoshi kissed her, too?"
"What? No, of course not, but now I remember! Hoshi did say something to T'Pol about good luck before she kissed us."
Trip was now very interested in this little interlude. Trip had the strangest feeling that Sim had managed to get a kiss from T'Pol, but he came to believe it was just a persistent dream of Sim rather than reality. Trip had been struggling with that issue since he had seen the Vulcan standing across from him at Sim's funeral. Had he somehow received some of Sim's memories? And were these memories of dreams or real events? He shrugged off his thoughts and answered his friend.
"Malcolm, it seems innocent enough. I don't think you have to worry about Hoshi having you for dinner, so to speak."
"It's not Hoshi's reaction I'm worried about, it's mine." Malcolm's confession was reluctant, but he needed to get it off his chest before he blurted out something stupid to Hoshi.
"You mean you got more than a 'good luck' feeling from Hoshi's kiss?" As Malcolm nodded, Trip added, "Well, it's been awhile since we left Earth, so you were just responding like any normal male. Don't make any more out of it."
"Trip, I know my own body. This response was not driven by sexual deprivation. It was different, it was--it wasn't lust. It was sweet and warm and I can't stop thinking about her."
"But you don't want to do anything to damage your relationship with her," said Trip in full understanding.
"Exactly, so I think the best thing to do is avoid Hoshi until I can get my head together."
"Sounds like a good move to me. I'd do the same thing."
"Really? Well, then, I guess I'll just have to tell Hoshi I'm too busy to have dinner with her."
And I'll tell T'Pol that I don't need any more neuropressure, thought Trip. The men nodded firmly to each other, and Malcolm offered his hand. "Thanks, Trip. It's really good to have you back."
~~~~~
"I'm glad your problem didn't keep you too long in the Armory," said Hoshi as she ladled the soup into a bowl.
"It was just a minor glitch." Then Malcolm muttered under his breath, "I finally came to my senses."
"What was that? It was a problem with the sensors?" asked Hoshi as she turned around with her own bowl.
"Yes, that was exactly the problem." Malcolm smiled, then noticed Hoshi's expectant look. Right, time to taste the soup and not hurt her feelings. He could do this, he told himself. If he could eat his mother's concoctions, he could ingest almost anything.
Malcolm took a spoonful, blew on it gently, and swallowed quickly. He tried to hide the surprise on his face, but couldn't prevent the small smile as he said, "It's delicious."
"I'm glad you like. I've got some pineapple upside-down cake for dessert, too."
"You didn't have to go to all that trouble."
"It's my way of apologizing for laying one on you in front of T'Pol."
Malcolm blinked once. "You mean the--"
"Kiss in the launch bay. I didn't mean to embarrass you and I feel bad about using you like that."
"Using me?"
"T'Pol and I were talking about how humans say good-bye. I think she was concerned about how to bid farewell to Sim."
Malcolm nodded, so she continued. "I was reviewing gestures like a handshake and a hug, but when we talked about kissing she thought it had to mean, uh, an intimate relationship."
"I see. So you decided to demonstrate a kiss that had nothing to do with, er, intimacy," said Malcolm. The disappointment rang through his heart, but it was coupled with a bit of relief, he told himself.
"I wouldn't put it quite that way. I wanted to show T'Pol a friendly kiss for good luck," said Hoshi. And then I got carried away, she added to herself. "I hope you're not upset."
"No, I understand. Thanks for explaining everything, though," said Malcolm sincerely. They sipped quietly at their broth for a moment before he added, "You know, T'Pol went to see Sim before he--he went to sickbay."
"How do you know?"
"I maintained surveillance on Sim after his attempt to run away."
Hoshi was surprised by this revelation. "Were you under orders?"
"It's my job, Hoshi. If Sim hadn't volunteered, I would have been the one to ensure his delivery to sickbay."
Malcolm looked away from Hoshi thinking she would be repulsed by his dogged fulfillment of duty.
"You must have been relieved when Sim went of his own free will," she said softly.
"Yes, yes I was," responded Malcolm. He looked into her eyes and saw understanding. Funny. He had that sweet, warm feeling again and Hoshi wasn't even kissing him.
"So do you think T'Pol said good-bye with a kiss?" asked Hoshi.
"Of course not. She is a Vulcan after all."
Hoshi just smiled at the application of male logic. They were always underestimating the women around them. "Well, we'll never know. Now try this cake. You've never tasted anything this sweet."
Malcolm's gaze lingered on Hoshi's mouth for just a moment before he accepted the cake. He was glad he had discarded Trip's advice about avoiding Hoshi. Sometimes male logic wasn't all it was cracked up to be.
*****
Author Notes: I wanted something to explain how T'Pol came up with a kiss for Sim, so this is my idea. Revised from the original story where Trip had recovered Sim's memories rather than being vague about them.
Thanks for reading. No reviews are necessary.