Disclaimer: I don't own Star Trek

Romance Tyback style.

Carpe Dieme

It was right before one of their sessions in the language lab. Ashanti was creating samples of Tyback's unique dialect, she hoped to do her dissertation on it. She was busily coding some parameters into the computer, assigning a name and number to this particular sample as well as providing a description. The task was made more difficult because she kind of had a little crush on Tyback.

He was handsome, in a broad shouldered, man of the land kind of way. He was funny, granted often without meaning to be, but she knew he was working on that. And, well, he was kind of incredible. He was just one of those people...or Vulcans...you couldn't keep down. Her great grandfather had been born a peasant in Southern India and had worked his way up being a Federation starship captain. Her grandfather had told her, "Obstacles in life are just there to stop your competition."

There was something about Tyback that reminded her of him.

Anyway...the crush had a tendency to make her fingers a bit bouncy on the keys.

"Ashanti," Tyback said sitting in front of a microphone in the lab, "Your answer will not affect our professional relationship at all, but I was wondering if you would be interested in pursuing a romantic relationship with me."

Ashanti froze fingers poised in midair. Okay, it was obvious that she was in one of those weird realistic dreams where you're doing something incredibly boring and the only reason you know you're dreaming is that something surreal happened. Like your keyboard console started to melt. Or the stoic Vulcan sitting across from you suggested a romantic relationship.

She stared at the keyboard and willed it to melt...sometimes she could control her dreams like that.

It did not melt.

She licked her lips, then looked up at him. "Pardon?"

He sat calmly with his hands folded on the table. When didn't he sit calmly though? If he'd looked nervous she would think she was in a weird surrealistic dream.

"I asked if you would like to pursue a romantic relationship with me."

Tyback had just gotten out of basic training a week ago. Its not that she hadn't thought about it...but this was...

"Wow," she stammered.

Tyback blinked. "Is there a problem."

Ashanti blinked and considered. She just hadn't expected that...all of a sudden, out of the blue. They were completely skipping over the fun flirtatious 'does he like me or doesn't he' stage...which actually, when she thought about it, wasn't always that fun. Especially when it turned out that the guy in question was just flirting...and actually found dating a 1.83 meter tall girl just a little bit too intimidating...even when they were 1.84 meters! What was with that?

...Wait, did Vulcans flirt? And what did a romantic relationship with a Vulcan entail precisely?

Ashanti tilted her head and considered. There was one way to find out...

She smiled. "No, I'm just surprised."

Tyback tilted his head. She knew it was a conscious effort on his part to appear more expressive. "Then your answer is?"

"I am interested in a romantic relationship with you, Tyback," she said with a wide smile. This could be quite an adventure.

"Good," Tyback...her soon to be, or maybe already, Vulcan kinda sort boyfriend said with a nod.

Ashanti looked down at the keyboard in front of her and took a deep breath. "Wow...That was just so sudden..."

"If one is interested it seems illogical to wait." Tyback said.

"Carpe diem and all that," agreed Ashanti.

"Pardon?" asked Tyback.

Of course he wouldn't know that. Tyback wasn't one of those Vulcans who picked up languages like you picked up a sandwich at a deli. "It literally means 'Sieze the day'."

Tyback did like idioms though...unlike most Vulcans.

He perked. "Ah, and am I right in guessing that the figurative meaning is close to...Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today?"

She looked up. "Sort of..." she said.

"A very logical sentiment," Tyback said, "After all, life can be short."

A/N:

I just can't imagine Tyback being at all angsty. The guy is anti-angst. Oh Tyback is in "How the Mighty" in the "Betrayal" story...which a lot of people liked.