K'hat'n'dlawa

Culture Clash

Amanda stared at the Vulcan before her, stunned. "I know what it means," she finally replied. "Why do you ask?"

He tilted his head slightly to the side, his eyes still on hers.

"I believe you know, Amanda," he said quietly. "I wish to declare koon-ut so'lik."

Amanda continued to stare at him, her mind working fast. She had known him three months- she had been coming to his office every week for almost two. She'd spent hours here; talking to him, teaching him, enjoying his company more than she even realized. During the time they had been acquainted they had not touched, kissed, been on a date- or even been closer than three feet to one another. She knew virtually nothing about Sarek and he had never hinted at even the slightest amount of attraction for her.

Yet here he was- making a formal Vulcan marriage proposal.

She was shocked. She was disbelieving- she was even flattered. But beyond all that she was confused. So she did the only thing she could possibly do in such an absurd, uncomfortable situation: she laughed.

It was a nervous laugh- not indicative of humor. How does one respond to such a proposal? She liked him, she really did- he was handsome and his mysteriousness was alluring...he had always been so kind to her...but marriage?

"I do not see the humor in this situation," Sarek now said. His shoulders were tense, his back stiff. He looked away from her for the first time, towards the window.

"It's not funny. It's just- I don't understand. I'm shocked. Why are you proposing to me? We barely know each other!" Amanda's laughter died away. Then she remembered something he'd told her- Vulcans don't have courtship rituals. "Sarek?" she asked. He looked up at her again.

"I see that I have made a grave error," he said.

"Yes, you have. But you still haven't answered my question. Why are you proposing to me?" she asked. She folded her arms, hugging herself.

"I have several logical reasons," Sarek replied. He clasped his hands behind his back. "I believe closer contact with a human would further improve my understanding of them- and one cannot possibly get closer to a human than marriage."

Amanda felt her shock being replaced by something else...indignation. That should not have been his answer. Her brow furrowed but she continued to listen.

"That is how this would be most beneficial to me. It would quite possibly be more so for you. You would live with me at my estate instead of at your current location, which has been proven unsafe. Your debts would be easily dissolved. And you would no longer have to work unless you wish to."

By the time he was finished speaking Amanda's lips were pressed together in a thin line and her brown eyes were hard as she looked at him.

"Those are logical reasons, Sarek. But they're not the right reasons," she said in a low, cold voice. Sarek's eyebrows rose minutely.

"I do not understand. It would be highly beneficial to us both. You are an attractive woman and I am aware that you are attracted to me also. We are compatible. What other reasons are needed?"

Amanda drew in a deep breath, trying to will away her rising anger at his words. The differences between them, between their cultures, had never been more obvious than they were right now.

"There are plenty of other reasons," Amanda began. "You have made two 'very grave' errors. For one- humans don't marry for 'logical' reasons. We did away with marriages of convenience a long time ago. We marry because we have emotional attachment to another person and want to spend our lives with them- have children with them, share our joys and sorrows with them. I would never marry you only because you can absolve my problems. I would rather deal with them myself than marry a man who doesn't love me.