Mr Spock and his girl (some time before the party)

[Cres]

[[Just thought to kick off Rook and Arielle here. Was Arielle still going to wear Princess Leia costume or had we agreed on something else? Let's PM if there's some discrepancy here.]]

Rook was far too excited about Halloween this year. Usually, he'd spent Halloween online chatting like mad with his friends, but this time he had told them that he wouldn't be appearing at their annual Halloween Mission at the Star Trek community he frequented. Everyone had been devastated to have to do Halloween without Mr Spock, but Rook had consoled them all by telling them that he'd come on the following day and they could have their Halloween special then. At which point most of his friends had demanded that he bring photos as a consolation.

He wasn't sure if he would bring photos. For one thing, he wasn't sure how Arielle would take to it, and for another, he sort of liked to keep his thing with Arielle private. He wasn't sure if he wanted to hear his friends comments on how hot she was and compare her to various breeds of fantasy and science fiction seductresses.

At present, he was coming up the walk to Arielle's door and preparing himself to the inevitable. He was certain her parents would want to meet him this time. His mother had already demanded that he bring the mystery girl over after the party so that she could meet her. Rook wasn't sure if he was going to do that either but he had promised anyway. He'd figured he could always make something up if he lost courage.

He almost lost courage when he reached the top of the stairs. He stopped in front of the door for a long time, wondering if his Vulcan ears were somehow off or if his hair had gotten tussled by the wind. But he didn't have a mirror. He looked around on the porch and finally spotted the little peeping window on the door. There was a curtain behind it and it seemed to reflect nicely. He reached up for the window and peered at his reflection, trying to decide if there was something wrong there. Without noticing it, he leaned his hands and consequently his entire weight against the door.

[[uh, just thought this might result into a funny awkward situation. XD]]

[Sharise]

[[Mwahaha, Rooker is going to turn ten shades of red. :P And yes, she is Leia. ^^]]


Mr. Parker had been reading the newspaper in the living room when a young Spock approached the door. He assumed this must have been Rooker, the boy his daughter had been painting over and over again.

With a casual grace, the older man neatly folded the paper and set it on the couch arm. Silent strides brought him to the door, where quite a spectacle was taking place. Either the boy hadn't realized someone was watching him from the other side of the door, or he simply didn't care. Bryant assumed the first one to be true.

Straightening his broad shoulders and back, Bryant Parker looked as proud and confident as a hero from some medieval fairy tale. This could have been intimidating has his eyes not been smiling brightly, as they always did. Ready to greet his daughter's new boyfriend, Bryant swung open the door with gusto, not even realizing the young lad had placed all of his weight on it.

[Cres]

Rook had totally not anticipated the door swinging open. The support from his hands suddenly disappearing, he fell forward with a yelp - right at Mr Parker, practically in the man's arms. He staggered and managed to regain his balance, and finally stood - looking up at the man with the most embarrassed expression ever seen on the little Spock face. He turned so red that he was beginning to resemble a Santa Claus elf rather than a Vulcan, and it was all he could do to keep from running away at once.

Oh. My. God.

Rook stared up at Mr Parker with rather wide eyes. He was sure he'd made a complete ass of himself. What should he say? What if he just said he was there trick or treating and turned to skulk away?

"Errr... Sorry."

It seemed to be the most sensible thing he could get out of his mouth. He was terrified. Mr Parker was HUGE! What if he'd beat him to a mush or something?

[Sharise]

Instinctively, Mr. Parker's arms swung open as he caught the teenage boy in his arms. It certainly wasn't what he had expected, and had he not be a true gentleman, he probably would've doubled over laughing. Fortunately for Rooker, Bryant simply looked concerned... well, and a little amused.

As Rook straightened himself, Bryant smiled reassuringly. He had been known to make quite an ass of himself at least a few times during adolescences. "You alright, son?" A strong hand patted the young Spock on the back, though not hard enough to topple him over again.

Another smile graced his lips and he closed the door quietly. "Don't worry. We've all been there." He waved a hand in the air dismissively. "Anyway, I'm Arielle's father. You can call me Mr. Parker or Bryant, which ever you prefer. I'm not an old stickler some of the parents running around today." A hand was held out in greeting as the man spoke. Though he was fairly large in size, it was easy to see that Bryant Parker was nothing more than a big teddy bear.

[Cres]

Rook hardly even noticed that he had passed into the house and was getting welcomed by Mr Parker. Half of his words seemed to be buzzing through his head as he was trying to get a hold of the situation. He nearly panicked when he realised he was now inside the house, and talking with Arielle's father.

He seemed nice though. Rook was trying hard to concentrate on Bryant's words, and did manage to tone down the humming of the adrenaline in his ears enough to make out that he seemed to think that his stumbling was all right and that he had just introduced himself.

Rook tried a smile as he held out his own hand and took Bryant's carefully.

"Eh, good to meet you, Mr Parker," he said. He couldn't dream of calling Arielle's father by the name, of course - but then he got worried that he would get offended by the formality.

Why was his life always so complicated?

"Umm, is Arielle ready yet?"

He was totally forgetting about introducing himself.

[Sharise]

Bryant took hold of Rooker's hand and gave it a strong (though not too strong) shake. He seemed like a truly decent boy. Maybe a bit shy or dorky. Even better! Although, truth be told, all Bryant cared about was that his daughter would, and should, be treated like a queen.

With one hand on the boy's back, Mr. Parker escorted him into the living room. "Please take a seat and make yourself at home." A hand was outstretched toward a luxurious, over stuffed red couch. "I'll go check on Arielle." With a smile, Bryant turned and left the boy alone.

Though he wasn't alone for long.

"OOOhh!" Kierra came sailing into the room. She was, to say the least, absolutely beautiful. One might say that her appearance resembled that of a 50's pin up model. (Even if she was dressed more like a house wife from the 50's... frilly apron and all.) "You must be Rooker!" Mrs. Parker took a seat next to the boy and gave him a big hug without warning. She then did the unthinkable and gave him a kiss on the cheek. A red silhouette of her lips stained the boy's cheek. "I've heard so much about you." She absently wiped at the kiss mark. "You must be so excited."

Peircing blue eyes shone with the strength of a thousand stars as Kierra smiled to Rooker. Her blonde hair was neatly curled and pinned in place. Everything about her was so neat and tidy... just like the rest of the house. It was easy to see who the interior decorator for the Parker's was.

[Cres]

Rook didn't manage to think of anything smart to say before Mr Parker had already left him alone in the living room. He threw a glance at the couch but didn't sit - he was far too nervous for that; and then what if he accidentally did something to the sofa? He couldn't think of anything he might have accidentally done without actually having a drink in his hands or something, but he chose to take no chances.

Besides, in came sailing a beauty before he had the chance to rethink his decision about the couch. Rook's eyes went very wide as what could only be Arielle's mother came to him. She was so beautiful! No wonder Arielle was too! Her familiar approach - and especially the kiss on the cheek - unfortunately only served to heighten his panic over the situation.

"Yes," he answered, his voice suddenly a squeak. He swallowed and cleared his throat and felt the uncomfortable blush everywhere as he stared at her. "Ahem. I mean, yes, Mrs Parker. Me, I mean, I can see where Arielle gets her looks, Mrs Parker." He attempted a smile again.

[Sharise]

Mrs. Parker's smile grew even brighter. "You shameless flatterer you!" Red lips parted as if to speak, but soon closed again as the soft steps of Arielle could be heard wafting down the staircase.

Time seemed to move in slow motion as the beauty came fully into view; her own golden locks rolled into neat buns, and her white gown hanging perfectly over her body. A hand had attached itself to Kierra's mouth as she watched her daughter with pride. It seemed as if she could cry at any given moment.

"Well?" Arielle gave a nervous smile as she spun in a circle. "Does it look okay?"

[Cres]

[[Hate it when that happens. >.<]]

Rook's breath was caught somewhere in between his lungs and throat when Arielle appeared. He was certain he could hear distant music as she descended the stairs - like an angel choir - but maybe that was just his silly head. He couldn't do anything but stare at her. She was breathtaking - literally. When he began to feel dizzy he suddenly realised he had forgotten to breathe, and gasped for breath as unnoticeably as possible.

Spock had probably never worn an expression quite so much in love.

"Just being around her again is... intoxicating," Rook murmured, half to himself - a quote from another set of his favourite movies, the Star Wars. He felt himself all too much like Anakin Skywalker looking at Padmé. He swallowed and realised he must be sounding like a total idiot. He took a step forward and smiled to her - nervously, as usual. "Okay... is an understatement," he said.


[[I'm having a blast with Rook here - for once I get to use all my useless detail information on everything Science Fiction. XD]]

[Sharise]

"Oh, Ari." Kierra rushed to her daughter and hugged her, being sure not to ruin the girl's costume. She then ushered the blonde over to Rook's side and put her hand to her mouth again. "The two of you are just beautiful." She smiled. "You'll be the stars of the party."

On this note, Bryant stepped into the living room, two champaign glasses in either hand. They were filled with a bubbly, green liquid. "I do believe a toast is called for." The man smiled as he handed out the glasses.

Arielle seemed completely unphased by the odd concoction.... seeing as how she had helped her mother mix it. "Thank you." She smiled to both her mother and father, then turned to Rook. Her smile softened. "And thank you." Sleek, slender fingers raised, hoisting the glass into the air. "Father..."

Bryant smiled, as did Kierra and their glasses raised. "To," The man paused a moment, then smiled again. "A night to remember."

"A night to remember." Kierra's voice was a soft echo as she winked to Rooker.

Arielle's smile was brighter than the sun. Her parents already loved Rook. Almost as much as she did.

[Cres]

At all this festival happiness Rook could not believe it was all happening. He felt a twinge of longing in his chest as he looked at the happy family around him, the unity of them. He recalled he hadn't seen his own father in two months now. But he tried not to think about it as he took his champagne glass and raised it with the others, at first not registering its strange colour.

His own colour was a brilliant red which challenged the ripest of tomatos in its deep shade. He suddenly realised that Arielle must have been expecting a perfect evening - and her parents, for sure. What if he screwed up somehow? Nervousness for that thought made his hand shake considerably as he toasted with the others, not daring to try to say anything for the fear that all that would come out would be an unmanly squeak.

After the toast, he smiled - still nervously - to the family and raised the glass to his lips, only then realising what colour it was. He jumped a little and stared at the green liquid with his eyes a little wide.

"Oh, eh, um, ah, I'm not a real Vulcan, you know," he said, as it was the first thing that came to his mind.

Right after saying it he felt it was completely the wrong thing to say and blushed again furiously.

He didn't dare to say the next sentence, which would have been the note that his mother had forbidden him from drinking alcohol before he turned eighteen.

[Sharise]

The three Parkers smiled. Arielle shook her head. "Don't worry, it's just punch." She took a sip of the green liquid, and smiled once more.

"You're too cute." Kierra chuckled, then gasped as her eye caught the clock. "You too are going to be late! Now go, go!" She made swooshing movements toward the two teens and ushered them to the door.

Bryant grinned. "Now don't throw them out, darling." He stepped over to the door. "Would you like to take the car?" If Rooker didn't feel like driving, then maybe Arielle would. The Parkers were a very trusting family... perhaps a little too trusting.

Not that they needed to worry. Arielle knew Rooker was as perfect as they come. Bryant and Kierra seemed to know this as well.

[Cres]

Rooker never did get around to tasting the punch when Kierra ushered them toward the door - but he wasn't sure if that mattered. He stared at Bryant with a shocked expression when he offered them the car. Certainly, he would have loved to take Arielle in the car - the only problem was, he didn't have a driver's licence. His mom had thought he wasn't ready to learn how to drive yet.

Great, another addition to the most embarrassing moments of my life, he thought to himself as he tried to furiously think of something to say. As he glanced at Arielle he realised that there was no other way - if he refused the car he might insult these people, and saying he was too nervous to drive was just as silly as admitting to not having a driver's licence. Also, he was far too decent to lie and try to drive anyway.

"Ah, I... don't... know how to drive," he confessed sheepishly.

[Sharise]

Bryant's eyebrow's furrowed together, but only for a second. The boy didn't know how to drive? Ah well, that just meant he didn't have to worry about them drinking and driving. Not that they would ever do such a thing.

"You're not missing out on anything." Kierra smiled. She always tried her best to make others feel at ease, even if she was just a little shocked.

A smile was on Arielle's lips. She knew how hard that must have been for Rooker to admit, and she admired him for it. "Good, I love taking walks in the fall." She locked her arm with the boy's, then turned to face her parents as if to say 'we're ready'.

Bryant nodded his head. "You two have fun. Don't stay out too late, and above all..." He looked at Rooker. "Be safe." A grin spread across the man's face. "Okay, now get out of here, you two crazy kids."

Keirra fussed about, fixing this and that with Rooker and Arielle's costumes. "I want to hear all about it later!" She gave them both a kiss on the forehead and opened the door.


[Figured I'd give Rook a chance to say and do something. lol]

[Cres]

Keirra's words about wanting to hear all about it later made Rook almost panic again. He could just imagine it, Arielle coming home and talking long into the night with her mother - about what a horrible date Rook was, and how silly she was to ever agree going out with him in the first place. He closed his eyes briefly and felt himself truly like Spock in the episode "Naked Time" as he repeated the chant "I am in control of my emotions" to himself while smiling briefly to Arielle's parents and then taking her out of the door. He wondered a little what she would have said if he would have told her that he was not only at that moment thinking about a specific Star Trek episode, but that he could also tell the exact number and original airing date of that episode.

How lame.

"I'll... I'll bring your daughter home in time, Mrs Parker," he said nervously. "Good night, Mr Parker."

Then he started to walk away, hoping it seemed casual and normal. And hoping to the Force that there wouldn't be anything funny on the curb to make him stumble while Arielle's parents were watching.