"It is pronounced Lirpa." Spock said calmly.
"Lirpa." Mac'hla corrected.
The two Vulcans were in the midst of a rather intense conversation regarding the pronunciation of certain words. Netrekan Vuhlkansu was still Vuhlkansu, however there were some key differences– one of them being the pronunciation of some words.
To any humans listening in to the conversation, it sounded like they were saying the exact same word with absolutely no differences. However, to the two Vulcans who had exceptional hearing, there were some drastic differences.
"You say it with as if it were a latin 'i' and your alveolar trill is too extended."
"I am inclined to disagree, Mr. Spock. You say the word too short. When the 'i' makes an 'ee' sound and is followed by an 'r'... the trill is sharper."
"Lirpa." Spock said in Vuhlkansu.
"Lirpa." Mac'hla replied in Netrekan.
"That... is not correct." Spock said, sounding almost exasperated.
"You say 'leer-pah', it is 'leur-pah'." Mac'hla corrected, sounding just as frustrated. Again, to humans, they had just said the exact same word.
"Netrekan Vuhlkansu is more akin to ancient Vuhlkansu. Your pronunciation is outdated."
"Outdated?" Mac'hla demanded. She looked him up and down, "I can think of something else that is outdated."
"What are you implying, Miss Tirok?" Spock inquired, mildly amused that Mac'hla was obviously calling him old, "You are still a child– in a Vulcan sense, you are but an infant."
Mac'hla raised an eyebrow, "An infant?"
"Indeed." Spock said smugly.
"Perhaps that is true, you are old enough to be my father– in fact, you are older than both of my parents."
He bit his lip, realizing that Mac'hla had a point, "Lieutenant, might I remind you that you are the one graying."
"I thought that you had said I was an infant. Your words are becoming contradictory, Mr. Spock. Frustrated? Perhaps annoyed?" they teased.
"Vulcans do not feel either of those emotions, Miss Tirok. Or have you forgotten? You do have a tendency to be rather... sensitive."
Mac'hla's mouth fell open slightly, "Oh, I am sensitive? You-"
Jim, who had been walking down the hall in the opposite direction had heard the conversation and looked back at them concerned.
Were they... arguing?
"Alright," Jim said, walking between the two of them, "Why are you two at each other's throats?"
Mac'hla and Spock looked at Jim with mild surprise.
"Sir?" Mac'hla asked, "What do you mean?"
"You're just... insulting each other. I've never heard Vulcans do this." he explained, "So who started it? Why are you so annoyed?"
"Captain, I can assure you that neither of us are annoyed." Spock said, folding his arms behind his back.
"We were simply..." Mac'hla trailed off, a little too embarrassed to admit that they were just playing.
Vulcans don't exactly 'play'. They don't have amusing games or jokes (at least in a human sense). A vulcan way of playing, or 'messing around', was playful banter and clever insults. It was never taken personally, as it would be illogical to hold onto something so trivial.
She sighed, "Playing, sir."
Jim looked surprised, "Playing?"
Spock looked a little embarrassed, "Vulcans do not 'play' the same way humans do, sir."
He stared at them blankly, "Playing."
"Please, sir..." Mac'hla said, flushing with embarrassment.
"Bones!" He yelled suddenly, "Bones, you need to hear this!" he took off running down the hall and the two Vulcans stared at each other.
"If anyone says anything, you will deny it, is that understood?" Spock asked.
"I was about to suggest the same, sir." Mac'hla agreed, "As far as I am concerned, nothing even happened."
"Agreed."
