Merged
Chapter 10
T'Pol pulled her flitter-car into the parking area of a small, non-descript building. The building looked as if it had been around quite some time and needed repair in some parts. Jontek and T'Pol left the flitter-car and they walked up to the door. There was the smell of freshly baking bread, and Jontek became aware that he'd really eaten very little that day.
"Smells good, T'Pol"
"The appearance of this restaurant belies the actual quality of its food."
A surprised grin took hold of Jontek's face. "T'Pol! Are you telling me that Vulcans have hole-in-the-wall restaurants?"
T'Pol had a confused look on her face as she stated, "Jontek. While the restaurant does not present an overall pleasing décor, it does not have any holes in its walls that I am aware of."
Jontek started to chuckle when T'Pol turned to him. "I would suggest that you control yourself before we enter the establishment. While the proprietress would most likely understand such a display from a human, which I doubt she has ever seen, she would most likely find it disconcerting to see such a display from a Vulcan."
"Jon, I think while we are in public, you should let me take the lead." Jon acquiesced immediately, feeling a bit chagrined.
Suddenly Jontek's face became a stoic mask. "You are correct, T'Pol. We should have adjusted prior to arriving at this establishment. We will not make the same error in the future."
Almost as if wanting to provide comfort to her long time friend, she explained, "I did not mean for that to sound so sharp. I am still getting used to the idea that I see a Vulcan and yet am speaking to two beings."
"Nam-tor ri thrap wilat nem-tor rim"
They continued into the restaurant, finding that the interior showed the same signs of age as the outside. However, it was obvious that the place was clean. An older woman came up to them.
"T'Pol. It is agreeable to see you again."
"T'Wyr. It is agreeable to see you as well. May I request a table for two?"
"You may choose any that suits you, dorli savensu."
"The one by the fountain?"
"It is yours."
"What did she call her?"
"Honored teacher."
T'Pol and Jontek gave a slight bow to the woman and then Jontek followed T'Pol to a table next to a lovely blue and green mosaic with water running down its surface. There was the light sound of the water as it dripped into the basin below it from which the water was recycled though the fountain again. They took their seats and T'Pol removed a wooden menu card from the center of the table.
"Ahhh…Sontek. They have a mun-rasy-tenr on the menu tonight.
"What's that?"
"It is a dish made with what are similar to Earth lentils cooked in a…umm…tomato like sauce mixed with …umm…what are most like Earth peppers and onions and seasoned with various spices."
"Is it good?"
"Yes. An exceptional way to be introduced to true Vulcan cuisine."
"Du skasau nash-veh u'sa-te-'kre."
"What did you say"
"Literally translated it means 'you treat one as a king.' I'm complimenting her on her choice for our dinner."
Jon was surprised. "We don't choose?"
"No. On Vulcan, when you are offered a meal and you accept, the one who offers chooses for you."
"What if you don't like what they have chosen?" Jon still didn't see the logic in this practice.
"If there is a medical condition, you may indicate that. Otherwise, you accept it with thanks."
Jon thought back to a meal many years before when Admiral Forrest had invited the pilots of the Warp Three Project and the Vulcan advisors to dinner. The pilots had all been asked prior to the evening to order something vegetarian so as not to upset the Vulcans. None of the Vulcans had ordered anything. Instead, they had drunk water all night. Jon had thought at the time that the Vulcans had been insulting Admiral Forrest by not eating.
Sontek had obviously read his thoughts. "No. The Vulcan Advisors were insulted instead. When you ordered your meals you were seen as uncouth and ill-mannered."
"We didn't know. Hmmm…I wonder if that explains Captain Vanik eating before he arrived for dinner, too." Suddenly things that had happened many years ago started making sense.
"It does. He expected that type of behavior from you."
"But how…"
"Captain Vanik's cousin served as an advisor on the Warp Three Project. Your reputation preceded you."
"How do you know this? Vulcan is a big world. You can't know everyone."
Sontek explained. "Captain Vanik is my third foreuncle on my paternal side."
"Oh. Then his cousin…"
"Was also a member of my clan. Family stories." Sontek's thoughts indicated that this should explain everything.
Jon had one more question though. "Had you heard those stories before you met me?"
"Yes. However, I decided to keep an open mind. If Surak felt you were a worthy vessel, what right did I have to judge you?"
T'Pol laid the menu down in front of her. A moment later, a young man came to the table and picked it up, placing it back in its holder. "Ra Aru-yems tishaya?"
"What did he ask her?"
"What dinners would you prefer?"
T'Pol answered the waiter. "Mun-rasy-tenr Be'hi'la e nash-vah.Yem"
Before Jon could ask, Sontek translated. "Basically, she ordered the mun-rasy-tenr for us both."
The waiter nodded and walked off. A few moments later he brought a pitcher of water and two glasses. The water had some sort of fruit in it that from the scent was similar to lemons. He poured the water and placed one before each of them and left the pitcher on the table.
T'Pol turned to Jontek. "We are lucky to have come here tonight. Mun-rasy-tenr is only occasionally served."
"We are looking forward to it. It has been some time since I've eaten true Vulcan food."
"Yes. Although, I did like many of the vegetarian Earth dishes."
"I found that they tended to spice them wrong."
"After a number of years, you get used to the style. Earth food does have it's own charms." She took a sip from her water. "How was your flight from Earth?"
"It was quiet. We spent most of the time learning to build and work with mental shields. Jon is becoming quite good at it."
"Jon was an excellent student when I was teaching him meditation techniques. I enjoyed our sessions together. I was…saddened when we stopped."
"Saddened?" Jon thought it was strange for T'Pol to feel sadness.
"Yes. It had been enjoyable sharing meditation."
"I didn't realize you were enjoying it. Why did we stop?" He'd thought she was simply putting up with him. Trying to help him over the trauma that carrying Surak's katra had placed on him.
"You said you had learned enough."
"You could have told me you wanted to continue."
"I did not wish to impose on you."
"It wouldn't have been an imposition. I thought that with Elizabeth being found, you and Trip would need time together. Especially after she died." He remembered how lost she had seemed at the time. Trip had been gentle with her. He'd seen them at the funeral, and it occurred to him that they needed each other to lean on. He'd made a decision not to pursue his own feelings. He'd rather have T'Pol as a friend then cause her any more misery.
"It was a difficult time for Trip and I. I was very glad to call him a friend. We helped each other through that awful situation."
"There wasn't more between you?"
"There hadn't been for sometime. Trip and I were not…compatible."
"Why not?" Jon was confused. They had seemed to be compatible. Of course, they had started their relationship in the Expanse and he had really had his mind on other issues. He figured that at the least, his pushing everyone away from him was instrumental in bringing that relationship about. After they had returned to Earth, he knew that T'Pol had taken Trip home to Vulcan with her. That usually indicated a deeper relationship in his experience. When she had come back to Enterprise, married to Koss, he'd been confused again but figured it had something to do with family honor. Most things on Vulcan seemed to be tied to that. After the Kir'Shara was found, Koss had released her from their commitment and for a time, Jon had felt there might be a possibility for them to pick up where they had left off before the Expanse. Then Elizabeth was found and it all changed again.
"He was too emotional. He was often unable to control his impulses well. But he was a good friend and I miss him greatly."
"I miss Trip too."
"Was Trip the one who tried to get you to mate with the drag queen?"
Jon was upset that Sontek had latched onto this memory so strongly. "No! I told you, that was a situation of mistaken identity. And it wasn't mating. It was just a kiss. I would really appreciate it if you'd forget about that. I don't exactly want it to become public knowledge."
"Why not?" Sontek was confused by Jonathan's reaction. If it was a mistake, why be bothered by it.
"Because, it's embarrassing."
"Why?" Sontek still didn't understand.
Jon's discomfort was palpable. "Because…I don't do that."
"You don't kiss?"
With a finality which indicated a closing of the topic, Jon thought, "I don't kiss men. Now forget about it. The food is here."
The waiter placed the food on the table and then left. The smell was heavenly. There was a basket of bread with a small set of tongs. Jontek picked up his fork and took a bite. He nodded in T'Pol's direction and she began to eat.
"Okay, what was the significance of that?"
"She is our host. I let her know the food was acceptable."
This was getting stranger by the minute. "So if you're a dinner guest, you become a taster as well? Why?"
Sontek thought for a moment as if trying to recall something but finally shrugged it off. "The reasons for that action go back so far into Vulcan history; I'm not sure why we do it. It is just good manners to do so."
As they took another bite of the food, Jontek gave his tastebuds a moment to savor the food. "This is excellent. It has a number of spices. I wish I knew what they are."
Contentment was evident in Sontek's answer. Jon would have said it was similar to a human's reaction to 'comfort food.' "It is arbre bar-kas herish-to. A rather savory blend of up to 20 different spices. Every Vulcan chef makes their own blend. That's one of the things that makes mun-rasy-tenr so prized."
Jon was surprised that the meal continued on without conversation. He started to say something at one point when Sontek stopped him.
"Dinner conversation is usually kept to a minimum. Sometimes, nothing is said at all."
Jon argued, "But I've seen Vulcans talk during meals. Well, not much I guess, but T'Pol got quite good at dinner conversation after a time."
Sontek mentally sighed, finding he was needing to continue the conversation in his head if not aloud. "While it is acceptable if there are issues that must be discussed due to time constraints or to be polite if one is eating with another species which pursues such conversation, most Vulcans do not talk during the actual meal. Prior to or after is more seemly."
"Oh." Jon decided to honor Sontek's unstated request and end his side of the conversation, mental or otherwise.
The meal continued and Jontek found himself seeing T'Pol as she was in her native culture. As always, her use of silverware was delicate and impeccable. She looked relaxed and while she had always seemed at ease in the Captain's mess, seeing her here made him realize that it must have been difficult for her, especially during the first few months. He was again impressed how she had handled herself with grace during the ten years she lived with a mostly human crew.
As they finished the mun-rasy-tenr, Jon was aware that he'd never really given Vulcan food a chance. While many spices were obviously used, the interplay of the flavors was subtle and exotic. He felt like he had tasted the food equivalent of a symphony. The waiter removed their plates and left a bowl of scented warm water upon the table. T'Pol placed her fingertips into the water and dried them on her napkin. Jontek followed.
"So the host initiates the fingerwashing?"
"That was an astute observation, Jon. Yes. It is the signal that the meal is finished and conversation may resume."
"I would have your thoughts, Jontek."
The comment startled Jon. "What does she mean? Is she asking for a mind meld?"
A mental smile from Sontek answered. "No. She wants to know if we enjoyed the meal."
"It was excellent, T'Pol. The chef is to be complimented."
"I will pass the compliment on to T'Wyr."
"Have you known each other a long time?"
"She is the paternal foremother of one of my students. He brought me here one evening."
"It is an excellent restaurant. We are honored that you chose to bring us here."
As Jontek looked into T'Pol's eyes, he found they were sparkling, almost dancing. He could tell that she was pleased with the way things were going. For a moment, he felt a twinge of jealousy. Was T'Pol enjoying herself because he was there or because Sontek was? He realized that Sontek was still young by Vulcan standards, perhaps just a few years older than T'Pol. And he was the Vulcan equivalent of a 'hunk.' Even when he'd been in his own body, although he was chronologically younger than T'Pol, by Earth standards, he was definitely middle-aged. He felt that he'd kept himself up pretty well physically, but he'd seen grey hairs multiplying daily. Perhaps she was enjoying being with someone her own age.
"Jon. You are being illogical." Sontek was concerned with the direction Jon's thoughts were taking.
"Am I?" He didn't need Sontek patronizing him.
"Yes."
"How would you know?" He was starting to feel a bit petulant.
"I know because I have seen T'Pol in your mind." Sontek's thoughts were meant to calm him, but it only peaked Jon's suspicions.
"When?" Had he missed something?
Sontek explained, "Traces from your memories. I believe that T'Pol cares for you."
Jon passed the comment off. "Well, maybe a long time ago."
"Often the truth of the present is hidden in the past."
Jon was about to ask what that meant when T'Pol pulled them back to the world outside his head.
"Would you like a theris tea to end the evening?"
"I would."
T'Pol caught the waiter's eye and he approached the table. As they spoke in Vulcan, Sontek translated that she had let him know that they would both have a cup of theris tea and that she would appreciate the check when it was convenient. A few moments later, the teas were set before them and a small, wooden booklet was set before her. She opened it and then signed her name on the bill.
"There is no tipping?"
"No. Vulcans charge what is reasonable to keep the establishment operational. They pay their employees a fair and reasonable wage."
"I would have thought with as good as this place was, that they would charge enough to have it fixed up a bit."
"No. I'm sure this is as the proprietress wants it. By being a little on the…hmm…on Earth it would be called dowdy…side, she prevents those Vulcans who desire a restaurant just for show. When patrons seek this establishment out, they are expecting an excellent meal."
The surprise Jon felt was immediate. "There are Vulcans like that?"
Sontek felt that at times, Jon's preconceptions would never cease. "Jon. There are all types of Vulcans. Just like there are all types of Humans."
"I never noticed much of a difference. Well, at least I didn't until after T'Pol. And Surak."
"Once you were open to seeing the diversity of Vulcan life, you started seeing it. I realize that our ways are quite a bit more subtle than on Earth. We have had over a thousand years of a united planet. It is understandable that to off-worlders, we would seem more similar than not."
"I suppose that is true."
They sipped their tea, hearing the sound of the fountain. Jon realized that he was as relaxed as he could ever remember. He decided that if Sontek agreed, he would take her up on her offer. Being with T'Pol made being alive in any form the most wondrous experience he could fathom. All he knew was he didn't want to be away from her again.