#and the fact she dated Spock

[airlocksandaviaries]

Is it just me or is Christine Chapel in Strange New Worlds giving fujoshi who’s gonna realize she’s a man in 5 years or so

[porcelaintoybox23]

"This character has no interest in the opposite sex but has chemistry with one same gender character, so they're gay/lesbian."

Said character: canonically shows interest in opposite gender or is equally disinterested in people of same gender barring one person.

[1shirt2shirtredshirtdeadshirt]

Sexism in TOS: Worst Offender, or Progressive in Retrospect in Comparison?

I see a lot of folks claim that TOS was the most sexist of the Star Trek shows by a landslide -- and while I agree that it definitely suffered from the sexism of the times, I also have other perspectives to share to give some food for thought.

I am of course not insinuating that TOS isn't sexist -- it is, but I have to ask folks to consider the breadth and depth of Berman's sexism in his run and ask yourself: Was Gene Roddenberry genuinely more sexist in his storytelling and delivery than Rick Berman?

I'm not telling you to feel one way or the other, but all I ask is that you hear me out and consider some perspectives and make your own balanced assessments. Nobody is obligated to share my opinion, but it means a lot just to have folks hear it and see their thoughts on the subject. So here is what I was originally responding to:

Someone's response to this photo:

"Devil's advocate. This was a part of the popular form of cardio during the production time of TNG. Yes, it was heavily sexualised by men, but so is literally every other way women work out. Men have been caught taking pictures of women while trying to do dead lifts, running on tracks and working on sled machines. They post them online to share too. The fact is, there is no way a woman can be shown working out without it going there. And yeah,t hat includes the combat forms of workout they do in Star Trek. Just look at how Dax dresses when she spars with Worf. Yes, they're dating, but still, same goes when 7 does and any other female.

Aerobics routines like this were made dirty and cringy. This was what women wore then by and large. This is how the workout was done. We make it cringy."

My response to them:

"I respect your take, but I disagree on a few fronts.

The miniskirt was chosen by the TOS female cast, not the male cast, specifically requested by Grace LW and affirmed by Nichelle and Majel who would go on to vehemently defend the miniskirt over the years as comfortable and embraced by them.

Grace said it was comfortable and seen as a symbol of female sexual empowerment during the 60s and thought it would be a progressive garment (and turns out that it was, as it was later adapted and worn by male crew as a skant on TNG) -- FYI those were designed by a gay man and Gene approved them.

This was also supposed to be Spock's TMP outfit:

Literally lingerie.

We saw both Uhura (who saves Kirk in from Marlena Mirror Mirror) and Yeoman Landon (the first to initiate combat with a classic Kirk-esque kick to help the Captain being attacked in The Apple) carry out their combat training in their Starfleet uniforms without ever being made to change into any ridiculous workout gear.

In fact, I'd argue Jim Kirk was sexualized even more than the ladies of the week on the show and I saw his naked body more than anyone else's on a fairly regular basis. He wore red yoga tights while topless in Charlie X while the women wore full length gymnastic suits that covered their entire body. If anything, it went out of its way to avoid sexualizing women practicing fitness in those scenes and instead focused on Kirk.

Gene confessed that he asked to have Shatner filmed in suggestive/provocative ways to "give something to the ladies", so he -- as he said -- liked to "film him walking away" or have him conveniently busting out of his shirts in just about every episode as it were, because Shatner apparently had great assets. LOL

Gene made an effort to at least sexualize both if he was going to sexualize one, and he carried that attitude forward in wanting the m/m and f/f scenes in the background on Risa for TNG. He also insisted that the men and women wear skimpy outfits on THAT TNG planet. You know the one. LOL I mean the dudes even had on less than the women:

Gene also gave permission to K/S shippers to have their conventions back in the 70s when he was asked for permission. Gene and Nimoy felt with all the skimpy outfits they had the ladies wear, why not let the ladies and gay men have their fun, too? It's how we ended up with moments like this:

Yes, those are two people dressed up as Kirk and Spock's penises doing interpretive dance. Gene didn't give two damns. LOL

In my eyes, that was a very progressive take on Gene's part for the 60s. It was actually PARAMOUNT STUDIOS who had the big problem with K/S stories and vehemently tried to shut them down. Gene literally hired slash authors on his payroll and even had several slash stories/writers published in his official Star Trek books (The New Voyages & The New Voyages II).

I feel I saw Uhura and women in TOS engaged in more physical combat/altercations defending themselves that Troi or Bev were shown holding their own.

In fact, Kirk used to get furious when someone would "dress up" his female crew members without their consent (Trelane episode, Shore Leave episode) because like his male crew members, he wanted them to be treated professionally and to also have his male crew act professionally.

Berman brought some of his own personal biases into Star Trek that in some ways regressed it. While TOS had blatant sexism and was called on it time and again, that show was made in the 60s -- a solid 21 years before TNG. We as a modern audience understood why some of it was cringe/sexist due to the time period -- look at any other media coming out in the 60s and Star Trek was miles ahead of what other shows were doing.

Compare that to Berman who was churning sexist stuff out when women like Starbuck and Scully were simultaneously on screen on other programs airing, and we had already had Sigourney Weaver and other strong women in Holywood playing respectful roles.

In my eyes, there was no need of the sexism seen in TNG but especially VOY and ENT. There was no excuse for it when other shows were writing women far better and a number of those weren't even set in the future like Trek was, making it age even faster due to having those dated perspectives frequently highlighted.

In the Center Seat documentary as well as "The Fifty Year Mission" book you will find cast members, writers and other studio alumni who attest to this. Some discussions from "The Fifty Year Mission":

"First, Berman was supposed to have been a real sleaze ball . . . According to Terry Farrel, he would go on constantly about how her breasts weren't big enough, how she should do something about it, and how his secretary was a good example to follow as she had huge breasts. She even had to have fittings to get larger bras, and that was all done at his behest.

Later Berman and Braga developed a name for Jeri Ryan's character prior Seven of Nine. They originally called the character "perineum" which if you look it up it is the area between the anus and the scrotum. Later they floated the name "6 of 9". I mean, what does it tell you about where these two were coming from in the development of this character if they had names like that put forward in all seriousness for her?"

Gene Roddenberry also had some of his own more progressive ideas for TNG cut or watered down by Berman. Roddenberry agreed TNG should have homosexual relationships and representation at a con in the 80s and insisted on it in a meeting with his writers -- something Berman later would not honor. Gene wanted the AIDS episode, showing m/m and f/f in the Riza scenes -- these were some of Roddenberry's requests to include in TNG that Berman later stonewalled.

Berman's era was sadly dated by his own misogynist bias, IMO, to the point that it can somewhat hurt the shows he worked on through his cringe egoism and blatant disrespect toward his female cast.

There is a reason why Gene could keep female actresses working with him and Berman had a revolving door of women that he couldn't seem to keep working for him -- he was abhorrent to women, on and off set. Gene wasn't perfect at all, he had a lot of issues himself -- but Berman was a whole other level. Just look at what he did to poor Jolene Blalock, Marina Sirtis and his toxic commenting on her body weight which exacerbated her struggles with eating disorders, or how he treated and talked to Terry Farrell.

Anyway, just some food for thought. I'm not saying anyone is wrong regarding a take like that, but there are a variety of ways to look at this. Gene Roddenberry isn't a saint by any means, but it definitely bothers me how folks will tote the Berman era as if it were the lesser of two evils or the more progressive depiction of women when I felt there were far more concerning portrayals of women in his era with far less justification.

(P.S: I don't event want to go near the sheer amount of "creepy old dude/villain preys on innocent/naïve/scared young woman or little girl" stories there were in Berman's era, either. But that's a whole other can of worms I can write about in a part 2.)

[chekovbeforeyouwrekovyourself]

Further elaboration, elucidation, explanation on my spirk fanfic thoughts..

I don’t read a lot of Spirk fanfic, but I did a decent amount of spirk rp with a girl that I was loosely dating in high school and she had recommended me a spirk fic way back then and I reread it at least a couple times a year because it really really is that good. It’s a court procedural with shenanigans and hijinks.

Anyway, when I say all this keep in mind that I haven’t watched a majority of TOS or a majority of the TOS related movies, kind of.

And also when I read spirk it’s less like Pine’s Kirk or Ethan Peck’s Spock and more like gold shirt light hair and dark hair blue shirt vibes.

They’re both so fascinating to me.. lots of inverse daddy issues, present vs absent fathers but still living in their shadows, both brilliant, traumatized, cocky in their own ways. Both are younger brothers. They both have something to prove, seemingly to the world, but also to themselves.

And also, the thing that really gets me about Star Trek is that going to space is still so cool, it’s still a dream, especially where star fleet is concerned. There are still new things to discover out there, there are still patches of space that require skill to navigate, real inquiry is rewarded for the most part, and space is less a job or a workplace and still a passion.

It’s their passion. It’s really impactful. And they aren’t them without it. Like I read a lot of fanfic and you can reduce a lot of characters down to key qualities and some quirks and have a sort of reskinned version. Bucky Barnes running a cafe in Red Hook is still a vet with ptsd and a sister and charm, Steve Harrington is a lonely and neglected child with a lot of wack ass coping mechanisms even if he is like a singer in a modern band au.

Kirk and Spock though, it’s like, bizarre and sort of unfulfilling to take them away from their passion. Space molded them into the men they became, and the fact that they found each other.. in all of space? It’s crazy to me. They could have been ships in the night. Ships in the ocean even, but they collided.

[ashc-from-ao3]

Trouble with a Vulcan

Spock x female reader

Spock was sitting on his t'hy'la's couch waiting for her to return, the enterprise crew was on a two week shore leave and (name) had decided to make the most of it. She went back to her home town to enjoy the scenery, the town was a small rural community and little trouble came it's way. So when (name) said she was going out for a walk only moments before he thought nothing of it. He snooped around for something to do until she returned and came apon her dvd's of old earth movies and shows. Most he deemed illogical but one seemed to hold a value in his sharp mind. Jeopardy. The viewer gained knowledge from watching and knowledge to a vulcan was always exciting. He put in the first disc and sat back.

-----(name)'s pov-------

(name) Was smiling brilliantly the young woman bounced along the streets reacquainting herself with the town. She was walking down a alleyway when a large thuggish man stepped out of the shadows. She went to turn around but her path was cut off by another man.

"Well hello darling. What is a thing like you doing all by yourself?" (name) tried to go past the first man but she was knocked to the ground and her vision blurred before she blacked out

-----spock's pov------

Spock had sat through four episodes of jeopardy, he knew most of the answers and only two were unknown to the half vulcan. He was now starting to worry about (name) she had been gone two hours. The town was not that large, she should be back. He was just getting ready to search for her when the door slammed open, it closed just as quick and the deadbolt was turned into place with a heavy *thunk* followed by a second *thunk* signalling the locking of the other lock. Spock reached the door and saw (name) slumped on the ground. Her hair was matted with mud and blood. Her cloths wear torn and she had several bleeding scrapes and rapidly forming bruises. She was panting and shaking, spock made it over to her faster than he ever had before. He helped to to stand and held her at arm's length

" (name) what happened?" (name) whimpered and tried to snuggle into spock but he held her away from him so he could observe her,

"I went down a alleyway and some men......." (name) trailed off unable to answer, instead she looked up at Spock hoping to find anger in his gaze, anger towards her attackers at least . She knew of the precision driven power in her boyfriend's body and she would love to see him vulcan nerve pinch the two men. However when she gazed at him, he showed nothing not a flicker of concern,anger or even pity...nothing. Since they had started dating Spock had been more lenient with his emotions around (name),he was still as logical as ever but he let her see the human side he so often tried to hide from others. The fact he showed no emotions scared her.

"So you feel nothing after hearing that your girlfriend was attacked? Not a sliver of anger? NOTHING?" The woman was horrified by the fact Spock was still unresponsive. She removed her arms from his still frozen grasp,unlocked the door and fled going to the one place she felt she would be safe, her best friend scotty's house. She flung open the door and fell sobbing into the engineers arms as she explained what happen. Scotty's face did contort in anger and the Scotsman started swearing in his thick accent, that only got thicker as he got angrier .

Meanwhile Spock had finally managed to compute that someone who was not him had dared to touch what was his dared to harm what was clearly marked as his. He was logical and calculating and when it came to the bedroom he was just as thorough when giving (name) love bites around her neck as he was when saving the enterprise from one of kirk's hair brained schemes. The bites clearly stated she was his, his to touch and no one else's. Anger finally came though quickly followed by worry and then confusion as (name) was no where to be found. He quickly thought of the other members of the enterprise crew who she would go to. He searched each crew members house down to places where she would never get to and then he finally figured it out, Mr.Scott! (Name) and Mr,Scott wear close she would definitely go to him in a time of need.

Spock frantically banged on Mr.Scott's door and when he opened it the Scotsmen knew instantly what was up.

"Mr.spock, she asked me not to let you in but I can see you need to speak to each other." Mr, Scott moved aside and pointed at the closed bathroom door.

"Cleaning up" was his only explanation. Spock needed no more promoting and. Instantly he was by the door.

"T'hy'la? You you there? I must speak with you about my actions." He heard a muffled Russian swear,curtesy of Chekov and Scotty drinking nights, followed by a soft sigh, he held his breath hoping she would for once be logical about her actions and let him explain. She was. (name) opened the door carefully and dressed in only her undergarments and a oversized bathrobe. She sighed heavily and dragged him into the bathroom.

"T'hy'la I mu-" Spock was cut off by her placing her hand on his mouth before she lent forward and kissed him

"Spock it's okay, I was over emotional and I overreacted. I couldn't expect you to fully understand what I said in the four seconds I gave you. I am sorry I reacted very unlogically." Spock looked at (name) and enveloped her in a comforting hug

"You never react logically, it is one of the reasons I love you."he whispered as he gently drew his large hands up and down her back and sides in a comforting action. Eventually (name) started calming and she giggled happily at having her vulcan back in her arms and being back in his.

(name) leaned up and kissed Spock with all the passion and love she could muster, Spock quickly returned the kiss and his hands had started to roam over the woman's tiny body, suddenly a loud "ahem" broke the couple apart. (name) Flushed red and Spock's face was flushed as well Scotty stood in the doorway of the bathroom a smug grin on his face.

"Now I am glad ye are back togetha but could ye please do that at home?"

(name) Name smiled and leaned into Spock as he wrapped his arms around her protectively he leaned his head by her ear and whispered

"It would be illogical to continue this with someone watching but we will most certainly continue this later."

[electronickingdomfox]

Spones/McSpirk behind the scenes (season three)

Before the start of the new season, Roddenberry sent a memo addressing problems with the characters in the last previous episodes. It's dated April, 18, 1968 (original here):

The single most numerous and most consistent complaint from fans of all ages groups and levels has been the fact that Spock and McCoy no longer “battle” as they once did. Again, no one dropped the idea, no one is at fault, we simply didn’t realize how well it worked and how much the fans loved the bickering between our Arrowsmith and our Alien. No one believes for a moment that they do not secretly like each other but let them show it and we invariably are deluged with irritated fan responses. Another way, I suppose, of the fans saying they don’t want an exercise in fellowship… they want our characters to be proud individuals with differing points of [view] and perspectives. They want our people to be men who have the guts to differ without necessarily in the last act falling tearfully into one another’s arms and apologizing for earlier harshly speaking to each other.

Now, I'm not sure how effectively they tackled this in the actual episodes. Roddenberry wanted the show to be more serious, and I feel that much of the affectionate bickering was lost. Opinions?

Moreover, it's ironic that they ended up showing exactly that "falling into each other's arms after apologizing":

The following are excerpts as found in These Are The Voyages: TOS Season Three (Marc Cushman). From the script of "The Empath":

Gem’s expression is curious. She touches Spock’s shoulder softly, then withdraws her hand. He does not react.... As she looks from the hand to Spock there is love and wonder in her face. She has seen beneath what angered McCoy -- Spock’s apparent callousness and cold logic -- to what the Vulcan officer kept carefully hidden inside -- his love for his colleagues.

If there was still any doubt about the meaning behind Gem's gesture... The novelization of the episode by James Blish describes the scene in very similar terms. Probably he was working from this script.

Judy Burns (writer of "The Tholian Web") on developing the script for this episode:

“So, we flipped the whole story and made it Kirk who stays behind. We all sat down, including Chet [with Freiberger, Justman, and Singer], and we started to pound the new story out, with Kirk being the one who has gone away. And it opened up the possibility for what would happen between Spock and McCoy, if Kirk were gone. And it was the first time I’d come across the classic triangle, and what happens to the classic triangle when the third leg is gone, especially when it’s all a love story between the three of them. And they said, ‘We can actually start to see how Spock and McCoy really feel about each other if you take Kirk out of the equation.’”

"When it's all a love story between the three of them." Nothing said.

[sleepynegress]

A COMPREHENSIVE & AUTHENTIC UHURA LOVE/HISTORY POST

The above is where Roddenberry 1st employed Nichelle Nichols [click to watch the full clip]. It was a military show based on Roddenberry's own experiences, the episode is called To Set it Right (I highly suggest reading the wiki article about it).

You should note two other actors, whom he later pegged for Star Trek are in the episode.

They dated briefly and then became good friends way before Trek came about.

Miss Nichols was already an accomplished singer and dancer who performed regularly w/ Billy Eckstine and Duke Ellington

Roddenberry's 1st show, The Lieutenant, was canceled/pulled from the air before these scenes bluntly dealing with racism could air (there's blackface as punishment for the racists at the end of the show, in a case of 'he 'a little confused but got the spirit' for the times, so tw)

He created Star Trek to try to soften the blow of all the social messaging he wanted to insert from his military experience. Star Trek was basically, a submarine drama placed in a sci-fi setting. He made it diverse on purpose because the military helped him travel and serve with all kinds of people. Roddenberry was inspired by that.

Uhura was the first person to read for Spock and in fact, helped to shape the character with her reading and based many of the traits of Uhura (formerly Uhuru) on Spock.

She was basically a glorified secretary. She played the part with poise, joy, and the 60's style womanism she got to play out for those times... Everything from her mini-skirt (which Nichelle herself called very comfortable) to her smile, and teasing lines, and quips were about her playing "big" in a small role. She made every moment, every look, every line, and movement count:

Roddenberry cracked jokes about the fact that the network never figured out that Uhura was fourth in command.

Nichelle was the only main cast member who was not salaried. She was paid by the hour. This attempt at marginalization actually resulted in her being the highest paid at times, because of the long hours.

Nichelle was not let in the front entrance at times, her fan-mail was kept from her, and she grew frustrated with the constant cutting of her scenes, lines and storylines. This is why she justifiably attempted to leave. The bigots in production did not like her being there (and if we're being real, were it not for Janice Rand's actress Grace Lee Whitney having gone through so much and thus losing her job in the 1st season...Uhura might have had even LESS presence)

The lost context in MLK convincing her to stay was that YES she was minimized and could make more money and be more fulfilled on broadway, but her symbolism and presence meant so much at a time when Black women weren't on TV unless as a racist caricature cleaning a house, and even that was rare...that she stayed.

One of her best allies was DeForest Kelly, who threatened to quit if they fired Nichelle. George Takei was her absolute best friend on the show and in life (she served as his Best Woman at his wedding).

There was an unfilmed episode in which Uhura and Deforest would have played reverse roles in "racial dynamics" on a planet they visit

Spock and Uhura were originally supposed to kiss in the alien mind control episode, but Shatner demanded to do so for the publiicity.

Her work to recruit marginalized people as astronauts, as in personally going to colleges and talking to candidates after the show is a staggering achievement that arguably is the most potent of any castmember in any of the Trek series post-show. Sally Ride, Guy Bluford (she personally recruited the 1st woman and 1st black astronaut), Mae Jemison (the 1st black woman credits her for inspiring her to become an astronaut).

Uhura did finally command the ship in the animated series. She would not have gotten to voice the role, but for Leonard Nimoy making it an obligation that all the original actors voice their parts for him to come on.

Scotty and Uhura in the film was definitely a pair the spares situation, in which both were the leftover senior citizens with the writers just going "why not?"

it was beyond insulting and she did protest about the scene where she's bumbling through a giant translation book to speak to klingons for laughs in trek 5 ...but her best moment IMO is her pulling a gun on the young ensign in the transporter room in Trek 3...sadly her ONLY scene in the damn movie.

Miss Saldana got to play to MANY corrections in JJ Abrams rebooted Trek, from being amazing at languages to having an actual life & love, to confidently turning down Kirk at every turn.

FUN FACT!! Both JJ and Bob Orci both expressed disappointed shock that the love story between Spock & Uhura got more hatred from fans than BLOWING UP PLANET VULCAN.

another FUN FACT!! The love story between Spock & Uhura is what grabbed the old school Star Wars fan (JJ Abrams) enough to come aboard to direct. Yep. JJ ships Spock & Uhura.

Zoe's iteration became the 1st version of Uhura to speak confidently in Klingon

Celia Rose Gooding becoming Uhura brings around a lot of Uhura's qualities full circle, IMO. As she is also from theatre (like Nichelle) and has a beautiful singing voice as well as the charm. Zoe's iteration was sharper, and much more protective, professional, & mature, about her life and love.

Celia Rose has the youthful curiousity and stars in her eyes and had vulnerability from her first intro... I loved the eagerness the crew showed to being in her orbit, seeing the glow of her talent and being drawn to that, to have a part in nurturing that.

As I've said... Celia IMO has the most dazzling smile, giant warm brown eyes, fantastic curves, and an energy that feels essentially Uhura, & that is all light, joy, a bit of uncertainty, -from the light singing (!) and the growth to her joy in discovery... I'd love to see her writing move away from serving and be more about her wants needs and growing in friendships/loves.

But Celia is a gift and is perfectly cast.

Essentially Uhura = femininity, graceful carriage, gorgeous smile, excellence in engineering and translation (canon!), ability to sing and play the Vulcan lyre, sharp womanist wit, love for her U.S. of African-Kenyan culture and being beloved by all crew...

When Miss Celia hummed those gorgeous notes to the alien entity on that comet?? That Solidified that she IS Uhura IMO.

I 100% think they fucked up by killing Hemmer, because that mentor-mentee relationship was giving marginalized coming together and bonding over everybody else's bullshit and I was here for it...it was giving me Data and Geordi updated...and since then, IMO they've lost track and given us the same kinda backwards wingwoman role BS, that people who like to pretend to be her fan shoehorn her into.

...but I have high hopes that they'll course-correct.

All this to say ALL OF THE ABOVE is Uhura and anyone calling her ugly, bossy, pushy, annoying, whatever is just sad little hater who doesn't know wtf they are talking about.

[branwenjade]

They were confused. A professor never came to one of the meetings, especially not that professor. The co-head of the club, Jim Kirk, had been late, nothing new there he usually was a little bit late every club meeting, and the professor had followed him closely.

"Professor Spock, it's a pleasure you could join us today," Uhura said, hoping to hide the pleasure she was feeling at his appearance.

Spock nodded politely, his eyes traveling over to the snack table where Jim was talking to another cadet, but Spock could tell that Jim was growing uncomfortable by the other's attentions. "Who is that next to Cadet Kirk?"

"Cadet Mitchell, why?"

"In the last three minutes he has made eight separate inappropriate, unwanted sexual advances towards Jim."

Uhura laughed quietly, "Knowing Kirk the advances aren't unwanted." That's when she noticed the glare Professor Spock was giving him, "It's not a secret that Kirk's kind of a slut. Hopping from bed to bed, different partner every night."

"I would not listen to baseless rumors if I were you, Cadet," the words were practically growled, before Spock stalked over to the table and shocked practically everyone by wrapping his arms around Jim.

"Did you know that apparently I'm a slut who jumps from bed to bed?"

"The only two beds that I know you sleep in are the bed in your dorm and the bed in our apartment. I do not see how that is jumping from bed to bed. Nor does the fact that we've had a quite active sex life equate to you being a 'slut' as the only person other than myself that you have been sexually involved with is our wife."

No one spoke for a moment, until finally Spock spoke again, "I personally find it quite disturbing that someone who claims to be one of Starfleet's brightest cannot comprehend the word 'no'. My husband did decline your first proposition, the following seven were unnecessary. Am I correct in the assumption that you are the Cadet Mitchell that Jim is thinking of getting a restraining order for?"

The room filled with hushed whispers as Mitchell grabbed his belongings and stormed out of the room.

"Oh, thank gods. That guy has been hitting on practically everyone, and no matter what you're screwed. You go out with him and... questionable decisions are made, like having sex on the first date when that goes against everything you stand for, and then he gets bored with you and dumps you, only to then start having rumors about you floating around campus. Or you tell him no flat out, and then you're a bed hopping slut who gave him an STI."

Uhura looked guilty as she heard the words, she'd heard the rumors about others in her class, but never believed any of them, except for the ones about Kirk. Why would she believe the rumors about Kirk, while ignoring the exact same rumors about her roommate, who she knew wasn't ashamed of the fact that the rumors were basically 100% accurate about her? Was she still angry about how they had met and punishing him for something that he had apologized for the very next day?

[t0ast-ghost]

So the thing is I wasn’t going to comment on the sixth episode. I just got home from a hella good play and I’m tired so I relax with Star Trek but holy shit

What IS that

With that HELLO and welcome to my first thoughts on the sixth episode (The Enemy Within) of the original Star Trek series

Here we go:

- that is a fucking dog

- IS THAT BLOOD?!? On Star Trek???

- so he got transporter cloned.. WHY IS HIS FACE LIKE THAT THO

- I like the fact it’s told a bit in retrospect, like it starts off with the star date and saying that at the time they didn’t know he got cloned

- MCCOY! His friendliness and then the “I have no sympathy for clumsiness” bro wha

- DONT YELL AT MCCOY

- McCoy not knowing what to do about Jim so he goes to Spock lol

- what the fuck is that fuckin thing, it’s rabid man.

- anytime someone is holding the creature there is literally no reason for them to be holding it. Like Kirk is just holding it and then HANDS IT TO SPOCK.. WHY IS THIS NORMAL NOW

- so do people casually just sit on tables here? First we had McCoy, now Spock. Is it just science/medical officers?

- Vulcan nerve pinch for the win

- POV your boyfriends are deeply concerned for your wellbeing (side note: bones looks so soft in the first pic. He cares so much)

- “you have a point, Spock.” “Yes. Always, doctor” STOP FLIRTING

- “If I seem insensitive to what you are going through, you must understand it’s the way I am.” HE SAYS THIS WITH ALL THE CARE IN THE DAMN WORLD. Spock is the most emotional character I have ever seen

- uh oh the circuits

- nooo Sulu! Do they not have better cold protection?

- YEAH I HOPE YOU’RE IN PAIN FUCKER

- so I think what they’re trying to promote is the idea that there’s the kind and indecisive side and the animalistic “sinful” side that has all the impulses and power to make decisions and together they work so that the former side can calm the latter to be more… civilized?

- “god forbid I have to agree with Spock” they’re married and you cannot convince me otherwise

- was that dog okay? Like it was really fuckin angry at something

- HES DEAD JIM MOMENT! WE HAVE A HES DEAD JIM MOMENT

- “for once I agree with you, doctor” THEY ARE MARRIED

- Spock is so riled up rn (every time he shows emotion I’m commenting on it because I think he is so so emotional but then his whole thing is he isn’t)

- SPOCK YOUR LOGIC ISNT LOGICING (having a human half and Vulcan half I think is a bit different than literally being split into two people, but what do I know)

- they are literally the angel and devil on his shoulder, but married, and also in love with him

- what no no bring Sulu back. That was such a good delivery of lines I am so

- this episode shows the power imbalance between Kirk and Janice and that messaging could be more powerful if they really wanted. Like showing how Janice felt forced to say she was okay with it and wouldn’t tell anyone because it was the captain I feel was a big step to take in the 60s (because it was rarely if ever talked about especially on tv) but it still wasn’t enough and was treated horribly in the end. They brush off her experience and also let Kirk be near her which is not okay. I know they wouldn’t but I wish they’d actually addressed the fact that Kirk can pretty much get away with anything and the crew wouldn’t/couldn’t stop him unless they deem it truly necessary (which would be way to far)

- I think the Kirk stuff could be more impactful

- some of those close ups on Kirk are crazy

- Bones is so damn worried about him in the transporter room

- SPOCK IS STRESSED AND HE HESITATES

- “the imposters back where he belongs, forget him” but isn’t the thing is that he is you? Like he’s still there and apart of you, Kirk

Okay, that’s episode six. I don’t have much more to say about this episode.

Ep 1

All other episodes

[doublemyheight]

Ethory day 4: Free day

Summary: Remember Ethans dad offering Ethan hockey tickets when he thought Ethan was gay? Well here he knows Ethans dating Rory and thus offers hockey tickets once again!

“Hey Ethan?”

“Yeah?” Ethan called back to his dad from the living room, him and Jane were watching a movie while their parents made dinner together.

“Can you come here?”

Ethan stood and furrowed his eyebrows, had he done something? Had Jane? Had Benny?

He had no clue.

His dad was setting up the table for dinner and there were two hockey tickets on the table.

“Woah, nice! You got hockey tickets for us? When?” He picked up the tickets and looked at them. “Front row too?”

Smiling, he looked back up at his dad, who was also smiling. But he looked a bit nervous.

“So, I know that I tried to do this before, but you turned the tickets down. But well, now that you are, dating someone. I thought you could take ‘em to a game and have some fun.”

“Oh.”

The tickets were for him and Rory. That was sweet of his dad? Kinda? It was a little weird that his dad basically paid for a date for him and Rory but his dad was being supportive of it. So.

“Thanks.”

He smiled at his dad and saw the relief spread across his face.

“Okay, great. So, it's for 2 weeks from now. Enough time to get his parents permission and organize everything. Um, which I'm totally up for helping you out, unless you want to do that on your own that is.”

“Dad, thanks. I'm uh, gonna go put these in my room, okay?”

“Yeah, yeah of course. But come right back down, dinners done.”

“I will.”

He turned around and ignored that Jane had been listening in, he rolled his eyes at her and she stuck her tongue back out. Nosy little sister as ever.

—

It wasn't hard at all to get Rory's parents to allow him to go to a hockey game in another town on a weekday. Surprisingly easy in fact.

Rory said it was because when his parents heard that he was invited to a hockey game and wanted to go they were excited about it.

He was pretty sure his parents would be the same level of excitement about him wanting to do an improve dance competition.

Ethan's mom was driving them to the game and back, she was meeting with a friend for some shopping while they were at the game. The plan worked out and now they just had to go and have fun.

“And you remember I'm not a hockey expert?”

Ethan laughed and rolled his eyes, “yeah I remember. I'll be the hockey expert for the two of us.”

“Good.”

They couldn't hold hands in the line but they had their shoulders pressed against each other and it was enough.

“Didn’t you almost die because of that?”

“Oh yeah, Coach Steiner, that was very not good.”

“How did he know that you know all about hockey?”

“Rory I was on the hockey team, he knew.”

“I would hope he knew he was the coach!”

“No that’s-” Laughing at his boyfriend Ethan kept them moving forward in the line. “I told him that I knew all about hockey when I was at try outs. He needed 2 other people to be benchwarmers and me and Benny got it because of my hockey knowledge.”

“Why did Benny even want to be on the hockey team? I didn’t get it.”

“So girls would like him.”

“Ohhhh, maybe I should have been a benchwarmer too!” Rory winked at Ethan.

Ethan rolled his eyes, “I don’t think you're warm enough to be a benchwarmer. You’re always so cold.”

“Perks of being the Ror-ster! But I so could of warmed a bench!” He leaned forward to Ethan and whispered almost too quietly for Ethan to make out. “I’d just flirt with you and you’d warm the bench plenty.”

Embarrassed Ethan stuttered and blushed.

“Rory!”

Rory grinned at him and took a few steps forward with the line, Ethan followed.

“You can’t just say that!”

“And why not dear Ethan?”

“You-you just can’t!”

“Your complaint has been noted, I’ll file it with the council.”

“The council? Which council?”

“Why the best council to have ever counseled of course! Yoda, Thor, Kirk and Spock, Ironman, and Wonder Woman!”

“I could hear the lack of comment you know.”

“No clue what you’re talking about!” Rory started to whistle innocence, it was always very comedic when he did that.

“It’s Kirk, and Spock! Not Kirk and Spock! They are separate people!”

“Would you say their “people”, they aren’t human.”

“Okay, you’re fucking with me, Kirk is actually human so it definitely applies to at least him. But! But! Aliens can definitely have the word “people” apply to them in certain contexts.”

“Well I think neither of them are to be classified “people” that’d be uhm. Stupid, no, what’s that other word?”

“Bizarre?”

“No.”

“Insane?”

“No, hey do they sell food?”

“They do, I have some money my dad gave me for some don’t worry. Wait, are you, hungry?”

“Nope, just wanted to make sure you weren’t.”

“Oh, okay. Was the word preposterous?”

“Ga-zoom-tight.”

“Absurd?”

“Yes! That one! It would be Absurd to classify them as “people”, you just simply can’t do that!”

“No you can-”

“Tickets.”

“Oh, uh.” Ethan blinked and realized they were at the front of the line. A grumpy looking 20 year old dude with a very bad haircut stared at him.

“You two do have tickets already, don’t you? We don’t sell them here, you were in the wrong line.”

“No, hold on, here.” Handing the tickets over the attendee checked them.

Then he realized.

“Hey hold on when I said preposterous what did you say?”

“What, uhm. Oh! Ga-zoom-tight.”

“Why are you adding an m?”

The ticket stub was handed to him and they were waved through to the entrance. He knew exactly where to go for seats, his dad had favorite ones.

“Cause that's how it's said, duh!”

“Okay, spell it out.”

“No! It's not one of the words you spell, it's like, like special comic book words but for the ears.”

“Okay no, it's a real word and it has an actual spelling.”

“Well then you spell it!”

“I don't know how, and anyways-”

Ethan could feel Rorys hand brush against right before the vision swam his mind.

Rory cheering and screaming and jumping back as someone was slammed against the barrier

Rory buying him a hotdog

A puck being tossed over the barrier and Rory missing catching and it landing right on his nose

Ethan came back to Rory looking concerningly at him. He had grabbed Ethans shoulder and there was a concerned lady looking at the two of them.

“Ethan?”

“Uh, sorry. The, the thing.”

“A Bad thing?”

Was it bad?

No, it wasn't. It just showed a fun time.

“No, c'mon let's go sit down.” He smiled at his boyfriend reassuringly.

“Okay!” Rory smiled back, accepting the truth and ready to have fun.

[callsign-phoenix]

I wrote this as a part of my falltober fics, I hope you like it!

It is a Jake ‘Hangman’ Seresin x female!reader imagine.

Thank you @famfan-1034 for proofreading!

Day 12: Costumes

Warnings: none

You were so extremely single that you decided to pimp up your costume to make it a little more provocative.

You had opted for one of your favorite childhood films, deciding on Jessie from Toy Story, but pepping it up a little.

Your last relationship had ended quite a while ago and you were ready for something new, to get out there and party, including a lot of drinking.

Halloween was the perfect time for it, so you joined your coworkers in going to a Halloween party.

Bradley had suggested it and all of you had agreed to it, deciding to all go in costume.

While no one knew what the other was wearing you were sure it would be fun and you decided to carpool with Nat.

She was dressed as some kind of superhero and you entered the bar receiving an approving whistle or two.

After downing the first shots of the evening you found your friends and joined them, taking each of their costumes in.

Bob and his boyfriend were dressed as Frodo and Sam, Mickey wore a USS Enterprise uniform along with Spock’s telltale pointy ears and Bradley had donned one of his typical Hawaiian shirts along with a hairdo that was only fitting Ace Ventura.

When you looked at Jake though your breath caught in your throat, and everyone else started chuckling when they made the connection.

You hadn’t talked to Jake much in your joint time at base because he seemed too cocky for your liking, but you couldn’t deny the fact that your heart started beating faster at his sight.

He was undoubtedly dressed as your costume’s better half, Woody.

Jake was already staring at you and in the dim light you could swear that his pupils were dilated as he took you in.

You could feel the heat rush to your cheeks and you shifted in your stance.

“Toy story was my childhood,” you said simultaneously and once again everyone laughed out loud.

There were a few seconds of silence between you and you could see a blush playing around the top of Jake’s ears.

“You look very grown up, though,” he said more shyly than you had ever heard him speak and your eyelids fluttered in response.

You didn’t know why seeing Jake so taken aback affected you so much, but you felt a heat run through your lower stomach at rendering Jake so speechless.

You were just as speechless as him, though.

“Well, I think you’ve found your dates for the night. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do, babes,” Nat said with a daring and excited smile on her face as she stepped closer to Bradley, lacing a finger through the belt loop at the back of his jeans.

It became clear quickly that Nat didn’t shy away from spending the night with a friend and fellow aviator so you had no chance but to give Jake a chance.

You got yourselves a drink and you downed it quickly with Jake watching you.

When your eyes met again you decided to just go for it, leaning up to press a kiss to his lips.

Jake was as surprised as you were but he eagerly kissed back, wrapping his arms around your waist as your cowboy hats connected and tumbled to lay on the strings around your necks.

When he finally pulled away he looked at you with a hunger that made your knees buckle.

“Shit, you’re so hot,” he whispered before reaching up to retrieve his hat and setting it suggestively onto your head.

“You know that means you’ll have to go home with me tonight,” he said with a voice huskier than usual, and you nodded breathlessly.

You did go home with him and you found out how much more than just Toy Story you had in common, starting a relationship that though having a rough start became something neither of you ever wanted to live without.

tagging: @starkleila @mayhem24-7forever @green-socks @letsfvckingdance @shadeds-library @kmsryles343 @yespolkadotkitty @whateverbagman @neptunes-curse @sweetheartlizzie07 @top-gun-rooster @iloveprettyboysblog @ateliefloresdaprimavera @imjess-themess @littlebadariell @angstyjellybean @marchingicenotes7 @midget713 @supernaturaldawning @gspenc @adorephina @gigisimsonmars @dempy @bespinnn @tipsykeen @malindacath @aerangi @kassieesworld @kwanimations @18crazybutcutealsopsycho @marvelandotherfandomimagines @luckyladycreator2 @mavericksicybabe @kendra-rose @desert-fern @mavrellover91 @allivingstone01 @rhettabbotts @withakindheartx @trikigirl271 @cherrycola27 @airedale17 @bonitanightmxres @ratcatcher2world @glowingtree @wingmanvenus @classyunknownlover @oliviah-25 @natasharomanoffisbaebby

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[anonymousewrites]

Logos and Pathos (AOS Edition) Chapter Two

AOS! Spock x Empath! Reader

Chapter Two: In the Academy

Summary: (Y/N) continues on in Starfleet and meets someone unusual, but not unlikeable, at the Academy.

            (Y/N) focused intently on their notes in the lecture. Stubbornly, they ignored the feelings of confusion and general negativity that always accompanied higher-level lectures. Some students just never had a good time. But (Y/N) was determined to focus through the haze of emotions. They had been around empaths their entire life—a few non-psychics with less psychic presence wouldn’t be a problem.

            “That’s all for today,” said the instructor, and everyone packed up and left.

            (Y/N) threw their back over their shoulder and walked out of the room. In their head, they planned how they were going to fit the homework for this class into their study schedule for midterms coming up.

            “Hey, (L/N), do you want to study later?” said their friend Uhura—a student a few years behind them but advanced enough in languages to be taking communications courses with them.

            “Sure,” said (Y/N), smiling. “But is your roommate Gaila coming?”

            “I don’t think so. She’s going out tonight on another date,” said Uhura.

            “She isn’t bringing another guy back to your room, is she?” said (Y/N).

            “I hope not. I’m going to have to talk to her about that if we keep rooming for the next few years,” sighed Uhura.

            (Y/N) chuckled.

            “I wish I was in your year, and then I could room with you,” said Uhura.

            “I have my own room for accommodations against being constantly overwhelmed by others’ emotions,” said (Y/N). Their empathy wasn't a disability, but it was a cause for accommodations where they could be given, and Starfleet was committed to serving the different needs of its students. “So I don’t think that would happen.”

            “Oh, right,” said Uhura, nodding. “How are the rest of your classes going?”

            “I’m in my last year, so they’re just getting harder and harder,” said (Y/N), smiling.

            “I still have like…two years until that level of difficult,” said Uhura. “For most of my courses, anyways.”

            “Don’t you have three years of school left?” said (Y/N), raising an eyebrow.

            “I’m going to finish early,” said Uhura confidently.

            “That’s going to be a lot of hard work, but if anyone can do it, it’s you,” said (Y/N).

            The pair walked into one of the dining halls and went to grab food.

            Uhura grinned. “I’m glad someone takes me seriously. Sometimes some of the students are so condescending. Especially the ones in our communications class.”

            “Right, they think because they’re older they’re smarter,” said (Y/N), laughing and rolling their eyes.

            “Are they like that with you?” asked Uhura.

            “A bit, yeah,” said (Y/N). “I don’t go around talking about test scores or grades with everyone, so they think that I’m not doing well.”

            “I’ve heard them mention your psychic abilities. Does the empathy make it harder?” asked Uhura.

            “No,” said (Y/N), smiling. “Some people don’t want to take me seriously because I’m an empath and focus on emotions.”

            “Ugh, are they some of those ‘facts over feelings’ people who just ignore that the world needs both?” said Uhura, rolling her eyes.

            “You’re perceptive as ever,” said (Y/N), laughing and sitting down with their friend.

            However, Uhura’s words rang true. Due to their attractive features and impressive empathy, people perceived them as weaker than they really were. They were constantly underestimated, not taken seriously. They didn’t see (Y/N)’s ability to sense emotions as an advantage; they saw it as a weakness because, to them, emotions clouded judgement.

            They couldn’t see the whole picture. (Y/N) could. In the real world, facts were helpful, but the emotions within people, people affected by facts, were just as significant. (Y/N) understood that, so no matter how many times people overlooked their dedication to Starfleet as a passing folly of someone in tune with emotions.

            “Hey, (L/N), what are you up to today?”

            (Y/N) sighed as the familiar emotions that made them disgusted flew over them and they turned to see the face of a familiar classmate.

            “Flynn,” said (Y/N) civilly. “I’m studying.”

            “Are you sure you’re not interested in going out? Tonight? With me?” said Flynn, grinning.

            And there was the beauty issue. It wouldn’t be a problem if (Y/N) was just attractive and that was it. But no. People had to make it a problem by thinking that they were just a pretty face. That they were making their way through the academy by being attractive and giving a smile to everything. That they were someone everyone could flirt with successfully.

            (Y/N) certainly couldn’t change anyone’s mind on the first two issues. But the third was not something they let slide. They were their own person and deserved to be respected as such.

            “No, I’m not,” said (Y/N). “I’m studying tonight.”

            “Oh, come on, it could be fun,” said Flynn. “I know how to have a good time.” He winked.

            “They gave you their answer, Flynn,” shot back Uhura. “Go back to your friends and leave us alone.”

            “I’m waiting for their answer,” snapped Flynn.

            “Which I already gave you. Twice. I’m not interested in you,” said (Y/N), lacing their fingers. “So I’d appreciate being left alone.”

            Flynn scowled and stomped away.

            Uhura rolled her eyes. “What a jerk.”

            (Y/N) waved a hand. “Nothing I haven’t dealt with before. His pride is wounded. He won’t try it again.”

            “I’m sorry you have to deal with that,” said Uhura.

            “It’s alright. We’ve all had bad experiences with people,” said (Y/N), smiling.

            They just got more than others since they had a bit more of an attractive face than others. Luckily, (Y/N) could sense people’s emotions when they approached them and knew if any connection was going to be genuine or for the sake of their own fun. And (Y/N) knew one thing: they weren’t going to date anyone that didn’t really care about them as a person above anything else.

l

            (Y/N) sighed as they checked the clock. “I should head back to my dorm,” they said. “I have a longer walk than you, and I have a lab in the morning.”

            “Alright,” said Uhura. “I should sleep, too. I have an exam tomorrow.”

            “Good luck,” said (Y/N), waving as they left.

            They headed through the Science Quad of Starfleet Academy towards the upper-classroom dorms. The sun had set already, but lights illuminated the well-worn paths. (Y/N) hoisted their bag farther on their back as they passed the largest lab building.

            “Hey.”

            (Y/N) stopped as a voice called out to them from the lawn next to them. Flynn stepped out, flanked by his friends Stephenson and Boone. Feeling the tension of their emotions resting heavy in the air, (Y/N) narrowed their eyes.

            “You still uninterested in going out?” said Flynn, crossing his arms.

            “Yes,” replied (Y/N) instantly. “I’m heading back to my dorm.”

            “Oh, then how about I come with you?” said Flynn, and his friends snickered.

            “I’m not interested in you, Flynn, or what you have in mind,” said (Y/N). “Leave me alone.”

            “Hey, don’t be so mean to Flynn. He’s a really great guy,” said Stephenson, stepping up.

            (Y/N) gripped the strap of their bag tighter. “That doesn’t mean I have to be interested in them.”

            “Oh, come on, a nice, handsome guy deserves such a pretty person,” said Boone. “Just give him a chance.”

            (Y/N) glanced around. They were alone. “No. I’ve made myself clear. If you continue to harass me, I’ll report you.”

            “Report me? Why? We’re just having a conversation,” said Flynn, stepping a pace closer.

            (Y/N)’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t take another step towards me. I know what you feel. Just leave me alone.”

            “Don’t be so rude,” said Boone.

            “We’re being nice,” said Stephenson.

            “Come on, just try having some fun,” said Flynn, reaching out.

            The moment his hand touched (Y/N)’s arm, the emotions became unbearable, and (Y/N) reacted to protect themself. They swung their back, and it hit Flynn in the face. He fell back to the ground. Stephenson and Boone jumped in surprise and turned towards (Y/N).

            “Don’t touch me,” said (Y/N), holding their bag tightly. “Don’t ever touch me.”

            They were ready to swing again. Backing up, they kept an eye on Boone while Stephenson helped Flynn up. Only one option left. (Y/N) turned and ran. They ran until they were out of breath, legs burning from strain, and safely back in their dorm.

            (Y/N) frowned and held their bag tightly. They had never had anyone trying to flirt with them go so far. (Y/N) had a feeling—that had nothing to do with their empathy—they had just brought trouble to their life.

            But I did the only thing I could. It was the logical thing.

l

            “Cadet (L/N)?”

            (Y/N) looked up from their books to see an academy administrator standing next to them. They quickly stood at attention.

            “Sir,” they said.

            “Cadet (L/N), you are requested to come before the Starfleet Academy Committee of Student Behavior for a disciplinary hearing,” said the officer.

            “May I ask for what, sir?” asked (Y/N).

            “For violence against another cadet.”

            Flynn.

l

            “Cadet (L/N), you stand accused of an act of unprovoked violence against a fellow Cadet, Cadet Flynn,” said the leader of the disciplinary committee, Barnett.

            (Y/N) stood before them, circled by men and women with severe expressions in grey uniforms. They straightened their shoulders, wearing their red uniform proudly.

            “The accusation is substantiated by Cadet Boone and Cadet Stephenson,” said another council member.

            (Y/N) didn’t glance to their left where Boone, Stephenson, and Flynn sat. Their smug satisfaction was smog in the air.

            “What have you to say in defense?” said another counselor.

            “I admit I was in an altercation with Cadet Flynn,” said (Y/N) firmly. “But Cadet Flynn initiated. I responded in self-defense.”

            “That is not what Cadets Flynn, Stephenson, and Boone claim,” said the counselor. “They claim you lost control of your anger and frustration due to the pressure of testing.”

            Using emotions against me because I’m an empath. (Y/N) refused to show their annoyance.

            “What do you claim occurred?” said Barnett.

    ��       “Cadet Flynn accosted me with Cadets Stephenson and Boone. I attempted to leave the situation, but Cadet Flynn turned physical, so I defended myself from harm,” said (Y/N).

            “Do you have anyone to substantiate your claims?”

            (Y/N) paused. “No.” Flynn’s self-satisfaction grew.

            “If I may.”

            All eyes turned to one of the officers observing the hearing. The room was large, but since this wasn’t a large issue, only the committee, cadets involved, and any officer who wished to be up-to-date with the issues of the academy (some were very involved in improving the campus so kept informed on these types of problems and altercations).

            The officer stood in a grey commander’s uniform. He had short, black hair and brown eyes. Severe eyebrows were offset by pointed years. He was a Vulcan.

            “Commander Spock,” acknowledged Barnett. “State your business.”

            “I am a witness to the altercation in this hearing,” said Spock.

            (Y/N) furrowed their brow. But there had been no one around. Still, the fear that spiked through Flynn, Boone, and Stephenson satisfied (Y/N).

            “I was in the laboratory preparing scenarios for a new Kobayashi Maru simulation,” said Spock. “I noticed a group of cadets outside of the window due to the strategic placement of Cadets Boone, Flynn, and Stephenson around Cadet (L/N). It was an attack formation like that of starships.”

            “We were just talking to them and standing there,” burst out Flynn defensively.

            His nerves betrayed the lie to (Y/N)’s empathy, but that didn’t matter.

            “Sit down, Cadet Flynn. You will begin another chance to speak if you wish,” said the counselor severely, and Flynn wilted. “Continue, Commander Spock.”

            “Cadet Flynn, Cadet Stephenson, and Cadet Boone moved closer to Cadet (L/N), who attempted to extricate themself from the situation,” said Spock. “Cadet Flynn then grabbed Cadet (L/N)’s arm. Cadet (L/N) swung their bag and hit Cadet Flynn in order to separate themself from any farther harm.” He held himself formally, and his gaze flicked out over the group. “They did not initiate the altercation and acted only to escape the dispute.”

            “Cadet Flynn, you may speak again,” said Barnett.

            “He’s lying. I don’t know why, but it’s not true. That Vulcan is just covering for the empath, another psychic, messing up and losing control,” said Flynn, panicked and emotional.

            Not acting rationally. A mistake in this situation, thought (Y/N).

            “I am a Vulcan, Cadet,” said Spock. “I do not lie.”

            Flynn paled. Not only was that a true, known statement, but Flynn had just made a bigoted statement against a commanding officer, a distinguished graduate of Starfleet Academy.

            “Thank you, Commander Spock,” said Barnett.

            Spock nodded.

            “Cadet Flynn, Cadet Boone, Cadet Stephenson, we will reconvene tomorrow for a disciplinary hearing on your actions,” said Barnett, looking at the three men. “Cadet (L/N), you will be called as a victim in the incident, but you may leave for now.”

            “Thank you, sir,” said (Y/N).

l

            “I’m glad those three got what they deserved,” said Uhura after (Y/N) explained everything that had happened. “Otherwise I would’ve been in an ‘unprovoked altercation with them.’ No one hurts my friend.”

            (Y/N) laughed at Uhura’s fierce loyalty. She was truly a great friend. “Thanks, Uhura.”

            “At least Commander Spock in defense of you,” said Uhura. “Cadets and officers respect him.”

            (Y/N) nodded. “It was my word against three men, so his statement helped.” They paused as they saw the very man they were speaking about walking across the quad. “Oh, there he is.”

            “I can tell you want to go and speak to him,” said Uhura.

            “I didn’t get a chance to say thank you for his appearance during the hearing,” confirmed (Y/N).

            “Go on. It’s almost class time for me, anyways,” said Uhura. “Bye!”

            (Y/N) waved before walking across the quad. “Commander Spock?”

            He paused and turned to face them. “Cadet (L/N),” he acknowledged.

            “I wanted to thank you for speaking at my hearing,” said (Y/N).

            “It was three men accosting a single individual. It was evident their words would be taken against yours, even if a lie. The logical choice was to step in,” said Spock.

            (Y/N) nodded in understanding. “It was still helpful, so thank you.”

            “Do you have a class?” said Spock.

            “No,” said (Y/N), shaking their head. “Not for another hour.”

            “Would you be opposed to answering a few questions in regard to your empathy as a Celian? I have not met another, and I appreciate an understanding of the more promising cadets graduating,” said Spock.

            I’m a promising cadet? (Y/N) stood a little taller. They had been working very hard for years to prove their skill. To hear it recognized felt nice.

            “I don’t mind answering any questions,” said (Y/N), smiling.

            Spock nodded and began walking once more, likely towards his office or a lab. (Y/N) followed alongside him.

            “What is your specialty?” said Spock.

            “Negotiations and Communications,” said (Y/N).

            “Your empathy assists you in gauging reactions,” said Spock, nodding.

            (Y/N) nodded. “But I work around it when I can’t sense their emotions,” said (Y/N), smiling.

            “There are limits in all psychic abilities,” said Spock. He glanced at them. “Are you able to sense my emotions?”

            “No. Vulcans do not embrace or react with their emotions, and they have psychic blocks for just such things, so I cannot sense their emotions,” said (Y/N), smiling. They didn’t mind having a “weakness.” They didn’t need to sense everyone’s emotions all the time. They were good with people anyways. “Though I likely could if I touched someone blocking their emotions. The contact allows for a connection to form.”

            Spock nodded. These were logical vulnerabilities and solutions. “And Celians embrace their emotions.”

            “Well, we had to,” said (Y/N), laughing lightly. “Our planet found peace by embracing the idea of respecting others’ emotions and working together when someone is in pain. If we hadn’t, we would have destroyed ourselves.”

            “A very different culture from Vulcan,” said Spock. Celia’s solution to strife was to embrace emotion; Vulcan’s solution was to reject emotion. “Fascinating.”

            “It is interesting,” agreed (Y/N). “But they both found peace, so that’s what matters. I think the humans call it ‘two sides of the same coin.’ ” Their golden eyes gleamed in amusement. “Logos and pathos.”

            Spock raised a brow in the slightest betrayal of mirth. “Quite.”

Taglist:

@a-ofzest

@grippleback-galaxy

@genderfluid-anime-goth

@groovy-lady

@im-making-an-effort

@unending-screaming

@h-l-vlovesvintage

@neenieweenie

@keylimeconstellation

@wormwig

@technikerin23

@ilyatan

@nthdarkqueen

@kyalov

[thegeminisage]

star trek update time. i realized when i went to type updates on enterprise that i never posted my notes about the 4th and final tng film so that's what this post is

first of all, this move was in fact bad, but the most hilarious part of it was trying to convince us that tom hardy was sir patrick stewart's clone. i'm a little bit face blind and even EYE can see the difference there

secondly, the planet remus introduced so much confusion. why are the alien planets naming themselves after earth mythology? what is a reman? this was the only thing i really felt curious about and they never explained ANYTHING

audible reaction when picard came onscreen the first time. perfectly synchronized cries of "gross!" we're professional haters. luckily, we don't have to see him again until picard. i won't miss him.

when he told data to shut up at the wedding toast :( WHY DOES PICARD HATE AUTISTIC PEOPLE

we did use the mexico filter in this movie. really something.

it's always funny when we find a disembodied data head and despite my low opinion of tng i do appreciate that they jumped on that opportunity whenever possible

"why is your head shiny" also good. get his ass

riker's beard is back. thank god.

WEPT when captain janeway showed up. it should have been the janeway movie. i wanted to know everything about how she was doing!!!

giving data's memories to some random robot we found on the ground is so stupid. what if that guy is lore. what if he's rigged to blow

"she's a predator!!" i don't remember what this means

the viceroy looks like nosferatu

BALD TOM HARDY IS SO FUNNY. bald on bald violence. solas ass looking motherfucker. the clone reveal makes total sense when you consider tom hardy is also bald. thats the big similarity. don't worry about the lucious lips on tom hard picard lost them because of a lifetime of diplomacy or whatever. even his hs pic was bald

sexism against deanna was rampant in this movie as always. picard as like hey can you get mind raped again for us? like in the line of duty? fuck off

data licking that nasty shit like connor dbh. please.

"romulans aren't women" i love tng. just kidding, i don't

tom hardy freeing slaves like solas lol. this movie is way more fun when you pretend its dragon age

speaking of, that whole telepathic assault bit with the sex scene was wretched and vile but it was VERY rook and solas

she was so hot in her nightgown by the way. please free her but she was so hot

her revenge was also SO hot. in a better movie all the sexist stuff would have been worth it for that. just once she deserves to fight back. it was so cathartic.

i miss geordi's visor. the blue eyes are racist

they mentioned the borg in this movie and it made me miss 7

"life is meaningless if you're still alive" i also don't remember what this means

"tom hardy neck bad" i don't remember this either but i believe me

data neck pinch! i also miss spock

the little cgi squirrel or whatever was so cute. i had to check doesthedogdie

picard little spooning in this gd movie. hey also why is he cheating on beverly again didn't they get together fr in the tng finale? i hate him

tom hardy went out so sexy. impaled himself on that spear. this is the worst movie ever made and he still put his pussy into it

the scene where data had to shut down that other data :( that genuinely got me, like he's so lonely

data's princess leia moment...i can't believe they killed him fr. i know he's in picard so i was shocked when they ended the movie w him still dead

also, wasn't this movie about putting down a slave rebellion? because tom hardy was helping free slaves? granted i wasn't paying a lot of attention but captain picard, what the fuck?

also, picard being sad while geordi has to work...geordi was his bestie you bitch!!

my final note here is "WORD CUCK CHAIR" which i think i typed after worf watched riker and deanna hold hands. never forget that they dated. also, someone needs to ask him about his dead wife.

[victimsofyaoipoll]

Round 2

Propaganda Under Cut

Mel Medarda

she is the richest woman in piltover who left her family because she didn't agree with the way they did things (conquering and murdering). she sponsors jayce and viktor, and courts jayce, which makes people upset because, you know, jayvik. she and viktor are CANONICALLY parallels with much of their imagery mirroring the other's and they are literally the same height. and people are so weird and misogynist and racist about her. they argue she is manipulating jayce and doesn't actually love him. i am cognitively disabled and cannot explain things well, but, she is so fucking shouldered

Black woman who has a romantic arc with one of the main characters Jayce. Jayce has a best friend called Viktor and their relationship is pretty important plot wise, shown as a direct contrast to his relationship with Mel even though only one is canonically sexual/romantic. So naturally fandom as the transformative safe haven it is villainized Mel horribly coming up with theories about how instead of being a complex morally grey character she's actually evil and just wants to seduce Jayce for Evil Reasons. Since they couldn't use her as a supportive female friend with no personality, others just ignored her existence entirely or acted like Jayce would ditch her for Viktor. Majority of m/m shippers will reduce her down to her relationship with Jayce and an obstacle in the way of JayVik, ironically writing her as a far worse and less complex version of the character we get on screen. The misogyny reeks and combined with the racism? It's a pretty bad case. Only slightly mitigated due to the fact that the main characters of the show are women (and the lead is a lesbian) so thankfully the male focus of fandom is lessened as opposed to filling almost every inch. Still awful to try and search for good Mel content, godspeed girlies with taste.

She's one of the most interesting characters on the show, a rich politician, smart and beautiful and has a really complicated and intriguing relationship with the city's golden boy inventor. unfortunately golden boy has a sickly twink science partner so she gets sidetracked SO BAD

Nyota Uhura

She's Spock's canon partner in AOS, and I get it because they're not a great couple, but she gets villianized in fic so much. They constantly make her an asshole (which totally has nothing to do with her being black /sarcasm) and abusive just for the crime of dating a man headcanoned as gay. And I mean, I think Spock is gay and her being a love interest was unnecessary but still! She's cool!

Oh my god so in the Star Trek reboot she’s Spock’s girlfriend and the fandom has no idea what to do with her??? Like she is ALWAYS either such a bitch or like the mom friend? And there is so much more to her character than that? But they always break down her character AND find a quick and easy way to break up her and Spock. I’m not even mad at that but at least treat their relationship with some weight instead of just being like ‘it never mattered’. People can love multiple people throughout the course of their lives. You know that right? Just because you loved someone before doesn’t make your new love any less special. And even headcanoning Spock as gay… you realize he doesn’t need to be attracted to Uhura for their relationship to have mattered, right? Even if he confused friendship for romantic attraction, him feeling such strong friendship and openly expressing it is so monumental for him!!! 

she's dating Spock, who people ship with Kirk, so fans have decided that it's horrible writing and "really, they're just defending her, the movies turned her into just a love interests," which is not at all true. The movies do so much more for her to the point that the fans who have only seen the movies think that the main characters are Kirk, Spock, and Uhura instead of the Kirk, Spock, McCoy of the original series. Also having a black women being shown as being desired and loved in mainstream media, particularly by one of the most popular characters of all time, is a good thing, not making her "just a love interest"

[drabbles-by-branwen]

She thought that their relationship was different than what it really was. She thought that he'd been spending more time with her because they were dating. She thought that the only reason they hadn't kissed yet was due to cultural taboos he had.

He thought that he had been clear in his expression of his feelings. He thought that the time they spent together was that of friends. He thought she understood that she wasn't his type, that no woman was.

She was confused when he pushed her away. She was hurt by the disgust and confusion and anger he expressed when she kissed him.

"Why? Why did you kiss me?"

"It's what people who are dating do, especially when one of them is hurting."

"And what part of our friendship gave you the right to assume you could touch me that way?"

"Friendship? We've been dating for the last six months."

"We have in no way been doing so. You are a friend, nothing more, that is all that you could be to me."

"Bullshit. What about all the dinners and shows and everything else we've attended together?"

"Those are all things that one does with a friend, are they not?"

"They can be, but they are also things that couples do together."

"But we are not a couple. We can never be a couple."

"Why?"

"Because you are female and I am only attracted to males. And I told you only yesterday that I was certain I had met my T'hy'la."

"You're gay???"

"I believe that is exactly what I meant by the fact that I am only attracted to other males. This was not a secret. You know the Vulcan language and culture, so you must have understood what the tattoo I have signifies."

There are tears in her eyes, she feels like a fool. She'd let herself ignore all the signs, assuming that she was enough for him.

"You were my first friend, Nyota, and I cherish that, but we can never be more. I am unable to be who and what you desire."

"Who is he?" the words softly whispered.

"Jim. I had only wanted a chance to talk to him in private, but they decided to give him an academic trial. I... I should have asked for advice about how to pursue him rather than going blindly."

"Kirk? James Fucking Tiberius Kirk? He's the one you want? The same Kirk you tried to murder on the bridge? That Jim?" each word grew in volume until Spock was certain that everyone on the ship had heard her.

"I was not attempting to murder him. I was... it is a Vulcan thing that..."

"Stop talking. Just shut up. I don't want to hear about some kinky Vulcan bullshit excuse."

"You will watch your tone and language. I am still your superior officer." He paused, speaking again, "You will return to your post and your duties or you will be written up. You've abandoned your post more than once since we left Earth to try and exert some form of intimacy and control over me. I allowed myself to let you convince me to have you posted on this ship due to our friendship, perhaps I was mistaken to do so."

He watches as she storms back to the turbolift, knowing that the situation with her will have to be dealt with soon. What signs had he missed in their friendship that she believed that it was a romance instead.

He'd seen them arguing from down the hall and refused to get into the middle of a lovers quarrel. He knew that things were shaky between them, especially with how Spock had pushed her away from him before they had beamed aboard the Narada, and wondered just what was causing trouble in paradise.

He'd been about to leave to go find some empty, unassigned quarters to rest in when he heard, "You're gay?" practically shouted in the otherwise empty corridor, and stopped, ease dropping in on the argument between them.

Shaking his head he decided he didn't need to be there snooping on a semi-private discussion and was about to leave when he heard his name. He watched as she stormed back to the turbolift, anger and hurt practically radiating off of her.

"How much did you hear?"

Jim hadn't noticed Spock approaching him until he was close enough to practically whisper the words in his ear, "Not a lot. Other than my name and that you are apparently gay, I didn't... I tuned it out, it's not my business."

Spock gave a soft chuckle, "Oh, but it really is your business, Jim. You are the one who I desire and she now knows that. She was there when I claimed you as mine. She... she was there standing feet away while I claimed you, and still she believed that I was hers. I ask for your forgiveness for her touching what is rightfully yours."

Blue eyes widened at those words, "I don't understand."

"Jim, you are my T'hy'la, my mate. You are mine, and I am yours. Until the day I die I will be yours, and even after our souls, our Katra will be forever joined. I knew you were mine the moment I laid eyes on you and did everything I could to arrange for us to meet. I apologize that you were called before an academic trial, I only wished to talk to you in private."

"But what does it mean. You have to explain it to me."

"Nothing will take me away from you. I am yours, I will always be yours. I just ask for you to allow yourself to be mine."

"This is forever, isn't it. We're... what are we?"

"Mates, bonded, husbands, life partners, there are many terms."

"And you tried to kill me why?" Jim notices that the tips of Spock's ears are going green, and realizes that Spock is blushing, "And that wasn't you trying to kill me was it, it was some Vulcan mating thing."

"I claimed you. In front of our crew, in front of my father, I claimed you as mine in the way of ancient Vulcans."

"So we're married? Without even a bachelor party," Jim chuckled. "We haven't even gone out on a date yet."

Spock looked at his face, "You seem to be taking this better than I had expected."

"It feels right. It's like... for the first time in my life I feel like I'm home."

[electronickingdomfox]

"Ishmael" review

Novel from 1985, by Barbara Hambly. A pretty great read, it's actually a crossover between Star Trek and a Western show from the 60's: Here Come the Brides. However, you don't need to have watched the other show to understand the novel, since the characters and their relationships are properly developed, and no previous knowledge is assumed.

The plot follows an amnesiac Spock waking up in 1860's Seattle (the setting of Here Come the Brides), and learning to navigate among the people there, all the while hiding the fact he's an alien (which is one of the few things that Spock remembers about himself). He takes the identity of "Ishmael", the nephew of local businessman Aaron Stemple. Funnily enough, Stemple was played by Mark Lenard (Sarek in Star Trek), which may have given the author the idea to combine both shows. Interspersed with Spock's chapters in Seattle, there are chapters focused on the "present", with Kirk and McCoy trying to figure out what happened to the Vulcan. I ended up finding those chapters a bit more interesting, since the reader is as much in the dark about the mystery as Kirk. But it was also nice to see Spock adapting to the townspeople, and being more human and emotional, given how little he remembers about his Vulcan education. Besides, this serves to confront Spock's values against those of XIX century America (addressing subjects such as the sexism and racism of the era).

I can't judge how well portrayed are the Brides' characters, not having seen the show myself, but they're all lively and easy to warm up to. As for the Enterprise regulars, they're fine, and in particular the portrait of Spock as a rootless, lonely stranger, carving his own place among those humans, is pretty moving.

On another note, it's curious how this is the first novel to involve time-travelling to Earth's past, considering it was a recurring theme in TOS (which even had its own Western episode!). And there are also parallelisms with the later movie The Voyage Home, where a somehow amnesiac Spock also visits San Francisco, though at a much later date. Apart from this, Spock's unofficial family name: "S'chn T'gai", is first introduced here.

To summarize, this is an intriguing story, that also manages to be quite poignant at times. Though there's still no cowboy Bones...

Spoilers under the cut:

During shore leave at Starbase 12, built in the vicinity of the Tau Eridani Cloud, Spock notices some unusual dealings in a Klingon cargo ship, and he's authorized to conduct a solo infiltration mission aboard the transport. Time passes without Kirk receiving any news from Spock, and the Enterprise follows the cargo discreetly, once it leaves the starbase. Suddenly, the cargo starts accelerating inside the Cloud, which is rife with magnetic anomalies, and then it simply... vanishes. The only transmissions from Spock that they receive before he disappears, are a cryptic series of words and numbers: "White dwarf. Khlaru. Tillman's Factor. Guardian. 1867."

The story moves then to 1860's Seattle, where Aaron Stemple finds a badly injured and unconscious Spock in the forest. He recognizes immediately that Spock's an alien, given his green blood and strange ears, and understands he's been tortured and will die if left alone. Not without misgivings, Aaron decides to take the alien to his cabin in the woods. There he takes care of him, until Spock recovers, and is surprised to find out that the alien can speak English. Spock, however, can't remember anything about his past or identity, though from time to time he gets impressions from his previous life, that he can't pinpoint. The only other person who is aware of the alien's existence is Lottie, the local saloon owner, but she keeps the secret. Back in the saloon, Lottie notices two foreigners asking a hell lot of questions (the reader will identify them as Klingons at once), but she doesn't mention it to Aaron, despite her suspicions.

Back in the starbase, Kirk, McCoy and Maria Kellogg (the starbase commander), try to make sense out of Spock's transmissions. The mention of a "Guardian" is taken as a reference to the Guardian of Forever, and implies the Klingons are trying to tamper with the timeline. This is supported by the mentions of a "white dwarf" and "Tillman's factor", which describe a method to open a time warp. After some discussion, they also determine that 1867 must be a date... but from what calendar? As for "Khlaru", it could refer to a Klingon historian that was researching at the starbase. Khlaru's colleague, the Vulcan historian Trau, tells them a bit about their research. They were studying ancient Karsid records; a civilization that used to subtly infiltrate other societies through economic deals, before annexing them to their empire. The Klingons were part of that empire, until the rebellion that gave them independence (which is a very unusual backstory for the Klingons). However, Trau fails to see any connection between Karsid history and the Klingon's current plans.

Meanwhile, Spock is adapting to Seattle's society. He lets his hair grow to cover his ears, and passes as Aaron's nephew Ishmael, working for him as accountant at the mill. The general situation in the town is also explained. The Bolt brothers (Jason, Jeremy and Joshua) had brought several women from the East Coast to marry local workers. Aaron has placed a bet with Jason: if he fails to get all the women married by the end of this year, the Bolt's mountain property will pass to Aaron's hands. Ishmael (I'm going to refer to Spock as such, since that's the name used for most of the story) shows his super-human abilities when he's able to locate Jeremy and his fiancée Candy, lost in the forest, by hearing alone. However, Aaron manages to dispel any suspicions about his "nephew". Ishmael's acute hearing also comes in handy to save Aaron's life during a trip to San Francisco, where two men assault Aaron in the street. During this trip, Joshua meets Sarah, a doctor who faces discrimination for being a woman trying to work in the medical field. This is something that Ishmael can't understand; and he's constantly worried about slipping up, and showing traits unusual for a human in this era. The San Francisco bay also stirs something in his memory; Ishmael is certain of having seen that landscape in other time and shape, but whenever he tries to recover those memories, he feels intense pain around his temples (and if you know your Klingons, you'll probably guess by now that they used a Mind-Sifter on Spock).

For his part, Kirk consults with an engineer in the starbase, Aurelia Steiner (a curious alien that looks like a blob of gelatin, and shows her emotions through variations in her color and perfume). She devises a means for the Enterprise to create a time warp like that of the Klingons. At this point, they're certain that 1867 is a date from Earth's Christian calendar. And after Klingons try to kill Trau, and destroy the Karsid records, the historian concludes that there must be some relation with Khlaru's research. Effectively, they find out that the Karsid tried to infiltrate Earth around that date. However, they were stopped because a representative from Washington, Aaron Stemple, showed an unusual hostility and suspicion towards them. The Karsid abandoned their attempts, and soon thereafter, the Klingon rebellion put an end to them. Kirk and co. suspect the Klingons will try to kill Aaron before he enters local politics, so the Karsid succeed in their invasion and the Federation never comes to be. There's still the question, though, of why Aaron was so convinced that the Karsid were aliens (given how good were their disguises), since humans of that era wouldn't have reached that conclusion easily.

Back in 1867, Ishmael accompanies the Bolt brothers to San Francisco, in a gambling quest to earn $50.000 at the casinos. Aaron had promised Jason that he'd forget about the bet in exchange of that sum of money. Jason was likely to lose the bet, as nobody wanted to marry one of the girls, Biddy Cloom, who is considered loud and unattractive. Aaron and Ishmael, however, had grown fond of the girl, and deep down, Aaron doesn't want Jason to marry her just to win a bet, since he's developed feelings for Biddy. The Bolt brothers start making money at the casinos using Ishmael's mathematical system. And again, the two foreigners from the saloon show up there. Meanwhile, Joshua meets with Sarah and proposes to her, but he disappears before going out on a date with her. They find Joshua a while later, apparently drugged and with marks around his temples similar to those of Ishmael. He also suffers from a minor memory loss. In the end, Jason fucks up when he abandons Ishmael's system to win money more quickly, and ends up losing all their cash (and this whole passage, with Jason's winning streak surrounded by impending doom, was pretty exciting). So they return to Seattle empty-handed.

A bit later, during Jeremy's wedding with Candy, Aaron finally asks Biddy to marry him (even if this means that Jason will win the bet and keep the mountain), and Biddy agrees, as she also loves him. Sarah also comes from San Francisco to accept Joshua's proposal. However, Aaron receives a sudden call from the mill, and leaves the party alone. Ishmael notices two men following him, and recognizes them as Klingons. This brings back all his memories (and from this point onwards, the novel refers to him again as "Spock", to signify the change). Spock follows Aaron, but he arrives too late, and finds him gravely wounded by a disruptor blast. The Klingons take Spock for a common human, and not wanting to disrupt history further, they leave, confident that Aaron will die anyway.

Spock and Sarah try to keep Aaron alive during the following days, but with their primitive medicine, there's not much they can do for him. Fortunately, Kirk and McCoy arrive in the cabin just then, having finally pinpointed the correct time and place. They take Aaron to the Enterprise for proper treatment. And Spock has a tender farewell scene with Biddy, where he promises to bring Aaron back in a few days, even if Spock himself will never see her again. Aaron is healed and brought back to Seattle, with the Enterprise returning to its proper time. As it turns out, it was the Klingons' interference precisely, what thwarted their own plans. By sending Spock to that time and place, Aaron became familiar enough with aliens, to resist against the Karsid later. The novel ends with a nice touch, as Kirk consults Spock's family records, and discovers that one of Amanda's surnames is... Stemple.

Spirk Meter: 6/10*. Kirk becomes very depressed after Spock is lost in the Cloud, having recurring nightmares and being unable to sleep. To the point that he hopes that Spock was already dead, to not suffer anymore. It qualifies as McSpirk too, because McCoy is shown to be similarly depressed, and turning to heavy drinking. At the end, both Kirk and McCoy stare open-mouthed at Spock being so affectionate with Biddy (of course, it's not romantic affection... but they don't know that yet, and it's easy to read it as jealousy). Besides this, there are many mentions of Spock being unable to appreciate feminine beauty, and he takes his inability to ever marry a woman as a matter of fact.

*A 10 in this scale is the most obvious spirk moments in TOS. Think of the back massage, "You make me believe in miracles", or "Amok Time" for example.