Chapter 16: Comparisons
A/N: Hi guest reviewer, thank you very much for your comment! Asha and Christine do not have any Vulcan genes :-) I've tried to portray the Tal Shiar as ruthlessly paranoid. If you recall Commander Toreth from TNG's "Face of the Enemy", the Tal Shiar picked up her father in the middle of the night and murdered him for speaking out against them.
If they can do that, I bet they can kidnap innocent Terrans for the stupidest reasons (Asha for her holonovel research, Christine for her botany project) and make a mountain out of an innocuous molehill by blowing things out of proportion. For my type of Tal Shiar, forcing innocent Terrans to marry Romulans with a history of political dissent is a way of killing two birds with one stone - or so they hope! And yes, a jealous Romulan can be challenging (like Humans!) :-)
Hi Anya, thanks a ton for your thoughtful and interesting review! There are lots of twists and turns waiting for both Thorek and Asha :-) I agree that most Romulans would take courting and looking for a prospective mate very seriously – though, being the passionate people that they are, inclined towards experimenting and "trial-testing" a prospective candidate, if the circumstances allow this.
Final note: mehndi are beautiful henna designs painted onto especially the hands and feet in India, among other countries.
"Thorek," Asha said, "I would like to return Christine and Vekal's hospitality. How about inviting them to our place?"
"I agree. I would be sorely remiss in my Romulan hospitality if I forgot about the pleasant time we spent at their home."
And so the two of them dispatched an invitation via the encrypted communications channel Christine had shared with them, and their friends gladly accepted the invitation. It was the perfect time, too. The Romulans were celebrating the harvest festival. Friends and family were gathering for the festivities, Thorek's workplace was closed during the vacation, and Romulans from other provinces were visiting the capital. Senator Vreenak was launching the festival with a speech on social cohesion and its contribution to the thriving Romulan economy, and many people followed his public appearance on their screens.
"Oh, I remember him," Asha remarked. "When Kihika and I were touring the senate building with a group of tourists, he happened to walk through the hall and stare at me. I must have stuck out like a sore thumb as the only Human."
"No doubt you must have made an interesting impression, considering he's a Senator and former Vice-Chairman of the Tal Shiar. He is said to have a reputation for remarkable intelligence and being verbally obnoxious to his opponents."
"Thank goodness he didn't get it into his head to pluck me out of that group and interrogate me or something," Asha said.
"It would be extremely rude of a Senator to do such a thing," Thorek laughed, "though I must admit that the Tal Shiar's manners were deplorable."
As they watched Senator Vreenak hold his speech, Asha had to admit that the politician was a fine speechmaker. He knew how to capture the attention of his audience with his words, intonation, facial expressions and gestures. He knew how to mesmerise. His eyes, keen and astonishingly blue, seemed to see even her watching him from the comfort of their commodious chaise longue. He was an attractive man.
Asha was comfortable half sitting, half lying next to Thorek, her knees touching his lightly. As an acknowledgement of the festive season, she was wearing anklets and bangles. Both Kihika and Thorek were interested in her Indian jewellery and looked at them closely. She had also drawn mehndi patterns on her hands and feet, waiting patiently until the henna had dried and flaked off, leaving behind the famous dark red pattern. It would fade away over the next few days, but for now, the paint was fresh and strong.
Her husband was particularly intrigued, glancing often at her hands and feet.
She was also wondering about birthday celebrations. Thorek's birthday was coming up in three weeks, and hers was two months away. She decided to ask Kihika.
"How are Romulan birthdays celebrated? What kind of gifts are particularly popular?"
"Usually, the whole family is invited to a sumptuous dinner and a Romulan spouse or mate will gift a hand-written poem. These poems are collected and saved in a special poetry book."
"Are there any particular topics that have to be in a poem? Any rules about the length?"
"No, my Lady, you are free to write about what you want, provided you highlight the good points and achievements of the one celebrating their birthday."
"No birthday cake or candles?"
"No, my Lady. Is that a Human custom?"
"Yes, in some parts of the world, not everywhere. Are there any other gifts given besides poetry? Like…I don't know…clothing items, tools, books, eyebrow-grooming kit…"
"No, my Lady, Romulans exchange presents that involve or induce action or travelling. Romulan couples will often book a night at a love spa."
"A love spa? What is a love spa?"
"A place that encourages intimacy between couples. Excursions and activities, swimming, bathing, special sleeping arrangements underneath the stars, or in case of poor weather, in a holodeck environment. A relaxed body, my Lady, is very important for satisfactory intimacy between a couple. Romulans go to great lengths to encourage this. It is a booming market."
"Thank you for your ideas, Kihika," Asha said. She couldn't imagine Thorek being enthusiastic about attending a love spa in her company. It would have been no problem at all in R'ëal's company, but the way things were, a love spa was out of the question. Poem-writing in Rihan seemed a lot easier.
In the evening, she asked Thorek during dinner: "What would you like for your birthday?"
He looked puzzled. "I don't celebrate my birthday. I have no family to invite, and when I am invited, it is for work purposes. People are careful about striking up a friendship with me due to my history with the Tal Shiar. You see, given the paranoia, they are afraid the Tal Shiar might come after them." He didn't tell her that people were even warier around him because of their discrimination towards her as his Human wife. He knew it would make her sad, and he hated seeing her sad.
"That's crazy."
"That is how our society runs, ailhun. We are always looking over our shoulders."
"Okay. How would you like to celebrate your birthday?"
His eyes softened. "There is no need to take any trouble, Asha."
"I want to take what you call trouble. How about we go out for dinner?"
"All right. I would like that."
"I believe Romulans prefer action-oriented gifts?"
"Yes. We don't see the point in material gifts, unless they are connected with rituals, traditions or cultural milestones. Is it different with Humans?"
"It depends on the part of the world. There are some cultures that don't celebrate birthdays at all. Then there are those with a birthday cake, blowing candles and material gifts, depending on one's budget."
"Your birthday is soon after mine. What do you wish for?"
"I haven't thought about it. The same as you. An outing spent in your company."
"What about jewellery? I believe it is popular with female Terrans?"
"Jewellery? What will I do with it?"
He smiled. "Wear it?"
She laughed. "I already brought jewellery along with me when I travelled here. No, I really can't think of anything. Besides, we're talking about your birthday, not mine. So – a dinner outing, then."
Asha and Thorek greeted Christine and Vekal warmly, the group exchanging hugs. Christine was eager to know how Asha was progressing with her integration into Romulan society and her interaction with her husband.
"Thorek wanted to know if my Human friend and I had been lovers," she told Christine. "Of course, it most probably doesn't mean anything, but he did seem quite interested."
"Asha, if it didn't mean anything, I don't think he would seem 'quite interested'."
Asha blushed. "Oh, come on, Christine. He told me not that long ago that mating with a Human was out of the question for him."
"In three months, it will be a year since you arrived on Romulus, Asha."
She was silent for a few moments. "That's true," she admitted. "But I am not at all sure Thorek has changed his mind about mating with Humans. Or rather, mating with me."
"How do you feel about mating with Thorek?"
She blushed a little and fidgeted. "I'm not certain. He did say that if he met someone who caught his interest, he would act on it. But would I want to mate with him…? It's a good question."
She sat up straight. She reminded herself that she was not a giggly schoolgirl. She was going to turn thirty-four soon. "Thorek has a very intense way of looking at me. And his conversation can be just as intense. He also possesses heightened touch sensitivity – he has a Vulcan ancestor. It feels very pleasant when he touches my hand or face. Or when he hugs me."
"You have hugged?"
"Yes, just once so far. It felt really good. I got these pleasant shivers and I couldn't help wondering what being intimate with him would be like. We know each other better now, and we are far more comfortable with each other. He's respectful, kind and gentle. We're just taking things the way they come. We've also agreed that if we meet someone whom we'd like to get to know more intimately, we'll tell each other." She sighed. "It sounds very simple. I wonder if it will be as simple should that kind of thing actually happen. When did Vekal and you discover you loved each other? Or were you in love with each other? Loving and being in love are not the same thing, after all."
Christine sipped her tea and smiled. "You're right. Being in love is more of an idealisation of the other. But what happened is that we got to be in lust with each other quite quickly. A few weeks after I stopped avoiding him and we began to talk to each other, we couldn't take our hands off each other. We were either talking for hours or being in the bedroom for hours. And then trust, respect and interest in each other…It just came together over time. We were there for each other during crappy times, too. We were there for each other when we argued, disagreed, rolled our eyes when we got fed up of each other's quirks…" She laughed. "You know…the thing about this forced marriage was…We just got thrown in together. We didn't have the time to make expectations and dump them on the other person. So often people force-feed each other a pedestal or have a very linear view of love."
"I get what you mean. Thorek and I have been so busy getting to know each other and figuring out each other's biases and our own. The way things are now is good. But just imagine if I grew to feel more for him and he didn't for me. That would be quite lousy."
"Yes, that would be unpleasant. Or the other way around," Christine said mildly.
"I wonder what life would be like for a divorced non-Romulan." She chewed her lip. "When he told me about R'ëal, it felt humiliating. Of course we didn't know each other, our marriage was forced, he had been meeting her before I came along – he had a past, I had a past. Still, I felt so absolutely non-Romulan, you know."
"You felt rejected."
"Yes. I mean, in a way it had nothing to do with me personally, and at the same time, Thorek and I had just burst into each other's lives, and I had also sort of burst into R'ëal's life. I felt like an impostor and I still do at times. I think that if he found another mate, I'd feel like that again."
Christine patted Asha's hand. "That's okay, Asha. And I see you focus so much on the future. Stick to taking things how they come, okay? I know how easy it sounds when you're worrying about your future. Romulans meditate to soothe what they call the passions of the mind, but without the stark rigidity of Vulcan meditation."
"Thorek does it, and Doctor Metak mentioned it during my last iron checkup. I am rather sceptical about that kind of thing. I have always regarded it as a sort of trendy esoteric hocus pocus."
Christine burst out laughing. "A trendy esoteric hocus pocus? There is scientific proof that it is beneficial for the brain. It has been around for thousands of years. Of course meditation is not for everyone, or rather, not all meditation types are for everyone, but how about giving it a go? It's really all about breathing. Like with Humans. Breathing exercises are an important part of the Romulans' military training. Vekal says they improve a Romulan's focus on their duty. There are even breathing techniques for lovemaking."
Asha grinned. "Which I'm sure Vekal shared with you. It would seem that Humans and Romulans have a lot in common."
"Now, now, my private life between Vekal and myself is going to remain my private life, young lady. But yes, Romulans and Humans have many things in common. And if Doctor Metak has spoken to you about breathing technique, then you can relax a bit with your scepticism. But," Christine raised her hands, "it's your decision."
Asha nodded.
"Getting back to the relationship between Thorek and myself, I'm happy as long as my marriage doesn't turn out like my parents' marriage."
"Your parents' marriage?"
"They bicker a lot. Or used to. Now I'm not around to hear it. Mom kind of makes it clear that Dad can't do anything right, but that's because she mothers him, so then of course he doesn't get the opportunity to do stuff till he gets it right, and they don't talk about their issues, and…What's so funny?"
Christine was smiling. "Ah, how hard children can be on their parents."
Asha looked cross. "Thank you very much!"
"Listen to this, Asha. Your parents' marriage is their business. Let them bicker at each other. They're not bickering at you, and even if they were the best psychologists or communication experts in the world, they would still make mistakes."
Asha frowned. "I don't want a relationship full of bickering!"
"You do not want it, but it's your parents' way of communicating. If it works for them instead of their doing it the textbook psychologist's way, then just back off and leave them to it, young lady. And seeing that you're on Romulus, you don't have much of an option."
"Look, I get what you mean, but it's not fun listening to all that sniping."
"Life is not fun."
"I know! But-"
"Asha, knowing what's better for your parents is really none of your business. You have enough on your hands looking after your own relationship. See if you can handle it better than your parents," Christine said firmly.
There was a long silence.
"I'm not saying this to scold you, Asha. You're an adult. I just don't think worrying about other people's relationships is going to do your own relationships any favours."
"Well, Thorek did say something along those lines. He asked me if what I wanted was based on wanting to avoid the mistakes others had made."
"You've got an observant husband. Romulans tend to do the opposite. Women and men explore sexuality and relationships thoroughly before choosing a mate for life. Not to say that Humans are different, but it's almost a tradition with Romulans. Even in the case of arranged marriages between clans of high standing, exploration with other mates is encouraged before tying the knot. It is in the clan's best interest that the marriage is steady."
Asha dropped the topic and chatted about other things with Christine, then spoke with Vekal. She felt more comfortable with him than with Christine, although she liked both of them. But Vekal seemed warmer, more patient and more willing to listen. Christine grew exasperated more quickly and "young lady-ed" her. Vekal asked questions and encouraged her to find her own answers. Christine made Asha feel like an immature teenager. She also thought that Christine was conceited about her successful marriage. In Christine's presence, she felt she had to reign in her emotions; with Vekal, she was under no emotional constraint. They had established a father-daughter relationship of sorts, and both appreciated it deeply.
Christine noticed and told her husband when they were alone in the hall: "For some reason, you two gel better than she and I."
"Rest assured, my wife, that she has spoken of you with only praise and gratitude."
"I know – she is very correct."
"You forget that you have been on Romulus for much longer, and that you have lived and loved with me through ups and downs while she is struggling to find a foothold in her marriage."
Christine nodded. "That is true, Vekal. But you have always had more patience than me."
"As demonstrated during the beginning of our marriage, do you recall, my ailhun?"
She blushed. "As if I could forget, my deyhhan."
They kissed each other lingeringly with tongues involved, and her hand stole to his backside.
"Mhhh, later tonight," he murmured to her, his eyes darkening. Asha, who had been about to enter the room, beat a hasty retreat to the classroom where she had her lessons with Rhian, not wishing to intrude on their privacy. She felt wistful about her guests' matrimonial bliss. She looked at her mehndi, now fading slowly from her skin. It was usually worn during weddings, especially by the bride, and during other festive occasions.
Each marriage was different, and comparing hers to Christine's was silly. Christine had not had an easy time of it. She and her husband had lost a child, after all. Asha left the room to rejoin her husband and guests.
