Disclaimer: See Chapter 1. Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed.

I frowned at the book in my lap, simultaneously grateful for the information it had imparted to me thus far, and irritated at its dull, dry language, and at my current predicament. Continuously, Surak made reference to things I had no context on, though whoever had translated the text had a helpful appendix that gave further insight into many of the mysteries I had come across. I had bookmarked the beginning page of it even, relying on the author to explain terms I didn't know the meaning of.

But now I found myself truly stumped, as the appendix had nothing on the term "water rituals". Did the author think we would glean the meaning from the chapter and thus, no further context was needed? What in the heck was a "water ritual" anyway? The text only made reference to it being ancient, and an intrinsic portion of Vulcan culture. No other explanation was given, and I marked the page in a huff, determined to ask Soval about it once he got home.

I glanced at my PADD, which told me the ambassador would be home in about ten minutes, if not sooner if he had concluded his work early. I leaned back into the couch, staring up at the ceiling as I pondered what parts of the chapter I did understand. Surak had gone through a litany of rituals and traditions and condemned or approved of all of them, and the ones fit for his condemnation were exceptionally bad. Slavery, forced castration, compulsory military service in terrible conditions, trafficking, sexual abuse of women and warmongering were some of the worst offenders, and I was glad such things had been eliminated from Vulcan society.

I sat up when I heard the door unlock, and I smiled brightly as my roommate strode in, absorbed in whatever was written on his PADD. My smile faltered, and I picked up the book at my side, contemplating setting it aside for another time; but Soval seemed to catch sight of me, and cast his own PADD on the table.

"Genevieve," he said, his expression noticeably brightening. I could feel my face flush. "Good afternoon. I trust your day has been productive?"

I nodded. "Yeah, I got further in the writings of Surak, and when you have time, I have questions. You don't have to do anything right now though, I know you're busy."

He narrowed his eyes at me, joining me immediately on the couch. "I am not occupied at the moment, Genevieve. You may ask your questions."

My hand cradled the book as I flipped back to the appendix, shaking my head at the tome. "I have scoured the chapter I'm in and the appendix and I've found absolutely nothing on water rituals. What's up with that? Is is something I'm not supposed to know, or...?"

Soval frowned. "It is no great secret, though I do find it odd that the author did not clarify terms. What chapter are you reading?"

"He's talking about what rituals and practices should stay as your people moved forward with logic," I replied, and I flipped back to the chapter. "Water rituals can stay, he says, so long as propriety is followed alongside it. The only thing I can glean is that it's ancient, and very common."

Soval blinked, then bowed his head. "It is quite ancient, and in Surak's time, it was common. It is seen less now that we bond our children at seven, but even if your average Vulcan would have no need of the rite, we are all taught its meaning when we are young, before our bondmates are chosen for us." He took a deep breath and fixed me with a serious stare, and I set the book in my lap, my attention intent on him.

"I have told you that water is a precious resource on my world," he continued, and I nodded. "Wars were fought for its possession, as without it, no life can continue. Every clan has access to secret wells of water, known only to the family, and the storage of water was guarded as jealously as wealth or women." His gaze drifted to the book in my lap. "These rituals were meant as a symbol of fidelity between a man and a woman, a sign of their devotion to each other. The woman would approach her chosen mate with a cup of water and present it to him, and thus signal to him that she would share her resources with him...including, though it is never explicitly said, her body."

I blinked, slightly taken aback at this revelation. "So...in many human cultures, water is seen as a symbol of life and growth...is this along the same lines as your people see it?" He nodded, and I kept going after a moment's hesitation. "And the sharing resources aspect...the woman is seen as offering that up in what, a...reproductive sense?"

He raised an eyebrow at me. "In the aspect of sharing her body? Yes, Genevieve, that is an unspoken aspect of the ritual."

I swallowed thickly and chewed my lip, trying to order my thoughts for my next batch of questions. "So...how exactly does this ritual work? Is it any woman presenting water to any man? What if she's already married? What if he's married? How does she know who's single and who's not?" I paused and realized I had hit him with multiple questions all at once, and I took a deep breath and waited for an answer.

"To answer your questions, though not in order...it would be...improper for a married woman to present water to an unbonded male in this type of ritual. I have already told you the practices for exiting a marriage, and she would have that as her recourse. As for a married woman presenting water to a guest in her home, there is a distinct difference between our water rituals and what is expected of hosts extending hospitality to guests. A married man would not conflate hospitality with an offer, and as for who is married and who is not, we can tell among ourselves. It is obvious to those who are looking closely enough, but if you are curious how an outsider would know, there is a database available to humans and our other allies that has information on every Vulcan. It lists their clan name and marital status, so if one knows where to look, it is not difficult to discern who is available and who is not. You would simply need the Vulcan's name and region of origin."

"Okay, we'll revisit that database in a little bit...just so I have this right – married woman to married man, if he's a guest in her home, it's fine." Soval nodded. "Would there be any other situation where a married woman would be giving out water? What about food service workers? Nurses?"

"They are seen as extensions of hospitality, and thus are not subject to these rules. A man would have to be desperate beyond measure to see anything more in the standard call of duty for those employed in food service or medicine." He sighed. "Even so, to prevent any unwanted attention, the owners of the establishment in question or the head doctor would likely assign a male nurse or waiter to attend to a male in said state, to make certain no rules of propriety are broken, or that anyone is tempted to break them in the first place."

"Got it," I said, and rubbed my hand over my face, trying to get everything straight in my mind. This was turning out a little more complicated than I originally intended. Maybe that's why the translator was mum on the subject. "Okay...so what we've got so far – married woman to married man, if he's a guest in her home, is fine. Married woman to unbonded man would never happen, there's other recourses for her to take. Correct?"

He simply nodded, and I took a deep breath. "Alright...so an unbonded woman to a married man – you said that would likely end in rejection, right?"

"Almost certainly," he said, punctuating his reply with a deep nod. "We hold the bond of marriage in high regard. Our eyes do not stray, nor do our thoughts linger on a woman that is not ours. It is in the best interest of society for loyalty to be at the forefront of our minds when entering a marriage bond. Any unbonded woman approaching a married man in such an instance would be dealing a grave insult to him, and to his partner. Such a thing would not happen."

"So then unbonded woman to unbonded man would just be a normal marriage proposal, right?"

He nodded. "That is the only instance where use of the water ritual aligns with propriety. To insult the bonds of marriage, to ignore its sanctity for ones own selfish wants...it disregards every teaching we have held dear since the time of the Awakening."

I nodded, taking a deep breath as I processed this new information. My thoughts drifted to my kinswomen on Vulcan, and I wondered with a pulse of panic if they had been told about these rituals. To be fair, I had learned the majority of the Vulcan adult population was married, and Soval had just reiterated how important his people held the marriage bond, but did the humans sent to Vulcan know? Surely they would have been informed, if for no other reason than to avoid insulting their hosts.

"This is obviously incredibly important to you and your people," I said finally. "But what I want to know is how your water rituals differ from simply handing someone a glass of water. I'm not sure if you've caught on to this yet, but the barest of hospitality here on Earth, or at least in this region, is starting to sound a lot like your water rituals, and I sincerely hope there's a distinction between the two. You mentioned that this ritual doesn't apply to extending some politeness to visitors in your home, right?"

"You are correct, Genevieve. I can see the thought worries you greatly, and I assure you, there is a distinct difference between the two gestures. The woman who presents water to her chosen mate declares herself and her clan, and announces her intentions before handing over the water. Simply handing another person a cup of water at, say, a dinner party or diplomatic function would not usually hold the same weight."

"Not usually, you say?" I pressed, and I could hear him swallow. His full lips parted slightly, his eyes drifting downward to the book in my lap, and he took a deep breath.

"I only ask that you not repeat what I tell you to anyone, Genevieve," he said, his tone deep and somber, his cadence slow and deliberate. I nodded, leaning a little closer, and he finally fixed his warm brown gaze on me. "This...standard of communication, these ancient rituals...they are a function of our society, a way to keep us connected to our past. This connotation between life-giving water and the life born from a woman...it is not lost on us. The connection is ingrained in our culture, almost as strongly as our psychological need for the social bonds of family."

I nodded, and his eyes grew even more intent. "But this understanding we have as a society can only take us so far," he continued. "It is built with the foundation of arranged marriages and bonds formed at an early age. No matter how hard we try to establish this foundation as universal, it is not. Mates die, Genevieve. Wives grow tired of their husbands, while others seek a celibate lifestyle in a complete embrace of logic. Not every man on my planet is afforded a wife, either by circumstance or tragedy, and so the connotation between water and life becomes...dangerous."

"In what way?" I knew his ancestors nearly tore themselves apart with their unending need for violence, but now Vulcans were pacifists, and held logic and their lofty morals above all things.

Soval sighed, then breathed in slowly. "Our...need for connection is not something that can be easily ignored. We need a mate in our life, to balance us, to provide us with companionship and family...life without that connection becomes unbearable, and a Vulcan man would do almost anything to end his unbonded status. The years alone will take their toll, and one's reason becomes...more muddled when it comes to those around us that we could possibly take to wife."

I blinked several times in succession, shaking my head slightly at this revelation. I could scarcely believe the words coming out of his mouth, him describing his own people as desperate...Vulcans always carried themselves with composure and dignity. The thought of that composure disappearing even for an instant was ludicrous, and for what? Those around us that we could possibly take to wife.

"I can see plainly on your face that you doubt me," he continued, his gaze unwavering. "I tell you this truth, Genevieve, not only as a gesture of equal exchange of information, but also that you might understand my reasoning for why I have restricted your fraternization with my staff, and why I continue forward with that policy. It was never my intention to isolate you, or to discourage any sort of cultural understanding you might gain from others in this Consulate. My reasoning was sound, because you do not realize the demographics of those in my employ." He swallowed thickly again. "Nearly seventy percent of the males housed in this Consulate are unbonded. It has been common practice to send these men to Earth, so that they will adjust more quickly to this lack of connection; being away from the majority of Vulcan females, we reasoned, would help them adapt to unbonded life until a new mate was chosen for them and they could return home."

It occurred to me that he barely had ripped his gaze from mine during this lecture, and I could feel my blood pounding in my ears.

"But, as is sometimes the case, even the most logical and well thought-out plans go awry. For what is the intangible and far-off promise of a mate on Vulcan when presented with such lovely women here? If, say, a diplomatic aide were to be assigned to doling out drinks at a function, and an unbonded man approached her, he would not see the reasonable motives of such an action. He would not think to himself 'her superior assigned her to this task, and it means nothing' or 'she is simply being kind by passing me a beverage'. I told you Vulcan men are unused to being pampered, and yet we crave it, to our detriment, it seems. I also told you Vulcan men are extremely single-minded when it comes to finding a mate. For in seeing just the facsimile of female attention, an unbonded male would take it to mean something far more personal. And once an unbonded male has fallen prey to this thought process, he will fixate on the woman in question, until his obsession eats away at him, and nothing will sate him but her by his side."

I swallowed thickly, glancing back down at the book in my lap. I took a deep breath and met his gaze once again, frowning at him. "And...this happens because human women are to your tastes? Because if they're not, I'm not sure why you're worried. I understand that you're giving me this warning, but...I was always led to believe that Vulcan men didn't...you really think it would be an issue?"

Soval narrowed his eyes, then sighed heavily. "I know my people are reserved, and have long disparaged your people's worth as allies, but I assure you...this is not a meritless concern on my part. It is...very difficult to manage a staff of this demographic, to ensure that nothing devolves into a diplomatic incident..." He sighed again, and looked at me, his expression openly weary. "Your culture teaches you to be open, to be welcoming, and that is a worthy accomplishment for humanity, and yet...how could we stand the shame if a Vulcan caused distress with his attentions towards one of your women? A Vulcan male would not easily accept no for an answer, especially if he is to the point of fixation."

I nodded, and though I had several questions, I could only bring myself to ask one. "I understand now why you put those restrictions in place, Soval, though...I do have one question."

He raised an eyebrow.

"What did you mean about being pampered, and...you said the desire for that was to your detriment? I hope you don't mean it like I think you mean it."

For a moment, I thought he might parry the question with an inquiry of his own, but then he shook his head.

"I..." He huffed and closed his eyes for a long moment, then leaned in closer, staring at me with dark eyes. "This is a long-standing difference of opinion between the sexes, a differing need for the more...carnal aspects of the marriage bond. Our women have very little, if any desire for more physically intimate displays, and that is...sometimes quite difficult to reconcile with the masculine desire for it." He relayed this quickly, and quietly, as if afraid that someone would overhear a secret, and he looked incredibly uncomfortable. I frowned at him.

"Soval," I replied softly, and he blinked ever so slowly, "not to make you uncomfortable by continuing on the topic, but...do you think it's wrong to want something more physical with your spouse?"

He breathed out harshly through his nose. "It is certainly...inconvenient, if nothing else. I do not-"

"I asked if you thought it was wrong," I insisted. "Please, let me know if this question is out of line, but it breaks my heart to think that you believe wanting intimacy is something bad. Because it's not."

His lips parted as if preparing to answer, but no words came out of his mouth. He stared at me, his eyes dark and his expression clearly shocked.

"Genevieve," he finally managed, and he bowed his head. "I do not think that is it necessarily bad...it is...illogical to wish for something that will not come to pass."

"Oh my god, don't say that!" I scooted forward on the couch and gripped both his shoulders, restraining myself from shaking him. "Listen to me, Soval." He stared at me, his breathing loud in my ears, and I took a deep breath, mustering the courage for what I was about to say. "Look, I know your customs are different from ours, but for heaven's sake...you deserve to be happy in your marriage. You deserve to have your wants and needs met by your partner. And I am so very sorry that someone has made you believe otherwise."

I could hear him swallow, and my gaze, almost against my will, flicked down to his lips. I sighed and met his eyes again; I took my hands off his shoulders at the realization that his pupils had bloomed.

"You should not say such things to me," he growled, his voice rough and low. I shook my head, staring down at my lap as I mentally tried to compose an apology, but he continued. "You forget that I too am an unbonded man."

I blinked, unconsciously shaking my head. "Wait, I haven't...I thought you said it was the facsimile of attention that was so dangerous, and I haven't offered you water...have I? You would have said something, I think."

He raised an eyebrow. "You have not offered me water, but that is not the only way you can attract a Vulcan male's attention."

I opened my mouth to ask for him to elaborate, but he held up his hand. "It is of no consequence, and I must insist that we stop our discussion on this topic...for now." The look in his eyes said this adjournment wasn't up for debate. "All that I wish is for you to maintain your distance from my staff, and obey these rules of propriety whilst you reside in this Consulate."

"Of course," I said, and I closed the book. He nodded, seemingly satisfied, but I set the book aside and pulled out my PADD. "But before we dismiss the topic entirely, could you show me that website that has everyone's marital status?"

"That would be acceptable," he said, and his posture seemed to relax now that I sat back away from him. I winced internally at the thought that I might have pressed too hard with my questions and my posture, but then, he had answered all of my questions, albeit reluctantly; I couldn't tell if my touch had any negative effect on him or not.

He pulled up the website on my PADD, walking me through the process. "And here you simply fill in the individual's name and clan, and if you have it, their region of origin. The region is not strictly necessary, but it does significantly narrow the search. Allow me to demonstrate."

I watched over his shoulder as he typed in Timok's name, then a name that consisted of far too many consonants, and picked Shi'Kahr from the drop-down menu as his region of origin. Timok's profile picture filled the top half of the screen, and I skimmed over his basic information as Soval scrolled down.

"So here you can see his name and clan, which is one of the most important identifiers for a Vulcan. Clicking the link there will take you to the clan page," – here he pointed to the correct button – "and here you can see his wife's name, and her clan of origin. If you had clicked on her profile first, it would show the same thing in reverse, and list Timok and his clan under the 'Spouse' category."

I nodded along and took the PADD back from him, and I quickly typed in the two pieces of information I had.

I could feel Soval draw closer as I looked over his official profile. His photo, though stale and bureaucratic, was still surprisingly flattering. As I scrolled down past his picture, my eyes fell immediately on the 'Spouse' category.

It was empty.

"She died of a heart condition," he said softly, his voice hardly above a whisper as he relayed this to me. "If you search in Vulcan records, you would find her name and the year we were bonded, and the year of her death, but on this page, the translators thought it enough to simply leave the category empty. Suffice it to say, I am unbonded, and you should take care to treat men like me properly, for your own safety."

"I'm not sure I understand this completely," I said, but I put my PADD away. "That being said, I will certainly take your advice. And simply refrain from handing out water."

"That would be the wisest course of action." He sighed and rose from the couch. "I must work on dinner now, Genevieve. I hope I have impressed on you the gravity of these rituals, and have seen to your education in a sufficient manner."

I nodded and offered him a wan smile, and he turned to his work in the kitchen as I stared at the book in my lap, silently absorbing everything he had said.

More than enough evidence had been presented to suggest that humans were more appealing to Vulcans than I could have ever imagined. All my life, I had thought we were too emotional, too volatile, too...alien to ever tempt such stoics, and yet Soval had implied that if a Vulcan man so much as dreamt a woman of Earth to be slightly interested, it was a done deal in his mind. And then what? Vulcans bonded for life, or at least that was what I had learned in my youth. Mates die, Genevieve. Wives grow tired of their husbands, while others seek a celibate lifestyle in a complete embrace of logic. Not every man on my planet is afforded a wife.

I had so many more questions, and I was both pleased and confused as to why Soval revealed that information to me, especially when it seemed so confidential. He was obviously quite concerned with my safety and well-being, but the information he had divulged, the way he had told me...this was far more than simple concern. Even my most stubborn thoughts had to concede the point, and I couldn't deny that the conversation we had shared was deeply intimate, and meant more than I knew at this time.

My mind was spinning with everything I had learned, and I couldn't concentrate on it fully to puzzle out what all of this meant. Soval meant more than what he had let on with this information, that much I knew in my heart of hearts. And it felt like the answers to all of my questions, about this exchange and our new outlook with the Vulcans, were dancing right in front of me, just beyond my reach, but so close I could taste it. The itch of all these riddles rankled me, and my gut instinct said that this lecture was a part of the mystery somehow.

I sighed quietly to myself, watching Soval work away in the kitchen, and I promised myself that I would come to some sort of understanding before the exchange was over.