A/N: The events of this chapter follow the events of chapter 39 in "Rising Son". You don't need to read one to read the other, just thought you might like to know.
Paris Life—Part IV
L'École Avril Robert de Bibliothèque de Diplomatie, Paris, France, 2291.29, 1520 hours. He arrived at the library early and sat waiting for his students, his comm glued to his hand. 'Tak knew it was impossible for his sa-kai to have proposed yet—the ring was still at the jeweler's for crying out loud!—but that didn't stop him from checking his incoming messages with alarming frequency. In fact he was so engrossed with his communicator he missed seeing his first student walk in.
When Helia sneezed he nearly jumped out of his skin. Her eyes nearly protruded out of her head she was so worried for him. "Are you alright?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I'm fine. How are you?"
"I'm fine." She looked down at the tabletop briefly before glancing back at him. "How was San Francisco?"
"It was good, I just…" 'Tak paused. How had she known he'd gone home? "How'd you know I was in San Francisco?"
Helia hugged her PADD more tightly to her chest. "I heard you talking about it the other day after class. You said you were going home. And in the first class you told us you were from San Francisco."
He cocked his head to the side and took a closer study of the quiet, unassuming girl. "You don't miss much, do you?"
She shrugged her shoulders then pulled up some work on her PADD so they wouldn't have to talk more. The rest of the class filed in shortly thereafter and he didn't have time to think about it anymore.
He was beginning to get a better feel for his students, specifically who was most in need of his help. Oliver and Nyah were the best, with Venn a close third. They required assistance in gaining fluency, rather than proficiency, which was easy enough to achieve under his guidance. Desiree had a decent grasp on the language though her accent made her difficult to understand at times. Zosia did alright mostly; definitely middle of the road. Ifama and Helia needed the most help—Ifama had never worked with the Vulcan language before while Helia, who seemed to have a decent memory in most areas, struggled with learning a foreign language.
At least now he knew where he stood with his class.
Paris, France, 2291.30, 0825 hours. He'd found another note from his secret admirer. This one was in the pocket of his pants and he didn't notice it until he went to put the trousers on again the next day. The message was even shorter than the last yet still gave him pause. "I missed you. Hope everything's ok at home." The note was signed with a series of X's and O's.
Who else knew about his impromptu trip to San Francisco? Helia knew but he couldn't picture her leaving him a note like this, let alone slipping it into the pocket of his pants. She could barely look at him!
His secret admirer—whoever it was—was starting to worry him a little.
Paris, France, 2291.39, 1341 hours. Still no word from Selas or any of the rest of the clan yet regarding the engagement. What was his sa-kai waiting for?! He made Selas promise to call him first thing once he popped the question, so what was the hold up?
Meanwhile, 'Tak learned he had a care package waiting for him in the mail room. It was a medium-sized bundle from; he opened it up to find Mama's famous peanut butter cookie along with a new winter jacket she thought he might like. She was right-it fit him better than his ratty old black coat and looked better too. He returned to his room happily munching on the cookies.
Paris, France, 2291.42, 1148 hours. He found the note in his jacket pocket while he was standing in line for lunch in the cafeteria. "Nice coat," it read, "I hope it wasn't from a new girlfriend of yours." While this message was signed with more X's and O's he couldn't help but feel it was a little bit passive aggressive. Se'tak looked up from the line and took stock of the cafeteria but once again no one stood out to him. His 'secret admirer' was very good at keeping their identity hidden.
Café Julien, Paris, France, 2291.45, 1020 hours. He was sitting by himself at Café Julien, sipping tea after his first lecture of the day, when the waitress came by with a fresh croissant on a plate.
"Excusez-moi, mais je ne l'ai pas commandé ça.*"
The server nodded. "Non, vous ne l'avez pas. Votre amie a commandé pour vous.*"
"Girlfriend?" 'Tak blurted out. He jumped up from the table and scanned the room. "Where?" The server stared at him blankly. "Où?"
The girl looked around the room with him. The café was filled, mostly with students like him in need of a post-class pick-me-up, making it difficult to spot a face in the crowd. Idly, Se'tak wondered if the waitress herself wasn't his secret admirer playing the innocent dupe. He took a good look at her but was pretty sure that they'd never met until a few minutes ago.
His server shrugged her shoulders. "Je ne la vois pas. Elle doit avoir quitté.*"
Se'tak reclaimed his seat. "Je vois. Merci.*" The girl hurried away to tend to her other tables before he had a chance to ask what his alleged girlfriend looked like. At least now he knew his stalker was a woman. As he looked down at the croissant he saw a piece of red paper sticking out from under the plate. It proved to be a simple construction paper heart. "Happy Valentine's Day, Se'tak. Will you be mine? XOXOX"
Paris, France, 2291.54, 1528 hours. "Rebecca and I are engaged," Selas formally declared, his ko-kugalsu beaming by his side. Becca's hand was clasped firmly in his.
Se'tak grinned. "Congratulations! See, Selas, I told you she'd say yes," he exclaimed, winking at Becca and sending her into a fit of giggles.
His sa-kai beamed. "Yes," Selas replied, "You did." His own grin threatened to split his face in two and 'Tak knew they were ecstatic at the prospect of their union. He couldn't be happier for them if he tried.
Beers of the World Bar, Paris, France, 2291.57, 1800 hours. Oliver had been the first to propose going out for a beer after Thursday night's class and Venn was the one who suggested Beers of the World. Se'tak was torn; he hadn't made any close friends at L'École and he missed having guy friends to hang out with, but Venn and Oliver were his students. Oliver picked up on his indecision.
"It's just a beer, 'Tak. We're not trying to butter you up for free lessons or anything."
"Speak for yourself," Venn said. Then the Tellarite quickly broke out into a broad grin. "I'm kidding, I'm kidding!"
Now their Thursday night jaunts to the BotWB had become a regular thing. The bar was old—a throwback to the early 20th century—with sleek quartz countertops and backlit shelves filled with rows upon rows of over imported beers from all over the globe. The guys kept 'passports' on their PADDs, determined to try each and every beer the bar had to offer. They filed in and took a seat in the booth in the back corner that had become their regular spot.
"Who's turn is it to buy first round tonight?" 'Tak asked, knowing full well it wasn't him.
"Mine," Venn glumly replied. He slunk out of the booth and over to the bar, not even attempting to hide or explain his despondency.
"What's up with him?"
Ollie cast a sideways glance at their friend. "Girl troubles."
"With one or getting one?"
"Getting one—I think," Ollie said. "You should ask him yourself." Their friend came back carrying 3 pints of golden amber brew. "Where are we on the map tonight?"
"Japan." Venn set the mugs down and heaved a great sigh as he marked Japan off his list. They reached for their glasses and took a hearty sip; it was an interesting blend, heavy, yet with a pleasant citrus pick-me-up as it splashed across the tongue.
Se'tak licked his lips. "I like this. What's it called?"
"Yona Yona Ale." He sounded so dispirited you'd think you were asking him to talk about his dead dog.
"What's got you so down?"
"Nothing." Venn took a deeper draught from his pint.
"And does this nothing have a name? A female name?" Se'tak thought he heard a disgruntled murmur pass his friend's lips. "So what's the problem?"
"She doesn't even know I'm alive," he groaned. As Venn set his mug down his eyes flitted from him to Ollie and back again.
"Well don't look at me," Oliver cried, clutching his pint in both hands, "I don't know anymore about women than you do!" They both turned to Se'tak.
"What?"
"Well, what should I do?"
"What makes you think I know women any better than you 2 do?" They each gave him a pointed look; apparently his reputation as a ladies man had reached even their ears. "Fine." 'Tak mulled the problem over for a minute. "Does she really not know you're alive?"
"She knows I'm alive she just hasn't picked up on the fact that I like her like that yet."
"Then why don't you try giving her flowers?"
"Flowers?" they each questioned in unison.
Se'tak grinned. "Yeah, you know, those plants with colored petals that come wrapped in bouquets? Women seem to like them for some reason…"
Venn smacked up on the arm. "Smart ass. I know what flowers are. You really think it'll work?"
He shrugged. "At least it'll make your intentions clear."
"Good point," Ollie conceded. "Girls do like their roses."
Venn considered the idea and slid his mug idly over the tabletop from one hand to the next. "You think…you think I should do it anonymously? Like from a secret admirer?"
Se'tak slammed his pint down. "No!" Ollie and Venn's heads shot up and the looked at him like he'd gone mad. They had no idea about his 'secret admirer'—no one did really—and he didn't like the idea of someone else feeling the same alarm he did with each passing note. "I mean, uh, it's better to be above board with these things, isn't it?"
"But what if she doesn't feel the same way?" Venn started to whine.
He shrugged his shoulders again. "Then she doesn't feel the same way. You move on. There are plenty of other fish in the sea."
"Easy for you to say," their Tellarite friend muttered, "I bet you've never been rejected before. You look like a damn bronzed elf that just walked out of Rivendell—yes, I read Tolkien, Ollie, you can pick your jaw up off the floor."
Both he and the mead-maker from Maryland went back to quietly sipping their beer while pretending that Venn wasn't acting completely mental.
Paris, France, 2291.57, 2112 hours. "Congratulations on your future sister-in-law," the new note read. "Maybe someday you and I will be next. XOXOX"
A shiver ran up Se'tak's spine. He found this one in his jacket pocket after coming home from the bar. How had she heard about Selas and Becca? And when had she left him this note? Had she been there at the bar listening the whole time?
Was no place safe from this woman?!
Realizing the notes had crossed a line he went over to the comm and dialed Sa-mekh. Se'tak called him at his office—he didn't want to alarm Mama—not only to explain what was going on but to find out what he should do. It didn't take him long to bring Sa-mekh up to date. "At first I thought they were just goofy little things from a secret admirer," he said, "But now…I think I might have a stalker."
"I see." His sa-mekh pursed his lips together but said nothing more for half a minute, then, "Do you still possess each of the missives that were given to you?"
Se'tak nodded. "I've already scanned and uploaded copies. I'll send them to you now."
Another two minutes passed in terse silence as his sa-mekh scrutinized each of the notes. "Are you certain you have no indication as to the identity of the perpetrator?" he asked, one eyebrow steeply raised.
"I haven't a clue."
"Have there been any women in your life recently who you may have mislead with flirtatious advances?"
What?! Was Sa-mekh really trying to blame him here? "You know what, never mind, I'll handle this myself…" He moved toward the comm button to end the call.
"Se'tak, do not terminate this communication." 'Tak hesitated then lowered his hand back by his side. "I am in agreement with you that there is a person greatly interested in you who has crossed the lines of propriety; I am also examining all possible angles of the case in order to deduce the identity of said person."
"Fine." His righteous anger simmered a bit. "But I didn't do anything wrong. This isn't my fault."
Sa-mekh gazed straight at him, conceding the point. "You are correct, sa-fu. My apologies for my earlier line of questioning." He glanced at the letters again. "At this juncture I can only recommend that you remain vigilant at all times and that you contact the local authorities so that they may provide additional protection."
"Alright."
"And contact me should you receive any more letters or the situation escalates in the future."
He went to the campus police the next day who referred him to the Paris police. Se'tak informed the officers there of his situation and they practically laughed him out of the building.
"What, you want us to forget about all the thieves, rapists, and murderers to track down a silly little girl for sending you some love notes?" one particular lieutenant asked in heavily-accented Standard, his doughy belly shaking with mirth.
He at least convinced them to file a report but he wasn't optimistic about his prospects. For a little while there Se'tak didn't find any notes from XOXOX and life went on as before.
That all changed after he started seeing Marie.
* "Excusez-moi…" = "Excuse me, but I didn't order this."
* "Non, vous ne l'avez…" = "No, you didn't. Your girlfriend ordered it for you."
* "Je ne la vois pas…" = "I don't see her. She must have left."
* "Je vois. Merci." = "I see. Thank you."
A/N: The plot thickens...