Charm is a product of the unexpected. - Jose Marti

There was a woman in his quarters, and she was watching him on a viewscreen.

Data had over 400 different guides on manners and protocol in his memory banks. Nothing in them covered this situation unless Captain M'Sera had sent her as a concubine, but that Deltan tradition was considered so archaic as to be rude.

He took in the clues around her. The stranger was in uniform and roughly his chronological age. He could not see the markings on her collar, so she could have been either a subordinate or a superior. The mat on the floor and duffle bag off to the side indicated she expected to stay for some time and preferred physical activities in her downtime. The spore count he detected in the room indicated she likely found the odor objectionable. The only chemical traces he could detect off of her were very faintly were the remnants of soap and shampoo scented lightly with rosemary oil. Most humanoid women still tended to opt for longer hairstyles. This one sported a fringe of blonde on top of her head, closely shaved on the sides.

Perhaps the most intriguing thing was that she was watching the screen with intense interest to the exclusion of all else. It was as if her hand wished to reach into the scene, but he couldn't fathom why. Perhaps it was the song? Humans often became very thoughtful around artistic displays. He also had never had an audience for a musical performance, so this also offered him the added benefit of receiving feedback.

He synced his voice up to the recording easily enough. It only takes a moment / For your eyes to meet and then / Your heart knows in a moment / You will never be alone again…

Her voice presented a contrast to her sharp appearance. He would almost describe it as "musical." "You can turn off the sound, Computer. Show's over."

"While it is correct that the recording is at an end, I believe the situation may have become more interesting," he commented.

He had expected surprise. What he had not anticipated was the water canteen flying towards his face. He caught it easily enough. "Impressive. Were I human, the force of this bottle combined with its trajectory would have likely caused enough damage to my nasal cavities as to render me stunned for multiple seconds."

The woman's eyes, which he now noted were an impressively clear shade of blue, widened in response, but that was her only reply for the moment. Data handed back the container.

"Lieutenant, may I ask what brings you to my quarters?"

She took a breath in and found her voice again. "Commander Anderson told me the biology lab was - Wait! Your quarters?!"

"Yes."

Her eyes narrowed, and Data noted with great enthusiasm that this strange Lieutenant had the clearest body language expression he had ever seen a human exhibit. He had learned much about non-verbal communication in the years since his activation, but he was hardly at as level he would consider "mastery." With her, he could tell her emotional state had gone from deep thought to primal fear to shock to mild irritation to near rage in 2 minutes and 12 seconds – and all of it clearly displayed! To Data, it was as dazzling as a newly formed star. He hoped she would see fit to stay.

"Is there a problem?" Maybe he shouldn't have asked, but he had the feeling the response would be illuminating.

"Yes!" she replied emphatically. "I know he said they were short on cabins, but these aren't quarters, Data! They're a moss factory!"

"As you must have read in my file, I do not require sleep, or rest."

She pointed to the wall. "How about at a least window?"

It hadn't occurred to him to find the space objectionable. "Are you unhappy with the accommodations you have been offered? I'm sure Commander Anderson -"

The woman cut him off. "It's not about me! I can rest anywhere!"

Data was now thoroughly confused. More importantly though: "You have me at a disadvantage. You know my name, but I have failed to learn yours."

The blonde fringe of her hair shook back from her face as she stood at near-attention. "Lieutenant Yar."

He briefly scanned his memory of the Providence's personnel and discovered an interesting fact. "You do not appear to be assigned to the vessel, Lieutenant. How is it that you have been assigned to share quarters with me?"

She stuck out her lip a millimeter and blew her bangs upward. "I'm here to help oversee the security upgrades and to train the crew on urban survival techniques, but for right now you are my only student!"

"Ah. You are the wunderkind."

Once again, he was treated to another obvious and abrupt change of mood. "What's a 'wunderkind?'"

"I was uncertain. I was hoping you would define the word for me."

She bit her lip and then admitted. "I'm..not always the best person to ask when it comes to slang."

"Nor am I," he replied. "Perhaps we should look it up?"

Yar sighed. "Maybe later."

After shuffling through 54 potential responses, Data settled on something professional. "Since the training exercise begins in two hours, perhaps you can educate me on your field of expertise until it is time for the experiential learning?"

Tasha appeared relieved as she rolled her shoulders once and started with - "First, let's start with a look the Providence's forward phaser array..."

Author note: I have discovered that correspondance has been a boon in overcoming writer's block. Thank you to all who have written in already. To anyone else on the fence about contacting/bothering me, please do so. You're likely to get more of the story faster that way. If that's just not your thing, favorites, reviews, and follows also remind me that People Expect This and I am Allow to Skip the Dishes for a Night. Your support is gratifying.