curator-on-ao3

[curator-on-ao3]

All that really stood in Seska's way was Kazon misogyny. Otherwise she would have ruled a Kazon sect in a heartbeat.

It is disappointing that her story arcs were all dependent on men, when Seska by all accounts was an independent survivor. Seducing Culluh to get into the sect made sense to begin with, but Seska should have left his misogynistic ass behind pretty fast.

I always thought it was a lost opportunity to position her as a scheming lady MacBeth when she had such potential as a powerful enemy. I know they used the "Obsessed with Chakotay" bit to motivate her coming back to try and claim Voyager, but they could have pushed harder on the technology angle instead.

What I really would have wished for with Seska's character is that she was used as Janeway's narrative foil.

Seska steals, lies, manipulates and murder to get home. She will give technology to whoever can get her there faster. Janeway, by contrast, stands fast to almighty Federation principles. We could have seen the two journeys side by side, see Seska progress in power throughout the quadrant, see her sacrifice everything and everyone in her way.

We understand who Janeway is because we understand who Seska is.

Until of course some kind of showdown where everything comes to a head. Federation principles vs. Cardassian ruthless determination.

[curator-on-ao3]

Chapter 12 is up, and Uhura, M’Benga, and Spock are all wonderful. Plus big swings in highs and lows for our heroes.

Chapters: 1/16 Fandom: Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (TV), Star Trek: The Original Series Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Number One | Una Chin-Riley/Christopher Pike Characters: Number One | Una Chin-Riley (Star Trek), Christopher Pike, others in more minor roles Additional Tags: Alternate Universe: Old West, Love, Secrets, respect, era-consistent religiosity, Gossip, Hurt/Comfort, Grief/Mourning, courting, Falling In Love, cw for a church fire, cw for mentions of blood and phlegm, cw for era-consistent Sinophobia, cw for mentions of the U.S. Civil War, cw for non-main character deaths, some tense moments but I promise Chris and Una will be all right in the end Summary: “Evenin’, Miss Riley,” was the first thing he ever said to her, a tip of his hat and a shine in his eyes that she couldn’t place at the time.

“How do you know my name?” Una had asked, books held tight to her chest, sun low on the horizon behind him lighting up Christopher Pike like some sort of angel rising from the dust of the town’s main road, swarm of flies buzzing in the horse dung near his boots notwithstanding.

He’d chuckled, a fine sound. Thin, but fine, as if chuckling didn’t come easily to him but he’d practiced.

Una could appreciate practice at fitting in.

Story is fully written and I’ll do my best to post a chapter every few days. Please know, if you comment by chapter, I adore you.

[curator-on-ao3]

Me, in the year 2025, getting eyeliner tips from this man.

✨Spock Fashion Show pt. 2: GRWM 💋✨

[curator-on-ao3]

STAR TREK: SNW 1.10 - A Quality of Mercy

[curator-on-ao3]

Sometimes fandom is like I wish I could find it in my heart to tolerate your guy. You look like you’re having such fun chewing on him.

[curator-on-ao3]

it’s so crazy for a writer to spend hours rewording and editing on something as simple as one paragraph never feeling it’s good enough only for the reader to spend maybe 30 seconds on reading it.

it isn’t a diss to either the reader nor the writer but it makes you realize how overcritical we all are. what you, the writer, may feel is average or non satisfactory to the reader is exciting and new to them. they can’t wait for your next words and where the story will go. you see endless errors and insecurities but they see the beauty of your words, the effort into the story and how well you bring it all together.

overthinking will ruin happiness and your work. give yourself some grace.

[curator-on-ao3]

Chapter 11 is up, in which Una gets counseling (sort of) and Chris asks … more questions (definitely).

Fun fact: In this chapter, the Venn diagram overlap widens somewhat for the Una of this story and the Una of my Mirror Universe humor one-shot, Disarmed.

Chapters: 1/16 Fandom: Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (TV), Star Trek: The Original Series Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Number One | Una Chin-Riley/Christopher Pike Characters: Number One | Una Chin-Riley (Star Trek), Christopher Pike, others in more minor roles Additional Tags: Alternate Universe: Old West, Love, Secrets, respect, era-consistent religiosity, Gossip, Hurt/Comfort, Grief/Mourning, courting, Falling In Love, cw for a church fire, cw for mentions of blood and phlegm, cw for era-consistent Sinophobia, cw for mentions of the U.S. Civil War, cw for non-main character deaths, some tense moments but I promise Chris and Una will be all right in the end Summary: “Evenin’, Miss Riley,” was the first thing he ever said to her, a tip of his hat and a shine in his eyes that she couldn’t place at the time.

“How do you know my name?” Una had asked, books held tight to her chest, sun low on the horizon behind him lighting up Christopher Pike like some sort of angel rising from the dust of the town’s main road, swarm of flies buzzing in the horse dung near his boots notwithstanding.

He’d chuckled, a fine sound. Thin, but fine, as if chuckling didn’t come easily to him but he’d practiced.

Una could appreciate practice at fitting in.

Story is fully written and I’ll do my best to post a chapter every few days. Please know, if you comment by chapter, I adore you.

[curator-on-ao3]

[curator-on-ao3]

Chapter 10 is up, and that TOS fandom tag may be becoming more clear (with more to come). Also, Chris asks Una a very important question … and gets an answer.

Chapters: 1/16 Fandom: Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (TV), Star Trek: The Original Series Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Number One | Una Chin-Riley/Christopher Pike Characters: Number One | Una Chin-Riley (Star Trek), Christopher Pike, others in more minor roles Additional Tags: Alternate Universe: Old West, Love, Secrets, respect, era-consistent religiosity, Gossip, Hurt/Comfort, Grief/Mourning, courting, Falling In Love, cw for a church fire, cw for mentions of blood and phlegm, cw for era-consistent Sinophobia, cw for mentions of the U.S. Civil War, cw for non-main character deaths, some tense moments but I promise Chris and Una will be all right in the end Summary: “Evenin’, Miss Riley,” was the first thing he ever said to her, a tip of his hat and a shine in his eyes that she couldn’t place at the time.

“How do you know my name?” Una had asked, books held tight to her chest, sun low on the horizon behind him lighting up Christopher Pike like some sort of angel rising from the dust of the town’s main road, swarm of flies buzzing in the horse dung near his boots notwithstanding.

He’d chuckled, a fine sound. Thin, but fine, as if chuckling didn’t come easily to him but he’d practiced.

Una could appreciate practice at fitting in.

Story is fully written and I’ll do my best to post a chapter every few days. Please know, if you comment by chapter, I adore you.

[curator-on-ao3]

Ah, thank you for explaining! Those sentiments are so lovely, and I very much appreciate them! 🥹🫶🎉🍧❤️😘

I feel like I’ve been complimented by what you said on the ice cream post, but I want to fully understand so I may offer a more meaningful thank you. What does it mean that you consider me salted caramel wrapped in strawberry ice cream?

🫶🍧❤️

It definitely was a compliment, yes.

Its like, caramel sauce swirls in strawberry ice cream, you always stick around somewhere, and you're generally very sweet, like strawberry ice cream. It's really not that deep, I'm afraid.

[curator-on-ao3]

Patrick Ball as Prince Hamlet, aka King of Bisexual Disaster Sluts (of Denmark) 👀

[curator-on-ao3]

[curator-on-ao3]

Neapolitan.

Because, @deadheaddaisy, you contain layers, any one of which is marvelous, yet combine beautifully. 🫶

Tagging anyone who wants to play! 🥳

new tag game!!

i’ve just always wanted to try and start a tag game so uh yeah :D

…what flavor of ice cream is the person who tagged you?

@notthesodaa @ribbitingconversation @lowercaserowan @yosefinthetrenches @janenotbirkin @residentoddity (and any of my other moots) (no pressure!)

[curator-on-ao3]

it's important to pause and remember sometimes that the story is more important than the word count

don't let an arbitrary number get in the way of telling your story the way you want it told

[curator-on-ao3]

Margo Madison being summoned to Director Nikulov's office

[curator-on-ao3]

Chapter 9 is up, in which Chris and Una continue to rewrite propriety … to a limit.

There are also potatoes.

Chapters: 1/16 Fandom: Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (TV), Star Trek: The Original Series Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Number One | Una Chin-Riley/Christopher Pike Characters: Number One | Una Chin-Riley (Star Trek), Christopher Pike, others in more minor roles Additional Tags: Alternate Universe: Old West, Love, Secrets, respect, era-consistent religiosity, Gossip, Hurt/Comfort, Grief/Mourning, courting, Falling In Love, cw for a church fire, cw for mentions of blood and phlegm, cw for era-consistent Sinophobia, cw for mentions of the U.S. Civil War, cw for non-main character deaths, some tense moments but I promise Chris and Una will be all right in the end Summary: “Evenin’, Miss Riley,” was the first thing he ever said to her, a tip of his hat and a shine in his eyes that she couldn’t place at the time.

“How do you know my name?” Una had asked, books held tight to her chest, sun low on the horizon behind him lighting up Christopher Pike like some sort of angel rising from the dust of the town’s main road, swarm of flies buzzing in the horse dung near his boots notwithstanding.

He’d chuckled, a fine sound. Thin, but fine, as if chuckling didn’t come easily to him but he’d practiced.

Una could appreciate practice at fitting in.

Story is fully written and I’ll do my best to post a chapter every few days. Please know, if you comment by chapter, I adore you.

[curator-on-ao3]

Five sentence fic: Margo x Sergei

Work, the Problem

Legal pads of equations on her desk, a slide rule next to a calculator, yet the piano was what beckoned.

Music followed rules but also broke them, notes quiet until they were soaring, jazz allowing for improvisation within a form, her hands almost caressing the black and white ivory keys that wouldn’t be hers for much longer.

If only she was the kind of person who could be satisfied with a small life, with wherever the Witness Protection Program would send Sergei and his family to achieve the banality necessary for anonymity.

Instead, she was the Director of NASA, soon to be a defector to the Soviet Union and the safety from the FBI offered by a Roscosmos that would let her continue to do her work.

And she was deeply, deeply in love with a man whose equation was the inverse of her own, his journey to the United States a quiet note of victory while her impending escape to the Soviet Union was a new variation on the ever-dissonant chord of her life: the quest to achieve a job well done.

—

My other five-sentence fics for Margo x Sergei on Tumblr: angst and sexy fluff.