The next day after classes Troi and T'ming met at their dorm and decided that the best time to see S'lack would be in about two hours. In the meanwhile they decided to do homework. T'ming had a lot of catching up to do. She had to study the skeletal structure of about 10 different species, the additional needs of said species, and a heck of a lot more. Troi on the other hand was doing some reading on the brain circuitry of the Vulcan brain, she was going to become a consular and found it necessary to understand the neural pathways of species. Well to make a long story short the two hours passed slowly and both were thankful when the hours were over. Though they didn't want to talk to S'lack, especially Troi who didn't know S'lack very well.
The hesitantly left their dorm and headed toward where S'lack was staying. When they arrived they found his roommate there instead. He introduced himself as William T. Riker and as it turns out, he was Troi's boyfriend. He told them that S'lack had stepped out to buy some vegetables since Vulcan's are vegetarian. T'ming took a seat at the desk that was in the room. Troi proceeded to explain to Riker what was happening with T'ming and S'lack. Since T'ming had retold and live this story she quickly became the Vulcan equivalent of bored. There was a mirror in the room, while Troi was talking to Riker T'ming looked at herself. She had her hair put up in a "decorated" fashion typical of Vulcan women with long hair. She began to let her hair down, she had a comb with her and she began to comb through it. Her banges were thew only thing that didn't change. Her hair length was down to the small of her back. She decided then to never put her hair up again.
Suddenly S'lack walked into the crowded dorm. All the heads turned to see him, T'ming was the only person who moved, she walked over and extended her finger to his. Riker looked at them with disbelief, he couldn't believe that they were 17 and married. S'lack did not take note of the awkward silence, T'ming began to have a struggle inside of her between her human 75% and her Vulcan 25% and though her Vulcan part is small it usually won over the arguments and it did this time again.
S'lack said,"I see you let your hair down from the traditional style of Vulcan married women. I will say though it is quite becoming on someone with your facial type. But it is not the tradition, and though we are on Earth I would like to request that you keep with tradition, since you are married."
T'ming lowered her eyes,"Yes S'lack, I shall obey your wishes." All the while she stayed Vulcan.
Riker stared on now understanding what Deanna was talking about now, about how S'lack acted. T'ming began to put her hair back up on her head. Deanna (Troi), spoke up, "S'lack, I would to discuss T'ming with you."
"Proceed."
"T'ming as you probably know is only a quarter Vulcan. You told her yourself that she looks nice with her hair down now why make her change?"
"Modesty must be maintained in married women. That is why I requested to the head of the academy that until she graduated as a doctor in which it is mandatory that she wear a uniform, that she not be issued a academy uniform and may keep wearing Vulcan civilian clothes."
Troi began to tell her concerns,"S'lack T'ming has somethings she would like discussed through me."
S'lack looked "amused", "Proceed."
"She has some "emotional" problems having such a small Vulcan part. And she would like to request some privacy each Sunday so as not to embarrass you. And she would like the freedom to wear what she wants. Is that so much to ask?"
"No, but as I've said she must be distinguished from the others. However I can give her Sundays alone."
They both heard the door shut. And Riker. T'ming had left. She didn't want to be there and she regretted ever convincing Troi to talk to S'lack. Troi started after T'ming, Troi saw the the last of her dress around the corner the fiery orange was hard to miss.
"T'ming wait!" Cried Troi. She was out of breath when she caught up with T'ming.
"Oh, Troi it's useless. It'll never work. What am i going to do!"
"T'ming, it will get better. I promise. He just doesn't understand. Maybe you should talk to him."
"No, I've never fit in on Vulcan. People avoided me like the plague. I was outcast because I was "less Vulcan" than others."
"I understand that life is hard for you"
"No! You! Don't!" She immediatly stood up and walked away. She walked out onto the grass of the academy. It was a nice sunny day."If we only had a little rain to match my mood." T'ming said out loud.
She heard a voice behind her, "Why ruin a day as lovely as you?"
She swung around a man with a VISOR stood there. She didn't even bother to control her tears, "what?"
"I was merely saying that the day was as pretty as you looked. But why are you crying." He crossed over to where she stood. All T'ming could do was cry harder. The kindness of this man was beoynd any she ever had.
"I'm crying because I can't do as I like, I'm being forced into some ideal, and I don't know what I should do."
"That didn't tell me much."
"I'll tell you more if you tell me your name."
"Geordi."
"Geordi, that's a nice name." she sat down, he sat next to her. "So until very recently I lived on Vulcan, My father is Ambassador Spock and my mother worked as a nurse under James T. Kirk. They married and I lived on Vulcan for 15 years attending the Science Academy. I"m the only child. All my life as is usual for Vulcan's, I've been betrothed to a man by the name of S'lack. It took me a while but I convinced him and my parents to come here, to Earth, for schooling instead of the Academy. Unfortunatly I was forced to marry him before we left. I don't even love him and he's running my life."
"That's harsh, is there a divorce process?"
"Yes, but it's long, complicated and tedious."
"I'll bet, I hope I can see you again."
"You probably will." She felt him kiss her on the cheek before he rose up and departed.
She felt quite a bit happier and went back to her dorm. There she found Troi.
"Why did you ge up and leave like that? I began to worry where were you?"
"You sound like my parents, I waked around campus for a while and met a guy by the name of Geordi."
"Was he nice?"
"Yeah, actually, he was. We talked and just had a pretty good time. What happened with S'lack?"
"Well it's hard to say, since he's Vulcan, but he'll get over it."
T'ming smiled to herself, Life was looking better.
