Do your people date? (Part 1: Ice)

Posted on Mon Dec 23rd, 2024 @ 2:02pm by Ensign Kash th'Kaasniik & Sub-Lieutenant Osirin Acainus

1,599 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Character Backstories
Location: Akadia (Second Contact)
Timeline: 2386, MD 6

It had been almost a Terran week since Kash's encounter with Osirin at Deep Space Nine and they hadn't seen or spoken to one another since. Granted two days of that was travel on their respective ships through the Gamma quadrant to Akadian space, and on initial arrival, Kash's schedule wasn't his own to manage. As students the first few days had included morning orientations and evening debriefings with their professors in addition to job shadowing and working assignments throughout the day. Tonight was a mixed social event hosted by Starfleet, and Kash was wondering if he'd see Osirin there. They hadn't exactly exchanged numbers.

Osirin looked up from a PADD he'd been fiddling with. It was similar, though slightly more advanced than the device he carried. When he saw the Andorian he had been intimate with walking through the market, he smiled. "Good morning," he greeted It's good to see you again."

Kash stopped and gave Osirin an approving smile. "You snuck up on me. That's not easy to do. I was expecting to see you first," Kash replied.

"I have my moments," Osirin replied, "but to be fair, I have home turf advantage. Welcome to Akadia."

He looked up at the sun, squinting as he did so, before looking back at Kash "It's going to be quite warm today, especially by Andorian standards. Are you going to be okay?"

"Thank you for the welcome. Your planet is nice. And I appreciate the concern, but Andorians might be a tougher breed than you give us credit for. A warm day never hurt anyone," Kash replied. "What do you make of how things are going so far? Starfleet's visit I mean?""

"That is kind of a loaded question. It's difficult to tell with our Ruling Council can be, how would you say inscrutable. Hard to read."

"Not to change the subject, but the last time we met it was mostly just flirting and fu... well you know. What do you think of having an actual date. Do Andorians date?"

"We do date, yes. But you probably already knew that I'm guessing," Kash responded thoughtfully. "My evenings are starting to open up. Just tell me when and where."

"I wasn't really, which is why I was asking. I'm not a stalker. Yet."

"Why don't we walk through the market and get a quick bite and discuss it. Have you ever had an ice? I mean the drink of course. I know Andorians have had ice."

"Ice - a drink from here? I haven't heard of it," Kash replied.

"You haven't? Of course you haven't, you're not from around here. I think we are probably not the only culture to have them but there is a great place to get them. It's not in the best of neighborhoods, but it shouldn't be too dangerous during the day. I wouldn't want to be there after dark though."

"I'm assuming you eat meat, right? I mean the real kind, not replicated shit."

"Yeah, I eat meat. Most Andorians do. Hunting is still quite popular on my planet. Replicators not as much. We have them, just not something my people rely on unless we're out in space for long periods," Kash replied. "I've never been one to back down from a good meal just because it's in a bad part of town either. Are we going?"

"Of course," Osirin said with a wide smile.

"This way," he said as he took hold of Kash's arm and turning to walk deeper into the market square. "We'll get the ices, first. They're right over here."

The Akdadian let go of Orion's arm as they came to a gaudy-looking wooden booth about ten by fifteen feet. A curtain partitioned off about one-third of it, and a mechanical noise could be heard from behind the curtain. "What flavor do you want?" a weary-looking man asked.

"How is the Madera Fruit?" Osirin asked.

"Pretty tart, if that's the way you like it."

"I'll take one of those."

"What does your exotic looking boyfriend want?"

Kash looked to Osirin for direction. "Tart is good unless you think I should try something else?"

Osirin cut his eyes between Kash and the vendor. He was tempted to say that Kash wasn't his boyfriend, that he barely knew him, but he stopped himself. He didn't want to embarrass the Andorian; for all he knew, they might develop a relationship that could rise to that level.

"I like them a little more ripe, but hey, I'm game if you like tart. "

Then turning toward the other man he said, "Make it two." He pulled some coins out of his pocket to pay.

"How much is it?" Kash asked. "I have some currency, though I'm still learning how it's counted," he admitted reaching for a small bag he had in a cargo pocket.

The merchant with a jovial smile replied, "Three Denara," he said, those triangular coins there." Then turning to Osirin, he added, "where did you pick this one up, blue is a sexy color."

Osirin rolled his eyes and finally confessed, "he's not my boyfriend, just a friend, and he's here with the Federation. But you should talk to him some more about that."

Kash counted out the coins. "We're hosting a sort of an open house reception tomorrow evening as an act of goodwill. You and your friends should come."

The vendor looked as though he was about to say something untoward, at least Kash could deduce that based on the expression on his face. But he stopped when Osirin put a hand on his shoulder. The older man furrowed his brow as he stared hard at Osirin. He turned then giving his full attention to Kash.

"That sounds like a great idea. What time tomorrow evening?" the vendor asked.

Kash looked over to Osirin wondering if he said something wrong. "We'll start setting up around 1700. We will have food and beverages out by 1800. I'm not sure when the Captain will make an appearance. Everyone is free to come and go as they like."

"I'll try to show up, but my cart has to come first," the merchant spoke up. Or maybe I'll bring it with me."
ice Osirin gave Kash a long look.

"Sorry about the boyfriend thing. People assume a lot here."

"I didn't really think anything about it," Kash said replied giving him a subtle wink. "Different cultures have their ways. I assumed if it was important you would say something. Or not. So what's next?"

Osirin licked took another lick of the icebefore answering. "I thought maybe we'd go shopping, find you some Akadian clothes. Then maybe get lunch. After that, I don't know. We could stop by my home and you could meet my family."

"What do you think?"

"Is there something wrong with how I am dressed?" Kash chided, then added. "No seriously, I don't want to offend the locals. Is there something wrong with the way I'm dressed?" He asked. "And forgive me for the questions. Your family would be who exactly? Is it common to stop by with people - with aliens you hardly know?"

Osirin shook his head. "Sorry, I didn't mean to imply there was. You're fine. You just wanted to experience our culture and I thought shopping in one of our markets and buying some Akadian clothing would help you with that."

"My family is great. I don't know who my real family, well my biological family is, but this family has taken me in as their own I thought you might like to meet them because it would give you some insight as to how an Akadian family acts. It's not like we're in some kind of serious relationship and I'm taking you home because we're going to be bondmates."

The Andorian grinned at Osirin, "No of course not. If it's not an imposition, it would be an honor to meet them." Kash put a hand on the Akadian's shoulder then quickly removed it, remembering that people around them were already making assumptions. "Let's go shopping then. What's something that every traveler to Akadia should buy during their stay here?" Kash asked.

"There are so many things," came the quick reply. Osirin rather liked feeling Kash's hand on his shoulder even though it was a brief touch that meant nothing at all. It was still pleasant.

"I guess it kind of depends on your tastes. We have some really great looking and well crafted silk shirts, you can find a well made landin bracelet on the cheap. Oh, and if you're so inclined, we have some sonic guns."

"We can start with clothes for now since that was your first recommendation. It'll save me time if I don't have to go through security later. Lead the way?" Kash gestured with his arm indicating he would follow. "Or do we sit somewhere while we finish our ice? I'm sorry there wasn't much guidance on some of the minutiae of Akadian cultural expectations, and I've been in a bit of a Starfleet bubble until today. This fruit resembles something from Andoria that we use for tea. This is quite good by the way."

"I'm glad you like, the only drawback is it turns your tongue purple, well Akadian tongues anyway, I don't know about Andorian ones. We can walk and eat at the same time, there's nothing wrong with that."

The comment about Andorian tongues struck Kash as both funny and endearing. He couldn't help but smile at Osirin as he let out a small laugh.

~tbc~

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