Would TnT have kept their relationship to themselves?

[crystalswolf]

Honeybee, thanks for letting me know about the novel. I've only read The Good That Men Do" and kind'a had a similar thought about a Vulcan replacing the human Trip. I'm so with you on Firefly Wash & Zoe. I watched Firefly after watching Serenity and the second time I saw the movie I cried (not just for his death). I love Alan Tudyk. If you can make me want to cuddle you as one character then creep me out as another, you are an awesome actor. Connor Trinneer did this with Trip/Michael.

Silverbullet, I never really saw that as spectacularly different than the problems faced by other interspecies relationships. He sleeps in a bucket, she's always touting the benefits logic and no emotions, he always searching for a warrior's death, he only sleeps six days out of the year, etc.

What I loved about Odo and Kira was that the two essentially grew up together. Although his looks and demeanor seemed older, Odo had become "aware" a few years after Kira was born. Essentially he was younger than her, feeling isolated and fit in the only way he could.

The two were a very loving couple that had so many internal struggles, including the differences of their species, but (I think) they were dealt with beautifully w/o killing the characters literally or figuratively.

[Transwarp]

I'm curious about how many of you think they would tell Phlox about the bond?

They wouldn't tell anybody about the bond. Not because they're ashamed of it, or afraid of how others might react, but because it's nobody else's business. But they also wouldn't have an issue revealing it if the situation requires (as in those circumstances in Honeybee's stories). So if Phlox needed to know for medical reasons, they'd tell him, otherwise it would remain unmentioned. Also, if Phlox discovered it on his on and brought it up, they would not have a problem discussing it with him.

[Silverbullet]

In Terra Prime and Demons Phlox seemed to know a hell of a lot about T-Pol and Trip. He knows that T-Pol nhad never been Pregnant, he says to Trip you would know if she had ever been Pregnant or had the Embryo removed. How did Phlox know that? He must have been aware of the Bond. I keep getting the idea (from viewing Demons and Terr aPrive so many times) that T-Pol and Trip had a serious intimate relationship going by the time of Demons and Terra Prime. Why? Because T-Pol says she has never been regnant. since the subject of the pregnancy is the baby that is suposedly Trips and T-Pol's she would be saying that she has never been Pegnant by Trip. IF they had only the one sexual encounter i the Exmpanse (Harbinger) she probably would have said "I didn't get Pregnamt that nigt in the Expanse." Speaking "Never" indicates several intimate couplings. Never is plural to me. Phlox obviously knew much about Trip and T-Pol's intimate matters.

[Asso]

That sounds reasonable (as fars as Star Trek can be reasonable).

[Aikiweezie]

In Terra Prime and Demons Phlox seemed to know a hell of a lot about T-Pol and Trip. He knows that T-Pol nhad never been Pregnant, he says to Trip you would know if she had ever been Pregnant or had the Embryo removed. How did Phlox know that? He must have been aware of the Bond. I keep getting the idea (from viewing Demons and Terr aPrive so many times) that T-Pol and Trip had a serious intimate relationship going by the time of Demons and Terra Prime. Why? Because T-Pol says she has never been regnant. since the subject of the pregnancy is the baby that is suposedly Trips and T-Pol's she would be saying that she has never been Pegnant by Trip. IF they had only the one sexual encounter i the Exmpanse (Harbinger) she probably would have said "I didn't get Pregnamt that nigt in the Expanse." Speaking "Never" indicates several intimate couplings. Never is plural to me. Phlox obviously knew much about Trip and T-Pol's intimate matters.

When T'Pol tells Phlox that the use of Trellium D has improved her relations with the cew, he responds by saying "Commander Tucker, for example," or something like that. How would he know? What did he mean by that. I think he suspected something was going on between them already at that point.

[Asso]

When T'Pol tells Phlox that the use of Trellium D has improved her relations with the cew, he responds by saying "Commander Tucker, for example," or something like that. How would he know? What did he mean by that. I think he suspected something was going on between them already at that point.

I think he suspected something was going on between them already at that point.
I have no doubt about that.

[Silverbullet]

Certainly by Demons and Terra Prime there had to be an Intimate affair between Trip and T-Pol. Too much dialogue pointed to that. Phlox didn't seem at all suprised when Trip came in and asked about the Baby. Phlox defeinetly knew that T-Pol had never been Pregnant. Doubt if Trip had told him or T-Pol said that. Phlox must have given T-Pol physical exams over the years she was on board. He would have seen it if she had been Pregnant and bore a child. Believe that sort of thing shows up. Do Vulcan women have Strech marks? Hell the Math if TnT had only one sexual encounter and she got pregnant wouldn't add up. She Seduced him in the expanse probably at least a Year and a half before Demons and Terra Prime. Any Baby she might have had would be at least 10 months or better old. How long is a Vulcan Pregnancy? Even if the child is half Human?

TnTwere having an intimate affair and Phlox probably had a good idea they were.

[crystalswolf]

Aikiweezie, I thought about that too. I even thought perhaps Trip might have visited the good Doc after his night with T'Pol. As a human who'd just had sex with someone of a totally different species (his generation was less informed about such things than Kirk's +) he was bound to have some intimate questions that he did not consider during the heat of the moment. I don't think he could have a conversation like that without the word "Vulcan" coming up. I even thought about writing that possible scene but decided not to touch it.

[WarpGirl]

Didin't read through the whole thing, just not in the mood. But I say keep it a secret. Here's my reasoning, accepting and being secure in a relationship has absolutely nothing to do with any other person accept the two people in the relationship. If you can't accept and be secure with a partner all of the PDA and openess in the world won't make that relationship stable and lasting. Announcing from the rooftops is romantic yes, and everyone in love has the urge, but it also means less than nothing.

Starfleet has always been OK with dating. Riker had more under-relationships than is good for a man. The only person who can't seem to date is the Captain, but that isn't a regulation. However, Dinah got it right after Terra Prime can they really trust the entire crew? No way! Archer would probably get heat from Starfleet who wouldn't want the controversy both on Earth and on Vulcan. And I can't see TnT putting that on his shoulders. So they can't tell him.

Truthfully I think the only way they could live openly in safety is on Vulcan. Even though they might not be popular there, the odds of death are significantly lower.

[Silverbullet]

Crystakwolf, do you think that Trip would be worried about picking u pa Vulcan Social Disease? Or that perhaps Pubic Lice from T-Pol? (Better known as Crabs) I cannot see Trip going to Phlox at all. That would be revealing something that was private between TnT. Trip was, if nothing else, a Gentleman, and gentlemen don't blab. Why would Trip feel the need for a Doctor after having Sex with T-Pol? He might have needed one after she told him that he was a Lab Rat thenext morning.

[Aquarius]

Okay, ew...

[honeybee]

Given T'Pol's lack of sexual experience, I seriously doubt she would give any social diseases to Trip - and given the process of decon as well as the general awareness of any diseases you could pick up on a planet, I doubt Trip had anything to give her. They do get scanned for diseases/conditions regularly.

Now, the idea that one species could transmit something to the other because - say, natural bacteria was present in a Vulcan's body that disagreed with a human's body - that's not beyond the realm of possibility. But no doubt both of the would be aware of the possibility and take preventative measures. I think that 150 years hence, there would be systems in place to address such issues, if they existed.

[Kevin Thomas Riley]

I agree with "Commodore" KTR (congrats on your promotion. ),

Hum, I got promoted? When? How did I miss that?

But thanks!

There is s distinction between keeping things to themselves vs. "sneaking around". The first implies a desire for privacy, which Vulcans value, and Trip would also appreciate it considering how much Starfleet and others would be trying ti keep them under a microscope. While their crewmates would be professional, it"s also human nature to be curious about such an unusual situation. They'd want to enjoy their relationship as much as possible without outside interference. So while they may not actively hide what they're doing like teenagers having sex under their parents' radar, they're also not going to go out of their way to be public about it.

Agreed! That's what I was trying to say.

I'm curious about how many of you think they would tell Phlox about the bond?

Like I said in my post above, I think Phlox would know as of what happened in Bound. Why was Trip immune to the Orion pheromones? Archer would probably know too, but wouldn't really want to know or ask for details.

[Aikiweezie]

Crystakwolf, do you think that Trip would be worried about picking u pa Vulcan Social Disease? Or that perhaps Pubic Lice from T-Pol? (Better known as Crabs) I cannot see Trip going to Phlox at all. That would be revealing something that was private between TnT. Trip was, if nothing else, a Gentleman, and gentlemen don't blab. Why would Trip feel the need for a Doctor after having Sex with T-Pol? He might have needed one after she told him that he was a Lab Rat thenext morning.

I think the only reason Trip would go talk to Phlox is because that seems to be who Trip goes to to talk about "stuff." ( Not Chef not matter WHAT "the-abomination" says.) Don't all Physicians go through some basic psychological/counseling training? I think Phlox would offer good advice because of his training and his natural demeanor. I'm not convinced that Trip WOULD go to him to talk abot his "Sexual relations" , though. I think Phlox would just figure it out from subtle clues.

[WarpGirl]

I think Archer should be in a Don't Ask Don't Tell position. Because it doesn't matter what his reaction is, good or bad, it puts him in a spot that has no good ending politically. Like it or not Starfleet has its own politics and Archer while having a lot of political cache is still a victim of that.