A Game of Pool

Posted on Mon May 22nd, 2023 @ 7:25am by Captain Charlotte Rhodes & Lieutenant Savar & Lieutenant JG Verelan

1,847 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Episode 1: Runner
Location: Rec area
Timeline: Backpost

Savar was relaxing by playing pool with Verelan. He was quite good at it. If the human term was to be used, he was a shark. However in this case, he was definitely playing well below his ability He was showing Verelan, how to calculate the angles of the shot. How to spin the cue play so it would stop where you wanted it to. He was quite enjoying himself as he watched her line up shots and attempt to make them.

"Look at your angle Verelan." he told her. "Make sure your angle is where you want it." He said as he leaned against his pool stick.

Verelan was purposely posing over the pool table for Savar, knowing full well he’d be enjoying the sight. “Like this? Or like this?” She shifted position a couple of times giving Savar a wry smile.

Savar was indeed enjoying Verelan's posing and he also knew she was doing it purposely which was evident by the smile she was giving him. "Whichever you find comfortable Verelan." He answered with a slight smile.

Verelan grinned and took her shot, smiling as she potted the ball she was aiming at. “Look at that!” She lined up the next shot, but wasn’t as lucky that time.

Savar nodded in approval as Verelan made her shot. "Very good Verelan." He said in approvalbefore she missed her next. "Take your time. look at your possibilities." He reminded her.

“Are you taking players or is this more of a...private game?” The voice of Captain Rhodes came from the entry way where she’d stood watching the scene. She’s known Vulcans before but their interplay was not the more standard stilted public personas she was used to encountering.

Verelan smiled warmly as she stood up straight. “Please join us Captain, Savar was just...” She paused and looked at Savar, before looking back at Charlotte. “Teaching me how to play properly.”

Savar turned to take in Captain Rhodes, "Captain." He greeted with a nod. "Please join us. I take it you need no instructions in how to play." His tone even with a slight undertone of gentle teasing.

"You are quite correct, Mr. Savar. This table actually is my very own, taken from home on Earth. I've spent a lot of hours around this table," Charlotte replied with a laugh. "You all are sure you don't want to continue your...lessons? I can come back."

Savar shook his head, "Please Captain join us. Verelan and I can continue her lessons at a later time."

Verelan grinned. “Savar and I, we have a err... outgoing, fun loving relationship which many find unusual for Vulcans.”

"Quite correct Verelan and well said." Savar replied with a nod of approval at his wife.

"Well I'll gladly join you then," the Captain replied, moving over to the cue rack. "Do you all have a game of preference?"

"Excellent." Savar replied. "As for what preference we have. Captain's choice, whatever you feel comfortable playing. Neither I nor Verelan have a preference."

The Captain approached, chalking her selected cue. "We have three of us here. How about cutthroat?"

"An excellent choice Captain. Would you please explain the rules to Verelan while I rack the ball?" Savar replied as he was already moving to rack the balls.

Verelan looked towards Charlotte. “Cutthroat Captain? I can’t say I know that one.”

"Cutthroat, as the name implies, is a game that's fairly competitive game designed for three players. We each are assigned five of the fifteen balls. Your goal, is to pocket each of your opponents balls before your opponent can do the same to yours. If the cue ball is scratched, each of your opponents gets one ball back," Charlotte added, as she placed the cue in place. "Given that you're just starting to learn the game in general, I think it makes sense to impose an additional restriction onto Savar and myself. Savar, would you say requiring us to sink each set of balls in numerical order seems reasonable?"

Savar had racked the billiard balls as the captain finished explaining how cutthroat pool was played to Verelan. "I think that would make the game both fairer for Verelan and more interesting all the way around Captain. I have no objection to playing like that."

Verelan smiled. “It sounds like a fun game to play, but don’t make it harder for both of you on my account.”

"Captain. Which five balls will you protect? What of you Verelan? Which five will you protect?" Savar asked.

"I prefer stripes, so I'll take 11 to 15," Charlotte said, turning to Verelan.

“I think I’ll take balls 1 to 5” Verelan offered a warm smile. “That leaves you with 6 to 10 handsome.” She smiled at Savar.

"Indeed Verelan my love." Savar replied . Would you or the Captain like to break?" Cue in his hand.

“The Captain can” Verelan looked to Charlotte, “you go first.”

"Fair enough, I'll break then." Rhodes walked to the end of the table. She reminded herself that in this particular instance, sinking a ball wasn't really the goal of this break, as it'd more likely hurt than help. After a moment, her cue cracked against the cueball and the racked balls scattered.

"So," she added as she lined up her shot at her ball 11, going for a corner pocket. "You like pool. Any other interesting hobbies to know about our resident Vulcan couple?"

Savar stood silently as the Captain broke her shot scattering the pool balls across the table. He looked to Verelan to see if she was going to answer the Captain and give her some insight to their personal life.

“Well I enjoy collecting souvenirs, which Savar will tell you is an ever growing collection.” Verelan smiled. “We both like to read, and to swim. Being half Vulcan I am experienced in the use of mind melds, and Savar teaches me Meditation. Would you like to tell the Captain about Ke-ta-yatar, my love?”

Savar, nodded at Verelan. "Yes, Verelan's collection of antiques is growing at an ever-increasing rate. I do not know if the Captain would be interested in that Verelan. Not many non Vulcans have heard of it and fewer know of the practice."

Verelan looked towards Charlotte then back at Savar. “If you think not then fair enough, my love.”

"I am not opposed to it, Verelan my love. I merely said I did not know if the Captain would be interested." Savar replied.

Verelan smiled. “I know.” With that she waited to see who was going to take their turn next.

"It is your turn, Captain." Savar gently prodded their CO.

"Ah right," Rhodes said, turning back toward the table. She smiled slightly amused. There was something almost comforting about the gentle quibbles of a couple who knew each other well. The Vulcan flavor to their delivery added a bit of a comedic element. "I must admit, I have not heard of Ke-ta-yatar. But I'm always curious to learn new things. My knowledge of the Vulcan language has always been conversational, not academic. But based on etymology, is that some sort of spiritual practice?"

Savar looked at Verelan with a look that could be taken as 'see what you've started?' and then to Charlotte. "Not precisely Captain. it is an ancient Vulcan fighting style designed to kill. I have studied for seven years. and have obtained the title of master. I have continued my training to one day become a Pid trensu. A high master."

"Interesting," Rhodes said, pausing briefly to pocket the 11 in the far corner. She lined up a shot at 12, but her angle wasn't quite right and the cue ball rolled to a stop on the far side of the table. "A killing martial art feels somewhat opposed to the mission statement of a diplomat, so not something I imagine you stumbled on organically. What drew your interest?"

"Quite correct Captain. I first entertained this practice to control my emotions and as my emotional control increased so did my skill in mastering the martial art. I assure you Captain. I have no intention to use it on an opponent." Savar stated evenly.

“I’m sure the Captain knows you well enough by now to know that my love.” Verelan smiled as she lined up her shot and took it. Her balls scattered but nothing potted, though she did leave the cue ball in an awkward spot.

"I would like to think so Verelan. However, I was merely explaining how I came to study Ke-ta-yatar." Savar replied as he walked around the pool table, looking for possible shots and mentally exploring his options.

“I know” Verelan grinned, studying Savar as he looked for his options.

Savar looked up at Verelan as she spoke. "I am quite positive that you do Verelan. Not many things slip past you." He answered as he looked to sink the 4 ball in the side pocket.

Rhodes leaned against the side of the room. "It is an intriguing detail. You two continue to be some of the most unique Vulcans I've ever met," she said, watching Savar's shot. "And for the record, I trust your judgement. I know you would never use such a thing unless the situation truly called for it. I don't think many of us in Starfleet are particularly fond of the moments we're forced into violence."

"Gratifying to have your trust Captain." Savar answered as he pocketed the 4 ball and the cue lined up perfectly to sink the 5 ball. "As for Verelan and I being unique, we are just being ourselves, Correct Verelan?"

Verelan nodded. “Correct” she looked at Charlotte. “I’ve never been what you’d call a ‘proper’ Vulcan. I never purged my emotions, I chose not to.”

Savar walked around the table, looking over his options for a shot. "Verelan is a free spirit, Captain. "She marches to her own beat. Which I might add I find extremely satisfying as well as gratifying."

"I think it's generally a good thing when people explore their individuality. Cultures aren't monoliths and they shouldn't pretend like they are. Out there, there are Klingon poets, Nausicaan weavers, and probably at least a few Tholian anthropologists," Charlotte said, planning her next possible shots. "Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations, if you will. There's plenty of room in infinity for emotionally expressive Vulcans and diplomats who practice lethal martial arts."

Savar nodded his head. "Most eloquent and extremely logical Captain. My compliments to you and your grasp of what diversity truly is."

"You can thank my father for that. Taught me through inverse example, I suppose you could say. But I do make it a personal goal to do my very best to combat those assumptions we all easily make. It's easy to generalize. Nuance takes effort and precision," the Captain replied, as she took her spot, lining up the cue. "As does, pool."

With the crack of the pool cue, the cueball met the 12 and 13 balls, sending each to their own pocket securely. Rhodes allowed herself the briefest smile of satisfaction.

 

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