Star Trek: Eventide 777

[PADD] To: Men From: Alizati

Would you be available to come to my quarters? I have been experimenting with a recipe of my own I would like to you try.

[PADD] To: Alizati From: Men

I would be extremely amenable to this. I will be over in less than ten minutes.

Alizati appeared at Men's quarters, dressed in his uniform. Even though he was technically off duty, they would be leaving for Mol'Rihan soon and he assumed uniform would probably be best, right? He wasn't quite sure what the Romulan immigration would be looking for, but Federation standard uniform was a safe bet. He rang the bell and awaited his beloved Vulcan to answer.

Men didn't have a uniform to wear, so he was in a plain black jeans and white T-shirt combo. Man had the fashion sense of a generic background NPC. However, his room was much more decorated in much the same minimalistic yet appealing way as the restaurant was: pictures of sand dunes, succulents, a lyre in the corner. In the corner, there was a large enclosure with a log, soil, fallen leaves and other appropriate decorations for frog enrichment, and said frog sitting there looking squishy, red and furious at the world. There were also jars on shelves and surfaces containing small collections of things: herbs, spices, jam, origami stars, beads, small gems, self-sealing stem bolts. Every jar had something different within it; it was ss though a very organised magpie lived here. "Computer, open door," Men said, putting a small shell into a jar of small shells. (edited)

When the door opened he stepped to be greeted by a warm breeze. Immediately his eyes found Men, his Ilhra e'lev. He moved slowly as he closed the gap between the two of them, his gaze unwavering. "Men," He murmured under his breath, stopping right before getting too close. No touching, well, not yet His darling's quarters were just as he expected; minimally decorated, spice jars on the wall. Despite his eyes only being on Men, he had scanned the room upon entrance. Sand dunes of course, some jars filled with shells and other trinkets, it was all very Men. "May I?" He offered his hand, palm up, for Men to hold. There was a part of him that did not want to go to Mol'Rihan, that wanted to stay on the familiar station. Men did not like change and Alizati , well, he was content to stay where they were. His expression was stoic as always, his movements graceful as he kept mindfulness of his space with each and every action.

Men gently held Alizati's palm as soon as it was offered. His movements, too, were graceful. Every time he and Alizati interacted, it was like they were dancing. "Jolan tru, Ilhra," Men said, Rihannsu in his usual strong Vulcan accent. "Would you like to meet Gwa?" From a corner of the room, where the enclosure of the fat little frog was, a sound came: 'gwaaa', much like his name. Men did not know what pokemon was, but if he did, he'd make a joke about the little frog being just like one.

"Jolan tru," Alizati spoke back in a soft whisper, his fingers wrapping around Men's. Smooth skin contrasting with his partner's more calloused fingers, he adored each of the man's features. The way his glasses sat on the birdge of his nose, the silky texture of his hair as it gently blew under the breeze of the vents in the room. Men was no android, but there was more to beauty than textbook perfection. Mechanical eyes focused on the enclosure in the corner of the room when the question was asked. "Gwa? A pet?" He assumed such as very soon the low 'gwa' sound emanated through the otherwise quiet room. It was amazing how little noise two Vulcans could make, two Vulcans who were also passionately in love. But in a way, Alizati found their soft whispers and subtle movements just as powerful as other species' more flamboyant rituals. Peacocks on earth danced, Klingons screamed, but him and Men exchanged glances across Snacks, held hands when together in private, and shared tender kisses under the starlight. "An animal from the family Bufonidae. More specifically of the genus Vulcanis Bombina, this one is commonly known as the Redspice Desert Rain Frog, intriguing," He said as he looked over the creature in the enclosure, not showing any emotion but he was clearly very fascinated. Dzharok was an environmental scientist and Alizati was a farmer, he had a lot of interest in organic life. One cannot become what one does not know, right?

"A correct and detailed assessment," Men said, leading Alizati closer to the enclosure by the hand. "It is one of the... Pieces of home I bring with me wherever I go. Not that I'll be bringing it to Mol'Rihan, however." Obviously he'd arranged a frogsitter in the meantime. But who? Who knows. Men looked around at his room. His suitcase on the sofa, half-packed. His many jars. He would miss his little collections, but maybe he could find something new to collect on Mol'Rihan. "You are very knowledgeable. I find it quite... Attractive." Men squeezed Alizati's hand and looked away, blushing. You'd think after doing what they did in the back rooms he'd become a little less shy about saying this kind of thing, but no. It was partially because, even though he was technically older than Alizati was, he really had no experience with a genuine relationship. In fact, taking into account the memories Jarok had of his own previous trust bonds with men, though Men didn't know about them yet, Alizati had more experience than he did, in a way. Unless you counted Yuheng and maybe Linclaith, but nothing ever came of that in the end. Men just hadn't been ready yet - but he was now, after so many decades. Men looked over at Alizati again. Knowledge was attractive, but you know what else was? His pretty eyes and pouty lips and the ridges he'd added recently. Men reached up and traced one of them with the tips of his fingers, from the middle Alizati's brow to his temple; then his touch wandered to Alizati's cheek, to his ear, brushing the pointy tip gently, then down his neck and finally, resting on the nape of Alizati's neck. He was just... Reaching out and touching Alizati, confirming he exists and enjoying the feeling of it. He supposed that was why most intelligent species felt so unwell when deprived of touch - it let you know you weren't alone in the universe, that other people were as alive as you were.

"I admire your dedication to preserving your roots. It is one of your many charms," Alizati said slowly, pondering his own words after he said them. Men was someone who never wanted to forget where he came from, he wore his Vulcan identity proudly. Perhaps their time together would help Alizati learn to embrace who he truly was too instead of just trying to.. delete what didn't fit into his 'ideal' image. He looked back to Men and noticed him turn his head after he squeezed his hand. Seeing the other get embarrassed was actually quite... cute. He blinked a few times before Men turned his head again and began to trace lines on his face. Without even realising it, Alizati softened his normal stoic expression as he felt the other's fingers against his skin. A simple touch, but it meant everything. He wished he had telepathy, to be able to share his thoughts and feelings with Men would be wonderful. No telepathy, but perhaps communicating like this was just as beautiful. Alizati's soft expression with Men's shaking pearl aqua coloured eyes. "Men, may I kiss you?" He asked as he lifted Men's chin with his free hand.

Men nodded, and when Alizati, presumably, leaned in and kissed him, he kissed back with a sort of gentle fervor; passionate, but restrained. For now. The hand that had been on the nape of Alizati's neck became tangled in his hair, ruffling its neatness in a way that certainly didn't make him any less alluring, and as he kissed him he got closer and closer unconsciously, pressing against Alizati as though he were trying to meld with him physically instead of mentally. He stopped only briefly to gasp for breath (because he was, at the end of the day, an organic being) and to whisper, "Jol-ao au," Before he went back under again for as long as Alizati would let him, then pulled away again to mumble, "Ilhra, I've never kissed anyone besides you... I hope I am performing adequately," Flushed green all the way up to his ears and down his neck.

He closed h is eyes when their lips touched and the universe melted away. It was a sensation he didn't even know he could feel. From his toes to his finger tips it felt like all of the stars in the sky were dancing over his skin. He wrapped his arms around the other's waist as they continued to kiss. Every kiss they shared, every it of skinship felt like a breath of fresh air. As if all of the passion that both Dzharok and Alizati had been holding back finally had a place to go and he couldn't have been more satisfied. He opened his eyes when Men broke the kiss, remembering for a second that organic beings needed to breath, unlike androids. All he could think about in that moment was how beautiful Men's eyes were under the lights of the room and how green his lips were from kissing. Alizati was sure his face was just as green as Men's. His face may have been expressionless, but his passion reflected clear as moonlight in his eyes. His eyes fluttered shut when Men went back to kissing him, but this time Alizati held back a little less. He tightened his hold around the man's waist before they parted lips once again and Men spoke. "You are my first too, not Jarok's, but mine. Feelings are illogical but I feel comfortable kissing you, e'lev, Jol-ao au," He spoke softly to match Men's tone. His voice was airy and breathy, it was easy to forget he was an android. From the way his eyes watered, his heartbeat, even the way the tips of his ears blushed with his cheeks, it was as if Alizati was organic. In many ways he felt like he was, moreso now than any other time in the 35 years since his activation.

Men wrapped his arms around Alizati's shoulders. "It's not technically true, but I like to think you were my first in... Other ways, too..." Of course, him and Haem had done things like that, but it was strictly for the purpose of reproduction or getting Pon Farr out of the way, and entirely without passion. But with Alizati it was... Expression. Indulgence. Things he would never allow himself to have with anyone else. And if they did that kind of thing again now, no longer restricted by the environment of Surak Snacks, and with Alizati's new memories... Would it be passionate with him, now that he knew he was Romulan, too? He glanced over to his bedroom door. They were very alone now. "If you would like, you could also be my second. And my third, and my fourth, and..." Men smiled in a subtle, sheepish fashion. "Ah, you understand what I mean, Ilhra. I can be quite superfluous when I am nervous, evidently."

My second, and my third and my fourth,, as if Alizati wasn't already greener than a jade statue. In fact, he could easily have passed for a Jade statue with the lack of movement in his face. He could feel the warmth from Men's body as he continued to hold him so tightly. As if at any moment the they could both disappear--, "E'lev," He murmured softly before he noticed the other glancing at the bedroom door. Oh how he wanted to just pick Men up right there and carry him away. It was a new sensation, to be so in love with someone. His eyes stayed focused on Men, noticing how the lights from above washed over the man's silhouette, giving him his own halo of light. He had never seen a being more beautiful. There was nothing else mattered, not work, not the looming shore leave with his grandchildren, nothing; only Men. Alizati tried to find the words to say next, but all he could do was kiss Men once more. His eyes closed and once again he felt his body temperature rise. His internal cooling systems did not seem to be under stress, keeping his skin only a few degrees under the average Vulcan's body temperature. When their lips parted once more he whispered, "Yes, I will. Until all the stars in the sky fall, to the ends of the Milky Way, Jol-ao au." And with that said, he let go of Men and just held his hand to lead him to the bedroom.

The lid of Gwa's enclosure was open as Men lowered some small wriggling larvae into the enclosure in front of Gwa. They were directly in front of Gwa's face, but he simply kept staring... Until he shot out his little tongue at one! And missed. And he tried again! And missed. Again! Missed. He finally got the little baby bug into his mouth, and though Men would have normally have tried to stop himself from enjoying the encounter too much because that would be An Emotion, he actually giggled slightly. Weird. Of course, since he was still a follower of Surak that was about as expressive as he was going to get, but still, for a Vulcan to giggle was quite the oddity! (edited)

After receiving a string of odd reports, Alizati had actually been looking forward to ending his shift. He arrived at Men's quarters, dressed in his normal work uniform-- although this time he was not wearing his work trousers, it was the Starfleet Shorts™️ that Allan had so kindly made for him. He was typically against such attire whilst on duty, but he had to fish around the lakes and ponds area to run some environmental diagnostics on one of the latest rain storm programmes. Naturally it would be illogical to wear trousers that would hinder his movement when wet. So here he was, he chimed the bell and waited. He wondered how Gwa was doing, this was around his feeding time.

Men asked the door to open and then as soon as it slid open he threw his arms around Alizati and hugged him, uncaring of the people in the corridor who might see. "Hello, Alizati. You look, as Allan might say, 'hot as hell' in those shorts. I am feeding Gwa right now; come look, it is hilarious." Then he led Alizati by the hand to watch Gwa miss the larvae over and over again, smiling in amusement as he did.

Alizati was taken by surprise at the sudden embrace, how bold of Men, but he couldn't say he disliked it. However there were people in the corridor and such open displays of affection between Vulcans was not proper. He stepped into the room and let Men lead him by the hand over to Gwa's enclosure. 'It is hilarious', was something he never thought he'd hear Men say. Hilarious? Laughter? Fun? That was... Odd. "Gwa looks well, however it seems he needs to improve his aim, it is... Amusing," Alizati said as he stared at the little red rock frog in the enclosure trying to grab the larvae. "Are you well, Men?" Had he been fully Vulcan he may not have asked that question, but his Romulan intuition was telling him there was something wrong.

"I'm fine." It was like the usual fear and shame he had to Surak away when he was with Alizati just wasn't there any more. Instead, he felt proud. And why wouldn't he be? He loved Alizati a lot, and Alizati loved him, and that was beautiful! It was why humans had that celebration in July, wasn't it? He let go of Alizati's hand briefly so he could put the lid back on the enclosure (Gwa squeakily yelled because he didn't like the noise, then went back to failing at being a frog), then turned around and grabbed Alizati by both hands. "Alizati, I changed my mind about what I want to do tonight. I want to go on a date. Somewhere in the promenade. A restaurant other than my own. I need to do research into diverse cuisine, anyway."

Alizati's Romulan senses were tingling when he heard the other say he was fine. Men was usually very cautious around him, even if they were alone. Alizati was not going to weave crazy theories, he was too Vulcan for that, but he was going to be cautious and stay alert. The squeak from Gwa pulled Alizati away from his thoughts for just a moment. And then Men turned and grabbed his hands, another very bold move. He kept his expression neutral as the other spoke. A date, in public? "We may do whatever you wish. Are you sure you would like to go on a date in the Promenade? If you are, you should bring your noise cancelling device," He held Men's hand and looked at him with a bit of concern in his eyes now.

"I will bring it." He dug the headphones out of a nearby drawer and put them around his neck, then held Alizati's hands again. "I mean, think about it - we went to the ball together, in front of many people, and nobody minded, and we had a good time. There is no reason we cannot reproduce those conditions again. I doubt anyone on this station will tell on me to my wife. That would be illogical." Nonetheless, it was an illogical fear he usually had, but not today, apparently.

Alizati's worry for Men decreased when the other explained his logic to him. It was true, they were not exactly subtle at the ball and it was nice to be able to spend time together as a couple without having to hide. Although there was a part of him who worried that there may be rumors when they saw the owner of Surak Snacks and the Chief Engineer so close. However they were just going to go and try some food, if anything perhaps people would think they were just friends, two Vulcans hanging. "Your logic is sound. Then let us proceed on our date, where did you want to go?" Alizati looked at their joined hands and then at Men. Perhaps nothing was really wrong and Men had just enjoyed their time at the ball together. Romulans were a highly paranoid race, everything was just in his head, it was all Dzharok's fault.

"...I have no idea." Going out to a new place in a completely impulsive, unplanned fashion? Keep in mind this was the same hermit who was barely ever seen outside of his own restaurant until fairly recently. He wrapped his arms around Alizati's shoulders. Not actually that out of character since Men could be quite affectionate when they were alone. "Waffle House, Kittea Cafe, and Gliqqigug's Coffee are ones I have heard good things of."

A light green blush crept across his cheeks when Men wrapped his arms around him. He was so in love, and Men was too. This would be their second time going out in public together. The ball was enjoyable, logic dictated that this outing would be no different. If anything it would be better as they would have more freedom to explore and not be confined to just the events hall. "How about Gliqqigug's?" Alizati suggested having already been there so he could confirm that it was good. He was interested in checking out the other places, however for their first date he thought a quieter place would be best. "And... Perhaps I should change into something a little nicer than just my work uniform and shorts."

"I would like it if you did. Should we visit your quarters first, then Gliqqigug's?" Obviously, Men didn't have Alizati's clothes here. Actually... "We should file a request to share quarters. That was inconveniences like this will be avoided. Oh, but I should change, too. Give me a moment." Men walked towards his bedroom, then paused. "Actually, I see no reason why you cannot be in my presence while I change. It is nothing you have not seen before." A technically true and logical statement, but then he winked. "I will need some help picking something out, too."

Request to share quarters, certainly that would be logical however... To be so direct about, that caught him by surprise. "I will send a request to OPS about changing quarters," Alizati replied. He had long been considering it, but he also worried that if Men's wife came to visit she would certainly have questions about why Men, a civilian, was sharing quarters with a Starfleet Officer. The chief of engineering no less. Well, it wasn't like OPS could move their quarters over night. Until he could confirm this change in attitude was purely a development in character and not linked to the strange reports from engineering he would hold on the request. Alizati was going to let Men go and change in private and that's when something truly odd happened. Men was not only asking Alizati to join him, but he winked? Something was surely wrong and he had to say something. "Men," The android stepped closer and looked straight into Men's eyes. "Are you sure you are not unwell? There is some news from work I wish to share with you first."

"I'm fine, I told you. Am I being too scandalous for you? It's hardly any worse than the back rooms." Again, a logical statement, and yet still bold of him to even mention it. "Tell me this news if you wish, but I doubt it will change my mind. I no longer wish to hide you... or us."

Alizati nearly started breathing when Men mentioned the back rooms. Scandalous? Men... No longer wishing to hide their relationship? Alizati the Vulcan didn't know what to think of this 'new Men', but Alizati the Romulan was actually enjoying this even if it did seem suspicious. "Your logic is correct," He was not going to deny that what they did in the back rooms of Snacks was ten times more scandalous than Men changing in front of him-- but still the wink was strange. "Today I received a lot of reports from officers making careless mistakes. What is strange is it seems the typically diligent officers are the ones making these mistakes. At first I thought it was how I scheduled shifts, perhaps I was overworking my officers, however I noticed a performance increase from my typically underperforming officers. It is bizarre, today is turning out to be quite the adventure," He blinked a couple times to try and calm the shaking in his eyes. "I only ask if you are alright because I am concerned you feel overworked. You do not have to force yourself to act this way for me. It is true I have wanted to be more open, but I will not look at you any differently if you still wish to keep our relationship a secret, e'lev," Alizati switch to Rihannsu for this bit as there was no way he could properly express such an emotion with their native Vulcan.

Men tilted his head slightly and walked towards Alizati again so that he could cup his face as he switched to Rihannsu. "Ilhra, I am not forcing myself to act any way. I simply want to to be proud of us. Besides, everyone we run into seems to be able to tell we're together, especially in the many moments we cannot keep our hands off one another. We are only delaying the inevitable by hiding it."

Alizati rested his hands on Men's hips and looked at him with a loving expression. Alizati the Romulan had won this time and he allowed himself to actually show some emotion. "You are right. Many of our friends are already aware of our relationship and I am sure our presence at the ball did not go unnoticed," Because they were both incredibly tall, but also because seeing Vulcans at a party of any kind was always a sight to see. "So you needed help picking out an outfit?" Perhaps whatever was going on with engineering was just an isolated incident. Maybe he had jumped to conclusions and tried to connect unrelated events. Occams razor, the explanation that makes the least amount of assumptions is correct.

Men smiled subtly, but warmly. Not a common expression on him, but certainly more common when he and Alizati were alone, so it was hard to judge whether it was unusual. "I do." Then he put both his hands on Alizati's cheeks and kissed him deeply before breaking away so that he could lead Alizati to the door by the hand into his room. His wardrobe was not particularly ornate, but was a pleasing burgundy shade of wood, and inside were... Not a particularly wide selection of clothing, honestly, mostly black trousers, white formal shirts, robes, and a few fun Hawaiian shirts obviously inspired by Alizati. Frog-patterned, cactus-patterned, and one that had patterns of jam jars in all different colours - a very niche design.

Men's smile was beautiful, more radiant than the sun. Certainly one of the wonders of the galaxy, Alizati thought. They had agreed to go on a date to the promenade, but then why was Men kissing him so passionately. He was flustered, very flustered, but in a good way. He could really get used to this change of heart. Then Men led him by the hand to his room where he had his wardrobe filled with not very much. No surprise, Alizati's closet was filled with uniforms and hawaiin shirts so he was not going to judge. He did enjoy the frog patterned shirts though, was this his impact? "Is that Gwa?" Alizati pointed to one of the frog-patterned shirts. How... Cute, was that the right word? It made him wonder if he should get a Furberus patterned shirt for himself. Maybe he could ask Dion or Allan.

"That is Gwa," Men confirmed. "Dion helped design these specific patterns and then we put them into the replicator to my measurements. I also need to bring a pair of Starfleet Uniform shorts to Allan so I can match you, but I do not have one." The same man who went green as an unripe tomato when Allan, Dion and Risren first walked into his restaurant in those shorts was now calmly discussing putting them on. Growth of character or growth of a bacterial disease? Who knows. "Is the Gwa shirt your preference?"

"That is quite a creative design. Perhaps I will ask Dion for help making a Furberus one," The two of them reppin' their pets, couple goals. "I would be pleased if you wore the Gwa shirt. I believe the red colour suits you," Was the most Vulcan way to say he thought Men looked good in red. Was it because red was the colour of matrimony in Asian cultures? Perhaps. Or maybe he just genuinely liked Men in red. "I would not be opposed to you wearing matching shorts with me. I think you will find them quite comfortable," He may have not agreed that the shorts were suitable for daily wear when one worked in engineering, but there were times where shorts were a more logical option than the trousers. Like today when he was in the environmental ring. "I have a similar style shirt, but with falcons," Alizati began to think what he had in his own wardrobe that would match the Gwa shirt.

"A Furberus one would be a good idea. I believe red suits you as well. In fact, if you were ever in an unbuttoned red shirt and shorts, I believe I would find it quite appealing." A very Vulcan way of saying 'you'd look sexy in that'. Men's bold streak continued. Men picked out the Gwa shirt, some plain black trousers and shoes, and then just got changed right there and then, quite nonchalantly, though perhaps a little... Slower and with more eye contact than was necessarily needed. Then he stood before Alizati, all dressed up in his froggy shirt. "Is it still to your preference?"

Alizati actually took a deep breath when he heard that. He was sure his face was now completely green, his automated liquid cooling system was working overtime to try and cool his body temperature down. Men was bold, very bold, could he really go out in public when he was blushing so much? He never thought as an android he would feel so attracted to another person, but there he was... Watching Men get dressed. Was the other purposefully taking a longer time to tease him? Alizati really had to work hard to keep his expression neutral, but Men would have surely noticed the slight smile across his face when the other finished getting dressed. "You are always my preference, e'lev," If Men was going to be bold, Alizati was going to too. He took a step closer to Men and took his hands. "You look beautiful."

Men smiled once more, took a step even closer, then... Pushed Alizati over onto the bed behind him, climbed on top and, if Alizati was down for it, made out with him for at least five minutes. He did actually want to see Alizati try on some clothes and then go on that date, though, so he stopped before things got too spicy. "You, too, look beautiful, Ilhra," Men said, still above Alizati, "Especially like this." His expression almost looked like... A smirk. Assertive, confident, dominant... It was like he was possessed by Dion. Then he got up and stood by the door. "Follow, Ilhra; I'd like to see that falcon shirt."

Alizati did not move when Men took another step towards him. He assumed Men was going to kiss him or maybe touch his face, but no, the next second later he was laying on his back with Men on top of him. Was Men actually part Romulan? Naturally Alizati was not going to deny him what his mind had been thinking this whole time. It had the same feeling as when they were in Snacks, although Men was more... Dominating. Alizati liked this side of him, well Romulan Alizati did, Vulcan Alizati was still in shock. "E'lev, don't say things like that or we'll never go on our date," He had to take a few breaths after all of that. His internal temperature was now closer to what an organic Vulcan's was. Maybe this new Men wasn't so strange after all, he recalled being similarly... Overly passionate after unlocking Dzharok's memories. He stood up and followed Men to the door. "Alright, let's go," What was next? Holding hands in public? Romulan Alizati sure wanted to do that.

Holding hands in public it was indeed! As Men took Alizati by the hand and led him into #lower-habitat-corridor, he said, "Good things come to those who wait."

[D] After the cure had been distributed, Alizati returned to work as usual. Not that anything for him was different, he was unaffected. However his boyfriend was and as soon a his shift was over he headed to the lower habitat ring. He remembered that one Romulan OPS officer had invited him to the holodeck, however checking on Men was his priority. Alizati never knew what to do in holodecks anyway. Dressed in his uniform, same as always, he chimed the bell and waited a reply. He hoped Men was not too shaken by the effects of the virus like a few of his officers were.

Men opened the door quite normally: perfect posture, blank expression, making as much eye contact as he usually preferred to, which was to say not much. The most significant thing was that he was already, seemingly before he even opened the door, as green as an unripe peach. "Alizati. Come in. I was jsut tending to Gwa." And there he was, the plump little Gwa in his enclosure, yelling at Alizati as soon as he came in from inside his little water bathing dish, like an angry man in a hot spring.

Alizati half expected to be greeted with an embrace and passionate kiss, but that was not the case with Men having returned to his normal mental state. He did however notice how green his boyfriend was and thought it was cute. Not a kiss, but he was still pleased. He looked at Gwa who was in his enclosure, the plump little frog seemed to be enjoying his time in his bathing dish. Was it really enjoying it? It wasn't like Gwa had a very wide range of expressions, much like Vulcans. "Gwa looks well," Alizati said before he turned his attention to Men. Lack of eye contact, shy demeanour, the man was back to his old self. Or at least it seemed so on the surface. "How are you? A few of my officers are still feeling after effects from the virus, I wondered if you felt the same," Men was only affected for a couple days but those days were surely something different. Alizati was thankful things had seemingly returned to normal, but there was a part of him that wanted to relive those few day again.

"Residual effects... No, I am back to my usual self." Unlike certain others, usually had quite a stable sense of self, at times to his own detriment. He was a reserved, very Vulcan cook, and he was unable to bend these traits in environments wherein it might be advantageous to do so. That was why he preferred to construct environments such as his room and his restaurant to his preferences and rarely ventured out of them. He moved across the room and sat on the sofa, facing Gwa. He looked tired, and not just because neither of them had really slept that much the last few nights, taking advantage of his Vulcan sleep cycle and Alizati's absence of need for sleep altogether. "I am sorry if my behaviour was... Too much." Not that he hadn't also really enjoyed himself. Actually, he really missed being that way. Not just because he'd been bold enough to ask for all the things he wanted to ask for and do all the things he wanted to do, but because that version of him had been... At peace with Sain and T'Bel's death. Able to talk about them, even. As soon as that gas had 'cured' him he had felt the grief set in again. He was, Illogically, resentful of all the hard work the medical department had done to turn him back to his normal self.

Back to his usual self, that was a relief. Although Vulcan mind were stronger than their other humanoid counterparts. A disciplined mind was capable of abilities far beyond imagination and even Vulcans weren't as 'awakened' as some may think. There was still so much about the Vulcanoid mind left to unlock. Alizati followed Men across the room and sat beside him on the sofa, shoulders barely touching. Things were going to be back to the way they were now, weren't they? He noticed the tired look on the other's face, was the shame returning? The grief about his children? Alizati could only speculate, but given the fact that the other was apologising to him, he had a feeling he was right. "No, it wasn't," He spoke softly as he rested his hands on his knees. "I enjoyed the last few days. You're so beautiful, Men, especially your confidence" His dark eyes focused on the embodiment of grace sitting right beside him. He opened his hand, palm up, for Men to take if he so wished to. "I felt like i was falling in love all over again, although I will admit I feel like that whenever I see you," Was it too cheesy to say that? Alizati nor Dzharok had ever loved so passionately. Alizati didn't even know he was capable of feeling such emotion. Strange how a bunch of lines of code and a series of sub routines could produce such an organic feeling.

Yep, the shame and the grief were returning. He'd learned to sort of tune out the shame whenever he made an affectionate gesture towards Alizati, but now that he'd experienced multiple days of just being able to love purely and fully, shame's presence was ever more noticeable. It was like being in pain your whole life and then experiencing a day without it; now he had a comparison as to what things could be like were he not... Himself. Men swallowed back sudden tears and took Alizati's hand, still not looking at him. "Thank you, Alizati, but... That was not my confidence. It was the disease." He sighed; in his enclosure, Gwa's whiny croaks almost sounded sympathetic. "Did you... Prefer me that way?"

Alizati slowly curled his fingers around Men's hand. A moment of silence passed as thre android pondered his response to the other's question. Although Men had returned to his normal state, he had clear memories of how he was and Alizati could only imagine what effect that had on his already turbulent mind. "You were indeed under the inlfuence of a neuro virus. As exciting as it was for both of us, I would not wish for you to be sick again. I love you as you are and next time when you are bold and confident, I would like that to be from your own free will, not a virus," Alizati was trying not to look at Men, he knew how much prolonged eye contact made him nervous. At the same time it was almost impossible to look away when the man was so incredibly beautiful. His delicate features, the way his silky black hair framed his face. Confidence or not, virus or not, he loved Men and if Men were to look into his eyes now he would see it.

Next time. But would there be a next time? He had gotten more bold and confident since meeting Alizati, but only really around Alizati. "...I preferred myself that way," He muttered, sounding small and pathetic. He looked up at Alizati then, at his sharp chin and brow, green eyeshadow and lips, and though he was not good at analysing facial expressions or bodily cues, he could read the love in Alizati's beautifully dark eyes. Alizati, similarly, would see love, shame and grief. He kissed Alizati on the cheek and then leaned on his shoulder. Give him some credit, though - he'd also a started leaving his quarters and restaurant more in general since he met Alizati. Was he capable of becoming braver on his own without the help of a virus? He wasn't sure. He would definitely need Alizati's help if he hoped to change. And he would need another kind of help, too... "Alizati... I think... I once took Sain to see a human therapist because it was what was best for him. Logically, since I am experiencing a similar emotional instability and Vulcan techniques have not worked for the sixty decades of my life, I may also need to do that. Perhaps a half human one would be best. I want to learn how humans express love and grief without shame. But for a Vulcan to ask a human for help with emotional issues..." He grimaced, an unusual expression on him. "I know it's wrong of me, but it feels humiliating. Like admitting defeat. Like Surak wasn't enough."

With his mind clear, Men still chose his virus counterpart to his normal one? This was interesting, however perhaps he should have expected such a response. Men was happy, truly happy. Without any other care, no shame, no weight of grief on his shoulders. It was as if he had been let free of his cage, they both were. Although Men had an excuse, Alizati's actions the past couple of days were all his own. When their eyes met that's when Alizati saw all of the emotions that had trapped Men for so long, his shame, his grief, but there was also love reflected in his gaze. The eye contact only last a few seconds before Men kissed his cheek and leaned on his shoulder. One advantage to being an android was his literal photographic memory. He could replay all of the moments him and Men made eye contact whenever he wanted and he would remember it perfectly. The oxidised copper colour of his irises mixed with a soft expression, even in his shame, he was beautiful to Alizati. "It is alright to seek help," Alizati told Men, gently squeezing his hand. "I think seeing a therapist would be logical. The mind is a complex organ and even Surak did not understand all of its intricacies. If you would like, I could accompany you," Alizati had never gone to therapy, it was illogical for an android. However he would do whatever it took to help Men find his own confidence without a personality altering virus.

"If you came... Yes, I think that would help. Logically, I will need to deal with my shame now that... I'm sure the whole station knows we are together by now," Men said, looking away. Ah, the consequences of shame-free Men's actions were now upon him. He wished some of that bravery had lingered so he wouldn't have to feel nervous about people knowing, especially any Vulcans. They may pretend otherwise, but they gossiped as much as humans did. The things he'd overheard in his own restaurant... "It is simply... Difficult. I am not half Romulan like you, so I have no 'excuse', per se. I feel if I seek help, they will say I've betrayed my people and marched under the raptor's wings myself." But was that really such a bad thing? Didn't he take inspiration from the foods of other cultures to improve his own? Didn't he hire staff that were non-Vulcans because he wanted people to feel welcome in his culture? Who said multiculturalism was only for hybrids?

The whole station definitely knew they were together, especially the poor security officer who was tasked with watching the security footage during their transit. Alizati was not going to mention the security footage, but he wondered if Men still wanted a copy. "Perhaps it is because I am Romulan, but I do not see a problem with marching under the raptor's wings," Actually, Alizati had always thought that. Before and after regaining his memories. He may not have admitted it, but he had always been fascinated by how Romulans could live their lives with such passion. Dzharok shared his sentiments. "You are Vulcan, but your existence is not without the inspiraton from other races too. You have a Romulan son, a Reman waiter at your restaurant, and you interact with species from around the galaxy every day. You are not betraying Surak by seeking advice from outsiders. Infinite diversity in infinite combinations is the essence of the galaxy, if anything seeking to blend non-Vulcan and Vulcan culture and practises together is the most Vulcan thing you could do."

Men did still want a copy to watch with Alizati in a strange self-voyeuristic fashion, but he would never admit it unless asked. "I see. How very logical of you to say." He certainly couldn't refute it. Men sighed, still looking tired, but less so. "But until then, I have to get used to the burden of these emotions again. Sometimes I wish Vulcan emotions were not so strong; it is an endless and thankless task to manage them. How Romulans do it, I am not sure. How do you do it? Did you inherit the same emotional intensity as Dzharok, or did your creator program you otherwise?"

"My purpose was for romantic companionship so if anything, I believe my emotions are stronger than Dzharok's, but he did have quite intense emotions," Alizati explained, recalling his creation and life in the Daystrom Institute. He remembered the sounds, the lights, the people he would see, the unending cycle of loneliness he would feel. Unlocking Dzharok's memories not only unlocked the life of the strange Vulcan scientist, but also those eight years he spent in Okinawa. "Dzharok did not control his emotions well and his dreams were taken from him because of it," But Alizati suspected his predecessor being kicked out of the VSA was more about spacism and keeping a clean image than his occasional display of emotion. "He spent his whole life trying to master the teachings of Surak, but emotional suppression was also what drove him to his death. Perhaps if he had chosen beneath the raptor's wings he would have found the peace he was looking for," Which also explained why Alizati was so open to the idea. Ironically, having his memories unlocked made him realise continuing to live life as if he were purely Vulcan was illogical. Dzharok followed that path and it ended his family.

Ah, yes, Dzharok getting booted from VSA because of his emotions. Men still wasn't sure what to make of that they had that in common. Actually, they both had nystagmus, too. Thematic parallels? It was almost like he existed in some kind of... Fictional scenario. "Well, but... How do you do it? You're a Vulcan and a Romulan. If there's anyone who understands how to march beneath the raptor's wings while still following Surak, it's you. For me, well... As much as I always tried to keep V'Lilyn connected to his Romulan identity, I was never that good at it. That's why I'm grateful Linclaith turned up when he did, even if it was... A bit late."

Alizati was unsure how to answer Men's question initially. He was hardly the person to come to about controlling emotions. Dzharok and Alizati had proven time and time again that they had struggles themselves. In this instant, Alizati let a little bit of emotion show in the slight frown on his face. "I am still learning," Alizati began, blinking a few times to calm his shaking eyes. He squeezed Men's hand once more, but looked away. "I owe a lot to my Vulcan father. He taught me the ways of Surak. I lived the past 27 years believing I was fully Vulcan. I suppose I dealt with it by completely denying myself my Romulan heritage, but as you have witnessed, it was hadly a sustainable solution," Even before Lalisa, Alizati had considered unlocked Dzharok's memories. The pain, the weird memory flashes, it was almost too much for even a Vulcan android to bear. "Have you ever asked V'Lilyn how he handled his emotions? He appears more Vulcan than Romulan in demeanour."

Men squeezed Alizati's hand and then raised his brows slightly in surprise. "I... Suppose it has never occurred to me. But I am the one who taught him how to handle his emotions with Surak, and Linclaith taught him how to be a little... Looser with them. Still, I have always gotten the impression he is a little uncomfortable with his Romulan heritage even though he accepts it, because it comes with a lot of... Baggage. It is the reason he lets Linclaith stay in his house, but does not call him father, and keeps him at a distance, emotionally and physically." He didn't let the man touch him ever, unlike Men, who he initiated hugs with on occasion. It was not the Vulcan way to hug your children, but Men had always allowed it nonetheless.

Alizati turned to look at Men again, the shaking in his eyes was a little calmer now after blinking. "Linclaith does not seem very interested in being a father. I believe the terran phrase would be 'he deserved it'," Alizati wasn't there when Men was raising V'Lilyn, but he had no doubts Men did an excellent job. V'Lilyn seemed similarly conflicted like he was though, but perhaps it was the fate of all Vulcan-Romulan hybrids. "Interesting, V'Lilyn's upbringing was the opposite of mine. My Romulan father raised me diligently whilst my Vulcan mother seemed more interested in her career than her inpure son," Despite the lack of emotion in his voice, his eyes told a much different story. There was a brief moment of what seemed like bitterness or frustration. "... But that is a different topic for another time. It seems like we will both be taking this journey together, to find a comfortable space between Vulcans and Romulans."

"Linclaith... Sometimes seems like he might be interested in being a father. He doesn't like it when V'Lilyn calls him a 'sperm donor'. But I am of the opinion that father is a title you earn and he has simply not been around enough to earn it." Men, in a move that would once have been bold but was not as much so now that he was accustomed to regular physical contact with Alizati, wrapped an arm around Alizati's shoulder so he could pull him close, taking advantage of their slight height difference. "I hope I did a better job than your Vulcan mother. She seems... Inadequate." A scathing remark, for him. "I like that - taking this journey together with you. I feel we can face anything as long as we do it hand in hand." (edited)

"I agree, he needs to make a conscious effort. When I spoke with him he seemed... Regretful, that the situation had become what it is. However seeing the way he jumped out the window after our conversation, I am not so sure if i could believe him," Alizati said, recalling how eerily similar that moment was to many of his own memories with Dalin. Although, Dalin was a good father, he never vaulted out windows without taking Alizati with him. 'Inadequate', now that was quite the insult coming from a Vulcan. Alizati shifted position when Men put his arm around his shoulder. "I would like to see her again, she is still working at the VSA," Alizati and Thillasa had agreed to keep their distance, but there was a part of him-- perhaps it was Dzharok, who wanted to see his mother once more. Maybe with Men or Sorn with him, not alone, that was for sure. "Hand in hand. Of course, I love you," Alizati turned his head to look at Men, blinking slowly. "May I kiss you, e'lev?"

"Of course, ilhra," Men said, moving his arm so that his hand was on the back of Alizati's head and then leaning to the side so he could kiss him. It didn't hold quite the same ferocity as when he'd been more... Romulan, but it was by no means passionless. After half a minute he broke away. "I would come with you to see her, if you wanted." Then he kissed him again. "I love you too. And I... Would still like to see those tapes."

Alizati closed his eyes and kissed Men back. Although he enjoyed the time they had together during the virus, he was glad to have Men back to his normal. He wasn't as dominate or assertive, but he wasn't any less passionate. He loved Men so much, all of him. "The tapes? I could get them," Alizati was surprised that Me brought it up, but he would be lying if he said he didn't want to see them too. "You want to see us acting illogically in the turbolift?" He blushed a deeper shade of green when he recalled the events. Surely he thought Men would be too embarrassed to see himself doing such indecent things in public.

"Well, I was thinking, maybe if I saw myself acting in that way, it would be..." Men looked away, green as one of the many cacti in his room, "...Inspiring? For my confidence?" Then he hid his face in Alizati's shoulder. "I apologise," he mumbled, "Perhaps that is illogical."

"It is not illogical. As an android I can recall events perfectly each time, but for an organic brain such recollection perfectly every time is nearly impossible. I will obtain the tapes for you and perhaps we could study them together," Actually, Alizati was curious to see how he acted as well. He only could recall the event from a first person perspective after all. "I have one question about those events. Did you really want me to submit a quarters change request? I will not look at you differently if you would like to hold off on the request, I understand you are very comfortable here," Not to mention the Furberus lived with him and the last thing he wanted was the three headed monstrosity to bother Men and Gwa.

Men unburied himself from Alizati's shoulder and looked around his own room. It was more decorated than you'd expect from a Vulcan, though with nothing flashy or ornate. Mostly just cacti, food items and things in jars. Oh, and Gwa's special food and medicine and such, too. He compared it to Alizati's room, barer than the unending sands of Vulcan's Forge, and his bed that lay empty most of the time. A blank canvas and a bed in which they could hold one another at night. Perhaps his dreams would be peaceful then. "...Yes, I think I would like you to do that. Do not worry, I will simply move my things over. Gwa will find it distressing, but we will be gentle about it." Then again, Gwa yelled when a leaf in his enclosure was moved an inch to the left. He was a hard frog to please.

Alizati also looked around the room, his mechanical mind going through the logistics of such a task. They would certainly need to take extra care with Gwa and his enclosure, but if Men thought he would be alright he trusted him. The thought of how he would need to re-arrange his own room also occurred to him. Not that there was much to rearrange. The only non-standard items he had was the Furberus, some retro tech parts, and the computer tower he used for charging and updates. It would be nice to have more decorations, he thought. "Then I will submit the request and we will live together," It was very un-Vulcan of him, but he was excited at the thought of their future domestic life together. They could play Kal-toh, the Furberus would definitely like the extra attention, and most importantly they could share a bed. Alizati was still new to sleeping, but it was pleasant with Men. "Until then, I am willing to spend the evening with you here. I do not have work until tomorrow, we can play Kal-toh if you would like," Sometimes he wished he could take double or even triple shifts, however that was against Starfleet rules. It would surely send the wrong message to his fellow officers if he bent the rules just because he was an android. [D] And assuming Men said yes, the two played Kal-toh together the rest of the evening before having a nice and relaxing sleep in Men's, for now, individual room.