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It was a minor reception, to greet a few United Earth ambassadors to Tapen II. A year ago, a alien species called "Vulcans" had introduced themselves his government: first contact. As time progressed, and official channels between the two planets was established, the Tapen government learned the Vulcans were merely one member of a larger "Coalition". Such an organization seemed appealing to the Tapens, who felt like one small planet in a galaxy full of problems. They asked the Vulcans to introduce them to other members of this Coalition, and after what felt like endless prodding and pushing, they acquiesced. So, there Ganthe was, at the welcome reception for the incoming human diplomats.
The Vulcans had graciously described these humans as the "least offending" other member of the Coalition. Genthe found he agreed with that assessment, and then some. These humans were excessively friendly. While the Vulcans preferred only to attend official events, avoiding anything they saw that could be defined as 'fraternization', the humans welcomed dinners and the like. While this certainly made them more agreeable, Genthe thought, they certainly came with their own set of challenges.
His first time meeting a human began fairly smoothly. For starters, he had actually met two. They weren't apart of the official human delegation, but rather officers of the ship that had brought them.
"We're supposed to head to Heldon IV, but we figured we'd stay for the reception and meet the locals," The captain had explained, while another member of his crew (well, he assumed so. they wore the same strange blue jumpsuits) nodded along. They had such strange squished faces, entirely lacking a proboscis nose. He had asked
how they got anything done, to which the humans displayed the strange digits on the end of their hands, which they assured him worked nearly as well as a proboscis, which Genthe couldn't help but doubt. He did believe, however, these humans could make promising allies, though his opinion as a junior member of the diplomatic service was hardly influential.
Frankly, he had forgotten by now what he had even said to start the mess. Something about the Vulcans, he supposed. The humans had been curious about his experiences earlier with them, and he had answered to the best of his ability. It was something he had said about them, however, that had sparked the human's reaction. It was the reaction itself that made him realized he'd made a mistake.
The alien curled back his lips, to reveal the two rows of teeth behind. his eyes narrowed, and a series of strange vocalizations came from its throat. his companion joined in, and Genthe's stomach dropped. He was not an expert in alien communication or body language, but the meaning was clear. The comment had offended the alien captain.
He had heard much about how humans tried to avoid war, and how they took offence to pointless violence. Indeed, that was one of the qualities that had interested the Tapen government, who had historically been opposed to any contact or trade with far-away aliens. Considering the captain whose teeth were bared and was making those horrid noises right in front of him, Genthe instinctively felt the captain might leap forward and attack him despite all of that. The captain hadn't moved towards him though, and considering these humans had made a name for themselves as peacemakers in the coalition, he came to the conclusion that this might only be a simple display of displeasure, rather than a promise of immediate violence. This, of course, did not mean the situation was not dangerous. Offending the visiting humans, the first night they had arrived no less, would be disastrous on the his future in the diplomatic service, immediate implications for Human-Tapen relations non-withstanding.
He had been frozen in place for more than a couple seconds, and had the captain said something?
"You alright?" the alien (Archold was his name? Oh, why couldn't he remember basic facts like these when they were most important!) asked again.
"I-I- I apologize," he quickly said, immediately moving to damage control. "If I've said something to offend, or to threaten-"
"Offend?" the alien asked, glancing at his companion.
"I don't know what he's talkin' 'bout either, Cap'n," The other alien (Trip! At least he remembered that!), said. "I think you've been gracious hosts"
"I dont understand." Genthe's looked between them, its suprise and shock quickly turning to indignation.
"Me neither," The alien captain (Archer most definitely) said. "I think there's been a misunderstanding here."
"Misunderstand? How could I misunderstand that- that- gesture! Baring your teeth at me like that!"
A moment of silence, before the captain spoke.
"Do you mean a smile?"
"Yes." Genthe said, once the captain recreated the gesture to clarify. "I assumed- is that not a signal of aggression in your species."
The aliens looked at each other again and repeated the expression, along with the strange noise.
"No, not at all," Archer explained "Far from it."
"And that sound?" Genthe said cautiously.
"A laugh!" said Trip, and the two humans.... 'laughed' even harder.
Genthe tried to mimic them, but to his frustration could hardly even figure out what part of his mouth to move. Perhaps it was impossible for Tapen to preform, with some quirk of alien biology allowing the humans to make the noise. "I'm afraid I cannot 'laugh', whatever that is."
"Well what do you do?" Trip said once they finally quieted. "Y'know, when somethings funny. D'you just...." he circled his hands, and Genthe decided he didn't even want to bother to guess what that meant.
"No, we do not move our hands," the humans looked at him expentantly, and he reluctantly showed them the particular curl of proboscis that fit the situation. They seemed perfectly relaxed, no long-term damage. In fact, it seems they had brushed off the entire misunderstanding already.
Genthe tried to apologize for the fuss he made, but the human captain refused to even let him try, explaining that this was exactly the sort of thing that was inevitable in meeting new species. In the following years, the humans turned out to become the allies Genthe had originally hoped they might be, though that was little comfort to the Genthe moments after the two humans left, left to stew in his own embarrassment.
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"I mean, that's weird to think about,"
"How so? it is illogical to assume that two species who evolved on entirely different planets would just so happen to have the same meanings for similar gestures"
"I mean yeah, but that doesn't make it any less weird to think about. Someone getting all huffy like that over a smile."
"Indeed. Have you selected a film for movie night yet?"
"Well, yeah. why T'Pol, I'm surprised you even asked."
"I merely asked because if you hadn't, I had a few films which might suffice"
"..."
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"You. Have suggestions for movie night"
"Yes. If you would stop laughing I could explai-"
"Sorry, sorry, just never thought I'd see the day."
"It's merely a continuation of-"
"-your study into humans, or whatever."
"Precisely"
"…"
"…"
"…"
"I can tell you want to say something, Trip."
"Well its just- you couldn't just watch them on a PADD or something? It had to be movie night."
"Trip."
"Yeah?"
"Good night."
"... Good night."