logical_hobgoblin | The Aftermath

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The Aftermath

Spock is not pleased.

Pike is not pleased.

There might not be yelling, but the silence is deafening.

Spock has been decontaminated and taken out of the suit, but he's still locked behind an airtight barrier to ensure he's not still able to infect anyone else with whatever it is he came into contact with on the planet. So far, he's not exhibiting any symptoms, but it's unknown whether that's due to humanoid biology, or Vulcanoid biology, or because the virus is ineffectual in an oxygen atmosphere.

Despite all the people poking and prodding at him, he's still working away silently on his PADD, filling out reports. He might as well make use of his time.

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He shakes his head minutely. "They will see my failure to accept their invitation as a fault of my human heritage. They will not accept that a Vulcan turned away from their ways."

Certainly, he may identify himself as Vulcan but other Vulcans do not see him that way. To them, he is human. To humans, he is indistinguishable from other Vulcans. This is why he does not belong in either society.

"Are they really so set against other species?" Yes, he's experienced the close-mindedness of Vulcans firsthand, but he had written it off as stress or something less... insulting. "I never took them for a friendly lot, but you'd expect such an advanced civilization to perhaps be a little more accepting."

"We believe in infinite diversity in infinite combinations, but I do not deny that we tend to regard deviation from what is strictly logical as somewhat... shameful. This is accepted in other species as part of their culture, and therefore something to be tolerated, but because I choose to live as a Vulcan, the standards to which I must adhere are no different from any other Vulcan."

So, in essence, he is treated as a Vulcan when it is convenient, and treated as half-human when it is not.

"And yet they still prefer to write you off as human." Pike's familiar with cognitive dissonance, willingly admits that he himself falls victim to it, but he didn't really expect it in Vulcans.

"They do so when they decide that I have behaved according to my human heritage. As it is highly unlikely a pure-blooded Vulcan would have acted in such a manner, it is understandable. However, I do not believe a pure-blooded Vulcan would have been considered at a 'disadvantage', either." He still bristles at that just the tiniest bit. His mother is not a disadvantage.

"No way to win with them? If you succeed, you're finally living up to your Vulcan heritage, and if you fail, well, that's just your human side acting up again." Man, his heart breaks a little more every time Spock shares more of his upbringing. Pike generally has a high view of Vulcans, but that sparkling image is slowly being tarnished.

"Indeed. I am currently the only Vulcan-human hybrid and also the only Vulcan hybrid of any kind currently living. I do not think they know what to do with me." Not that Spock really knows what to do with himself, either. The only person who knows is his mother. He wishes he had her surety.

"Well, luckily Starfleet likes to deal with uncharted territory." Something Vulcans do not seem to be all that into, Pike is starting to think.

Oh, Vulcans are quite fond of uncharted territory, when it's purely scientific. Dealing with highly emotional species, however, is not their forte.

"It would seem." Finally, Spock will touch his salad. He hasn't particularly felt comfortable enough to do so while talking about his past. Maybe eating will signal an end to that particular conversation.

Pike will take that hint, and they eat in silence. He's perfectly content to sit there without any conversation, so take as long as you like, Spock.

Spock is fairly methodical in eating his salad. Each forkful has an even distribution of all components so that no one particular thing gets left at the end. He also seems oblivious that an outside observer might think this silence is very, very awkward.

Pike is trying to be polite and not watch at the Vulcan while he's eating, otherwise he would have picked up on that fact. But this whole situation is weird enough without adding in creepy staring.

It's not until they've both finished and he's clearing the dishes that he speaks again. "Do Vulcans drink?"

Spock is not entirely comfortable with letting Pike clear the dishes. He is the captain. As a mere cadet, Spock should be the one to do hat, but it does not seem as if Pike's sense of 'playing host' will allow that at this particular juncture.

So, Spock simply settles himself further into his Vulcan-friendly chair and tips his head curiously at his superior officer. "I will assume that by 'drink', you are referring to the ambiguous colloquialism humans have for consuming alcohol. Vulcans can consume alcohol, but will not become inebriated by it."

Yes, he will absolutely refuse all motions of help and let Spock sit in his comfy chair more.

"You would assume correctly. No effect? I know of many humans who would like that little quirk." Well, perhaps the after effects would be more accurate. Even Pike has wanted to skip the hangover sometimes.

"Care for a martini, then? They're not as good as Dr. Boyce's, I'm afraid, but they'll do." He will actually wait for Spock to answer before dialing up a drink for him, but he's already getting one for himself.

Spock ponders on that for a moment. "Very well." There is no harm in him having a 'drink', after all, other than the excess of calories, but he can burn that off in the gym easily enough. It would be rude to decline.

He has never had a martini, either. Perhaps this will be educational.

He's a little surprised that Spock actually agrees, but he hands him the first martini out of the replicator. "Enjoy."

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The Aftermath

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