Narrative Web
S2E6
· Star Trek: The Next Generation - Loud as a Whisper

Silent Dialogue of Desire

Troi and Riva share an intimate moment of sign language communication after the Warrior/Adonis departs. Their initial awkwardness transforms into playful, sensual instruction as Riva teaches Troi gestures for 'dream,' 'love,' and 'butterfly'—words that carry layered emotional resonance. This charged exchange moves beyond functional communication into territory of unspoken attraction, with Riva insisting Troi sign 'like you mean it' while maintaining intense eye contact. Their shared laughter and the physical connection of their hands alighting on one another mark a pivotal moment where Troi moves from clinical empathy to embodied participation in Riva's world. The scene foreshadows sign language becoming the critical diplomatic tool while establishing profound personal stakes between them.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

1

Troi asks how they communicate; Riva signs and Troi initially fails to interpret, then watches Riva's whole-bodied signing and begins to follow, transforming confusion into active learning.

confusion to tentative comprehension

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

2
Deanna Troi
Counselor
 primary

Initially self-conscious, then exhilarated by the thrill of non-verbal connection, with undercurrents of attraction

Progressively sheds professional detachment, first mirroring Riva's gestures self-consciously, then surrendering to the playful sensuality of signing 'love' with fists crossed over her heart and hands fluttering in butterfly motions.

Goals in this moment
  • • Achieve genuine connection beyond empathic observation
  • • Master the physical language of Riva's world
Active beliefs
  • • Non-verbal communication can bridge cultural divides
  • • Physical gestures carry emotional truth words cannot express
Character traits
Receptively playful Sensorily engaged Emotionally vulnerable
Follow Deanna Troi's journey
Rivan
Edo Council Host
 primary

Confidently flirtatious with an educator's passion, reveling in Troi's responsiveness

Commands the space through expansive signing—teaching Troi with theatrical flair, insisting she sign 'like you mean it' while locking eyes, then guiding their hands into synchronized butterfly motions that dissolve formal barriers.

Goals in this moment
  • • Convert Troi from skeptic to participant in his communicative world
  • • Establish sensual rapport beyond diplomatic formalities
Active beliefs
  • • True communication requires full physical and emotional engagement
  • • Attraction can be harnessed as a diplomatic tool
Character traits
Charismatically demanding Physically expressive Playfully provocative
Follow Rivan's journey

Location Details

Places and their significance in this event

1
Brekkian Guest Quarters

The quarters' intimate confines amplify the physicality of Riva and Troi's sign language exchange, their leatherbound chairs creaking as they lean into each other's space. Neutral Starfleet furnishings become an ironic backdrop for their emotionally charged non-verbal dialogue.

Atmosphere Electrically intimate with lingering meal remnants underscoring domestic proximity
Function Stage for cross-cultural sensual discovery
Symbolism Neutral territory transformed into a bridge between communication paradigms
Access Previously open to the Warrior/Adonis, now exclusively shared
Soft lighting accentuates hand gestures and facial expressions Absence of the Warrior/Adonis creates unoccupied space charged with possibility

Narrative Connections

How this event relates to others in the story

What this causes 4
Foreshadowing

"Riva's private signing lesson with Troi foreshadows the episode's later pivot to sign language as the viable path to communication and negotiation when the Chorus is gone."

Silent Crisis, Dancing Hands
S2E6 · Star Trek: The Next Generation …
Foreshadowing

"Riva's private signing lesson with Troi foreshadows the episode's later pivot to sign language as the viable path to communication and negotiation when the Chorus is gone."

Binary to Blur: Data's Silent Mastery
S2E6 · Star Trek: The Next Generation …
Foreshadowing

"The intimate scene of Riva teaching Troi signs foreshadows Riva's eventual strategic pivot to make sign language the tool of diplomacy—an idea he ultimately embraces when renewing his mission."

The Turning Point
S2E6 · Star Trek: The Next Generation …
Foreshadowing

"The intimate scene of Riva teaching Troi signs foreshadows Riva's eventual strategic pivot to make sign language the tool of diplomacy—an idea he ultimately embraces when renewing his mission."

Turning Disadvantage into Strength
S2E6 · Star Trek: The Next Generation …

Key Dialogue

"TROI: Is that dream?"
"RIVA (signing): Stronger. Like you mean it."
"TROI: Is that a butterfly -- or is that desire?"