#like say - Pike. Who wants to get to know his crew intimately)

[bumblingbabooshka]

Learning Curve Hall-of-Famer right here. Tuvok making Chell clean the transporter room with the equivalent of a toothbrush as, I assume, a punishment of some sort & Harry coming out of left field with a 'You missed a spot <3' just to kick him while he's down. Harry, the man's gonna be there LITERALLY all day. Absolute bastards these Starfleet types <- said with love

[fruitsboots]

The angel on my shoulder wants to ask about the coffeshop au, but the devil wants to know about the weed one

Dealers choice 😅

poor coffeeshop au, you were supposed to be finished no later than New Years....

so coffeeshop AU is a TOS holiday-ish fic that is going to be McKirk to McSpirk.

Spock works as a physics professor at a university, but his old friend Pike asked him to come help work weekends at his coffeeshop until the holidays are over since he knows Spock doesn't really have a social life.

while working at the coffeeshop, Spock meets a very handsome Jim Kirk who owns a bookstore down the street and comes in and orders something very complicated every Friday afternoon. Every Sunday morning, a snarky Doctor McCoy comes in and orders black coffee.

Will Spock ever get the complicated order right? Will the three of them ever meet up? Will I ever actually finish this fic? All great questions that I'll have to write so you find out.

--

As for weedfic, it's TOS where the crew is going down on shoreleave but the trio are staying behind. Due to the smell of a candle Jim got as a gift, he's feeling nostalgic for the like 3 times he smoked weed with his brother as a teen. After talking to McCoy about it dramatically, the good doctor procures some weed and they proceed to have a nice time hanging out in the arboretum.

This one's in my current working rotation but I'm not really sure where I'm going with it lol. It was supposed to be lighthearted and silly but sort of turned more intimate and poetic which is fine! Big snippet of weedfic under the readmore <3 Thanks for the ask! Maybe this will motivate me to write lol

CW: Drugs

It started with a candle.

A gift from Uhura on his birthday, specially ordered and crafted with him in mind to remind him of Iowa.

The candle itself was simple in design, a cream colored wax with three wicks in a heavy, dark orange colored glass holder. The scent was the thing that was truly special about it.

Crisp and earthy like a late autumn night. The slight dusty smell of dried corn. A hint of sweetness. A touch of smoke.

As soon as he sniffed the candle, memories of Jim’s younger years wove together into a soft tapestry. First kisses and raking leaves. Libraries and school dances. Truck beds and corn fields.

Truck beds and corn fields.

Sam and Sam’s handsome friend pulling up to the house, beat up red pickup truck caked in mud up to the windows in the middle of the night and don’t be a loser Jimmy, it’s not sneaking out if mom and dad aren’t even on the planet. Holding on for dear life, tossed around in the bed of the truck as it swerves recklessly through a harvested cornfield that they definitely shouldn’t be in but it’s alright because Sam says it is and rules can be broken sometimes. Broken rules like passing a joint and chilly air, he should’ve brought his gloves but the smoke fills his lungs and warms him from the inside. Hot, too hot. Coughing in chorus with laughter, a sheepish grin, he’s not going to let on that he’s nervous for the drug’s effect.

Slow then slower. Time slowing down. Thoughts slowing down. Laying down, corrugated plastic pressed into his back. Endless sky, endless stars. Galaxies swirling in his head.

Jim found himself lingering on that particular memory days after receiving the gift. Though he’d refused to light it, he’d occasionally bring the candle to his nose, eyes closed, and try with futility to grasp onto the bittersweet feeling of being sixteen again.

“Y’know, if you lit it you could smell it better. Rather than shoving your entire nose into it.”

Jim pulled the candle away from his face and placed it back on the shelf by his bed. They should be sleeping, but goodnight kisses had turned to something more and now it was late. Jim turned towards the bed where Spock looked more than halfway asleep already, lying on his back with a naked McCoy pressed to his bare side.

“If I did that, it wouldn’t last,” Jim said with a tired smile. “Feels like I should wait. Some special occasion to light it or something.”

“For candle that smells like a hog farm?” McCoy joked. “We’ll have to make sure to break it out the next time we have a good ol’ fashioned barn raising.”

Jim laughed softly, but the comment hit him in the heart. He hesitated before speaking.

“Have you ever tried cannabis?”

The question hung in the air for a moment with only the sound of Spock beginning to snore softly as McCoy raised an eyebrow.

“What the hell are you talking about?” he tried to sit up but the sleeping Vulcan’s arm held him tighter.

“Answer the question, Bones” Jim countered, going to squeeze into the bed next to McCoy. “Computer, lights to 10%.”

The magenta glow of the room dimmed gradually, leaving them in almost-darkness.

“Oh, come on Jim, I’ve told plenty of stories about my mama. What d’you think she would’ve done if she’d caught me smoking weed like some kinda hooligan?”

Jim pressed his face against McCoy’s shoulder and smiled, letting his eyes close. “Hmm…so how many times?”

“…four or five,” the doctor answered honestly. “First few times I don’t think I did it right, nothing really happened except I nearly coughed up a damn lung. That or my friends were pulling a prank on me.”

“And after that?” he felt Spock’s arm twitch between them. Jim leaned away to let Spock readjust, McCoy now free to turn to face him.

“Mm, I don’t really remember, it was a long time ago. Kinda remember getting paranoid and listening to some 22nd Century neo-classical, but those might have been separate times.”

Jim chuckled at the thought and gently rested an arm over McCoy’s waist. “Would you try it again?”

In the dim light, he could see the furrowed brow paired with a quirked smile. “What’s all this about, Jim? You’ve been acting particularly wistful the past few days.”

So McCoy had noticed. Jim supposed that he was usually good at hiding his frequent ‘moods’, not wanting to come across as anything other than the steady, even-keeled captain.

“Nothing, it’s just,” Jim sighed, fidgeting slightly. “You know how I get around my birthday. Just…thinking of the passing of time. She’s a cruel mistress….an hourglass of sand, unable to be turned back over—”

“Jim, it’s late, spare me the monologue.”

[pikemoreno]

if you ever wanna be in love

Chapter V: Lightning Strikes

a/n: it’s startingggg. it might be good to read up on the events of the mentalist... to avoid any confusion for the next few chapters... i’ll just say that. also the lightning metaphor is a callback to chapter 1. it’s been a while so i wouldn’t blame you for not recalling

pairing: marcus pike x f!reader

word count: 4k 

warnings: none, and i don’t expect there to really be any serious ones in upcoming chapters either... well actually, there’s a wee bit of angst here...

wanna join a taglist? | masterlist | series masterlist

The sun was hardly over the tree-lined horizon when you pulled up to the Elizabet Ney Museum. It was a consequence of your team being requested to come before the museum opened, allowing business hours to go on as usual during the investigation. That was making you wonder exactly how busy they thought this place was going to get on a Monday morning during the school year-- and how they expected the investigation to be successful when they had guests tramping all over the scene-- but you didn't question it. 

Being a few minutes early, you took some time to traipse around the property to see if anything looked note-worthy. The sand-colored castle-like complex was bathed in soft early morning light and a haunting fog; the grass was dewy and squeaked against your shoes as you circled the grand building. The most likely entry and exit points-- the door and windows on the far side-- yielded nothing. Nothing on the wooden door nor the brassy knob was broken, and there was no sign of trampled dirt around it, nor was there anything amiss with the paned windows. However, the security camera just above the back-door threshold made you raise an eyebrow. They had full security cam coverage and couldn't determine how their stuff had been stolen? Odd. 

You were far too distracted with your thoughts as you walked that you didn't hear the car pull in out front or the person getting out of it or the footsteps coming around the side of the building. So when Marcus appeared right in front of you as he rounded the corner, he had to grab your arm to steady you as you almost fell on your ass in surprise. You almost ripped your arm out of his grasp as the electricity of the touch shot through your arm, surprising you far more than his sudden appearance. 

You almost did. But you didn't. It felt too nice in the end.

"Sorry," he laughed, "Didn't mean to scare you. Coffee?" He held out a drink carrier containing two travel cups. "Should be the one on the right." You took it. 

"Does it have--" you took a sip before you finished your question. 

It was exactly the way you liked it. You regarded Marcus with wide eyes. 

"You know my coffee order?" you gaped. He shrugged nonchalantly. You followed him as he made his way back to the front of the museum.

"Yeah. What about it?" he laughed, sipping from his drink.

"How do you know it?" 

"From when we were at Copper Coin last week." He looked genuinely confused as to why this was a shocking discovery. 

"And you remember what I ordered?"

"Of course." His eyes shone with sincerity and just a hint of something that said, "duh."

You wanted to ask if he knew all of his co-workers' coffee orders by heart, but you were interrupted by the arrival of Adrian, followed closely by Wendy. You blinked a little. 

Did they come here together? 

You'd heard nothing from her since they had "gotten together" a few days ago. Now, this little scene had you wondering exactly how "together" they had gotten. You shot Wendy a questioning look around Adrian's shoulder, and she mouthed "later" with what was quite possibly the biggest grin you'd ever seen from her. Her whole demeanor had changed in the days since you'd seen her. Even if your plans for getting them together didn't work out as planned, the result was the same. Standing in front of you were two people finding at least the tiniest bit of healing in companionship. And that is all the set-up was about in the end. 

Mission: success.

"Hey guys," Marcus greeted them, reaching a hand out to shake Wendy's, "You must be Wendy?"

"That's me," she shook his hand, smiling, "And you're Marcus." He nodded. "Hang on. How do you two know each other?" She studied the two of you carefully. 

Oops.

"Oh well, a couple of weeks ago, we were out of coffee, so I snuck over to their break room to get some. We talked for a minute. And now I just see him everywhere, I guess," you laid out as casually as possible. 

"I see." You couldn't tell if she actually sounded unconvinced or if your incredible paranoia just made her sound that way. "Well, this is Adrian, who I told you about already," she beamed, you shook his hand.

Be cool, be cool. I definitely haven't been interfering in your love life for the past two weeks.

"Nice to meet you, Adrian. You're on the Art Squad?"

Good playing dumb, me.

"I am."

"Great. Pleased to work with you."

The museum owner arriving saved you from further pleasantries. Adrian, being the one who had talked to her the most, ran ahead to greet her while the rest of you hung back. Wendy looped her arm through yours and started her quiet detailing of her night.

"So last night I went over to Adrian's place just for a little home-cooked meal and a movie," you nodded along, smiling at her excitement, "It was so great, you know? My perfect relaxed evening. Of course, then I accidentally fell asleep there-- thank God I keep an extra set of work clothes in my car. But what do I wake up to? Breakfast from Rick's!" 

"Very impressive!"

"Right?" she sighed, "He made sure he was up before me and snuck out for breakfast. Ugh, what a keeper! How did he know?" You shot a quick look over to Marcus but gave a nonchalant shrug to Wendy.

"Everyone likes Rick's, I guess."

"Either way. It was very sexy of him. Find yourself someone like that." With that, she patted your shoulder and stepped over to join Adrian and the museum owner.

Marcus laughed a little as he fell into step with you. You cocked your head as you watched him

"What?"

"I'm the one that told him to do that."

"Really? Been giving him pointers, oh great love master?" He put a hand to his chest, feigning offense.

"Ouch. Of course, I have. He was with his ex for so long he doesn't remember how to date anymore. I had to tell him all of my tricks."

"Oh, is that how you charm all the women? Surprise breakfast?"

"Sometimes. Sometimes other meals. But always breakfast food." You laughed. "Seriously. It's unassuming, comforting. Anyone can go out to dinner and a movie, right? Breakfast food is both more relaxed and more intimate. No one is putting on airs or trying to impress with diner breakfast food. No one is ordering healthy to look good. No one is on their best manners. They're getting their chocolate chip waffles, and they're piling the syrup on it no matter what you say about it, and that tells you way more about someone than how they act at a fancy restaurant."

"That's… Actually, really profound." 

There was an indiscernible look in his eye as you gazed at him and him back at you. Like he knew something you didn't, and he was just waiting for you to figure it out.

Remember when I took you to Rick's?

***

The case was a pretty difficult one. 

The robbery occurred on one of the busiest days they'd had all year. Guests had been pouring in for one last little family day before school started back, enjoying an educational experience and the beautiful weather the day brought as they walked the grounds. The security cameras were down for the entire business day. The only lead was that the Ney family members-- a distant cousin and niece who had donated the heirloom and the bust-- had come right before closing. They would've undoubtedly noticed that their precious items were missing. Therefore, the items must've been stolen after they left, after the museum had closed. 

But that's where things got tricky. The doors to the museum were locked, as were the windows, and there were, as you'd seen this morning, no signs of forced entry. The only suspects, then, were employees and volunteers who could've gotten access to the keys. That left the owner, a bunch of high school and college students keeping a summer job, and a couple of elderly art lover volunteers. Logically, you could pretty much eliminate the students immediately, though everyone would be brought in for questioning for the sake of process anyway. There was little reason for a student to steal those items. This wasn't a Monet and the Hope Diamond. They wouldn't have sold for much, certainly not enough to make it worth the risk of robbing their own workplace. Frankly, the motive was unclear all-around. The family was ready to sue the museum for their negligence, and the museum wouldn't last very long if it came down to a money battle. The owner probably wouldn't have sabotaged themselves like that, unless there was some sort of a deeper issue. And the elderly volunteers… You guessed could've done it if they were art fanatics, but, really: why? It didn't add up. 

The owner told you as much as she could as she led you through the property-- she wasn't sure either. You were able to eliminate her as a suspect as she spoke. She was outright begging you to find the thief, nearly in hysterics over the prospect of losing the beloved museum and her livelihood.

"We'll do our best, Mrs. Moa," Marcus calmed her, "Do you know anyone who would want to sabotage you or the museum or the family?" She shook her head weakly.

"Not offhand. You'd have to ask them as well, though."

"We will. Don't worry, Mrs. Moa. You have four of the FBI's best here, we're gonna figure this out," Adrian beamed.

It was a blatant over-promise and gross exaggeration, but as you looked around at your new-found little crew, you almost believed him too. 

You all shook Mrs. Moa's hand as you departed, telling her that forensics would be along shortly to do their thing, and you would start questioning suspects the next day. She once again gave her most gracious thanks and went back to anxiously prepping for the museum opening. The news of the theft and the subsequent lawsuit was spreading, and she was going to be getting a lot of hard questions thrown at her today.  Poor thing.

"Would you all like to come over to my place later?" Adrian started as you all made your way back to your cars, "I'll order pizza, grab some drinks, and we can maybe talk about this case?" His "maybe" was not particularly convincing. This was strictly going to be a social event, and you all knew it.

You all gave your confirmation that you would be there and headed back to the office to finish out the workday.

***

Despite the in-office workday being a mere half-day by the time you made it back, it felt like it was dragging on forever. You had plenty of other files to work through and close, but you couldn't get your mind off the Ney case. There was a missing piece, and you had to get your mind off of that sinking feeling before you could do anything else. Wendy had been on the phone since she stepped foot in her office, and you frankly didn't know Adrian well enough to be comfortable going to him. So that just left Marcus to go to.

You'd been thinking about him all day. Now that Adrian and Wendy were together, was that going to change your relationship too? Would you still talk like you do now? You certainly hoped so. You'd bared your soul too much at the coffee shop for him to turn into a casual acquaintance now. And honestly? You'd gotten sort of attached to him. He really did make you feel important and wanted and cared about, just as you'd craved back at the beginning of all of this. Some sort of feeling had sprung up. Not necessarily, feeling feelings. You don't fall that fast. But there was something. Enough that you didn't want him gone. You wanted to learn more about him, experience more with him beyond just being a co-worker... Whatever that meant.

You hopped up from your desk and got into the elevator before anyone noticed you'd left, finding him where you now knew his desk to be. You leaned a hand against the front of the mahogany, and he looked up curiously, waiting for your explanation he could see forming in your brain. 

"Do you feel like there's something missing in the Ney case?" You asked finally.

"Sure, a perpetrator," he responded in a deadpan. 

"Alright, then. Good talk, smartass." You took two steps away from his desk before he grabbed you lightly by the forearm to bring you back. 

"No, no. Come back. I'll be serious now, I promise. What are you thinking?"

"Doesn't it just seem like something's missing? I feel like there's no motive in any of the suspects we have."

"Well, that's what the interrogations are for, right?"

"Yeah, but--" you bit your lip for a moment, considering, "Do you think that the family would have anything to do with it?"

"How do you mean?" he folded his arms now. You didn't realize his hand was still on your forearm until he removed it. You felt the warmth leave as the overdone air-conditioning immediately chased the feeling away.

He did, of course. He knew his hand was still on your skin. And for every moment his hand remained there, it grew a little more difficult to not slide it down to where his fingers could fully intertwine with yours. But that would have been too much. His ex-wife-- and admittedly, multiple others-- had chided how he was too overbearing. He had been feeling that something as well, terrifying as it was. And it was taking everything in him to not fall into his usual, "overbearing" ways. Your mind towards him was completely indiscernible so far. Sure, there had been moments that it seemed that you'd be more than happy to have your hand held by him, but, more often than not, the friendly, playful banter you shared moments later completed nixed out those moments to him. He had no idea what you were thinking and was maybe a little hesitant to find out at this point. Right now, he needed to test the waters, play it cool, and maybe one day he'd feel he could do that without scaring you off. 

"Well," you started, "I guess I'll have to question the family too to confirm this, but wouldn't they maybe have something to gain from the lawsuit? Money? Power over the museum?" you tapped your fingers lightly on the desk, then your eyes widened with your 'aha' moment, "Maybe I'll research if they've had any past disputes with Mrs. Moa. Thanks, Marcus, you've been a big help." 

"I didn't--" you'd already run away, booking it back to your floor, "do anything." 

He shook his head fondly.

You weren't at your desk trying to dig into the museum history for very long before Wendy walked up and sat across from you. She did so incredibly coolly, taking a moment to look around the office and give the chair little half-spins before she finally spoke. 

"So, how do you actually know Marcus?"

You almost choked as you sucked in a too-quick breath. 

"I'm sorry?"

"How do you actually know Marcus?" 

"Exactly what we said earlier," you shook your head, "We met by chance in the breakroom a couple of weeks ago, I've seen him around, chatted occasionally, and now we're on this case together." 

"Sure."

"You think I'm lying?" 

How could she have possibly known about the set up?

"I do. But I don't know if you know you're lying." You gave her a questioning look, inviting her to continue. "I've never actually seen you truly smitten with someone. But I would imagine it'd look something like this."

"Oh come on, you've seen me with him one time." She laughed. Loudly.

"What? Do you think I don't have eyes? I've seen you two talking around the office. I've seen you laughing and looking nothing short of flustered. I've seen your phone go off with a text message when you leave it on your desk. It's from a 'Marcus' pretty damn often. Am I right in assuming you don't know two Marcuses?" It was rhetorical, but you shook your head anyway. "I saw that you were together when I came into Copper Coin the other day. I saw you both with the very same Copper Coin travel cups this morning. And I know for a fact that when you were gone from your desk right now, you were with Marcus."

"I mean, that's all true. But so what? It's not what you're probably thinking it is." She hummed, thinking for a moment.

"Do you want it to be?" That stopped you in your tracks.

What did you want from this?

"I--" you sighed, throwing your head back against the back of your chair, "Undecided."

"That's ok. Hey, it's only been two weeks. I just... I really have never seen you act like that with someone before. I had to ask." You nodded along. You had a strange feeling all of that actually meant: "You've been so ridiculously obvious that I had to make sure you knew how obvious you were being."

"It's not out of the question. I just don't know yet. It takes time. Do you think he… Feels that way about me?"

She sighed. "I can't say for sure. I'll have to keep an eye out tonight."

***

It was by total accident that you arrived to Adrian's at the same time as Marcus, but it happened nonetheless. The autumn air around you was finally cooling down. Marcus had his hands in his pockets, and you were kicking pebbles up the sidewalk as you walked down the parked-up street and up to the little yellow house. Its golden porch lights beamed brightly as the sun was falling behind the horizon so much quicker lately. 

"Kind of a funny turn of events," Marcus mused. "We've been casually interfering in their lives, trying to bring them together, making sure they don't know that we know each other. And now they're together in spite of us, and we're walking into Adrian's house together."

"Yeah… Wendy kinda already knew that we knew each other."

"She did?"

"She did. She saw us together too much, I guess. But  I don't think she suspects that we were up to anything."

"Oh good… So what did she say?"

"What do you mean?" 

"Well, she obviously brought something up to you. So what was it?"

"Uh, I-- I guess she thinks there's more to it. I don't know." He laughed.

It was a nervous laugh, but you didn't hear it as such. You moved on before any of the rest of that conversation could be discussed. 

"So has Adrian said anything to you about this little relationship of theirs?" 

"Just that he has no idea what he's doing and needs help." You laughed. "So, I've been helping him out a bit."

"So… The pancakes are a part of that. What else have you been telling him?"

"You know, some date ideas. I remember you saying that a walk around a museum would be more her speed? I told him to do that. He knows all about the art in any art museum and could talk her ear off about any of it. Do you think she'd like that? Him telling her about the art?"

"She would love that, I think. That's very romantic." 

"You think?"

"I do."

Is it something you'd love too?

There was no chance for him to ask. Wendy greeted you at the door with a raised brow. You didn't intend to arrive together, but that wouldn't convince her for a second. 

***

The evening went by without a hitch. Adrian and Wendy's budding relationship was genuinely adorable. Watching them dance around the kitchen as they warmed up slices from the already-cold pizza, they looked like they'd already been doing it for months. The conversation shared was breezy and comfortable.

Until.

"Oh, Adrian, don't forget. Floor renovation starts tomorrow. We're on the 5th floor with Special Crimes for a bit," Marcus reminded as you all sat around Adrian's kitchen table-- pizza long gone, finishing the last sips of your drinks.

"Good to know," you interjected. He looked at you quizzically.

"What do you mean?" 

"Well, what if I wanted to come bother you after finishing the interrogations? I would've gone to the 6th floor and would've never found you. Now I know." You grinned, taking a smug sip of your drink. 

"What a tragedy that would've been." His smile was fond. When you looked over to Wendy, she had a peculiar expression-- her "thinking face"-- as she looked between you and Marcus. Her expression shifted to express exasperation.

"What?" You shifted uncomfortably in your seat. 

Of course, you knew what it was. Once Wendy took off your blinders, you saw everything: the way Marcus interacted with you, the way you interacted with him. Every action tonight was tinged with nervous, flirtatious energy: from the way you laughed at every terrible joke of his to the way his arm was seemingly permanently fixated to the back of your chair.

You understood now what Wendy meant earlier, but you still didn't yet understand how you felt about it. 

"Will you come with me for a second?" she asked you. You got up with her, moving to the foyer, leaving Marcus and Adrian mumbling amongst themselves to figure out what the hell was happening. She didn't waste time in confronting you.

"I've been watching you two all night, and that does not look like nothing. It's clear that he is very into you. I know you said you need time on it, but if you don't feel the same way about him, you need to stop leading him on."

"I'm not leading him on."

"You are. You may not realize it, but you are. The joking and laughing, the gazing, everything."

You opened your mouth to speak, but closed it, crossing your arms. 

"You can't be wishy-washy on this. I'm not letting you run from this this time. So, once and for all: what's going on in your head, and what are you going to do about it?" 

"You know what? Nothing. And nothing." The words came out a little sharper than you intended, tired of this conversation and…

Scared. You were scared. You felt the distinct static tingle of lightning about to strike, and you were running from its impact once again.

"Nothing?"

"No. I know what I said earlier about needing time, but I don't. I've made up my mind. Nothing is going on here; there never will be anything going on here, alright?" You turned around to stomp back to the kitchen, but someone was standing there.

Marcus.

He heard you; there was no denying it.

His face was unmistakably downcast. You looked to the floor to avoid those ever emotion-betraying eyes of his.

He was sure the whole neighborhood could hear him swallow his hurt.

"Excuse me. I was just heading out. Have a good night." He brushed past you both coolly and stepped out through the front door behind you. You think Wendy said goodnight in return, but you couldn't hear through the fog. You said nothing. 

Lightning struck. 

But you ran indoors, and he was a lightning rod. 

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[girlobsessed21]

The 100 6x12 discussion: Screw protocol and kill them all

My fingers hovered over the keyboard with nerves and you will see my prudence shine through in the post. Look, this is my favorite show, probably of all time, and this entire season has been an absolute doozy to experience. Then, I get to the penultimate episode and I suddenly feel off my game. Not sure if it’s the abundance of storylines happening at once, the few plot holes, Sheidheda or inconsistency, nonetheless, here’s my experience.

You can go back and read all my discussions from the trailer to 6x11 and I never wavered in my stance that Russel may have morals but he is a well-rounded baddie and the main villain of the season. Sure, we had Josephine and whether it’s Eliza and Sarah’s remarkable acting or the sociopath's substance, I’d love a spinoff series about her. It sure is a fruit salad when you add the monstrous commander to the mix, though I don’t expect that storyline to be resolved by next episode. Clarke never found the notebook and Raven seem to be struggling with his disengagement.

In line with the rest of the season, this is filled with the good, the bad and the beautiful. Russel vs Gabriel, Abby vs Simone, Emori vs Murphy, the devout vs nonbelievers and ultimately kill the few to save the many vs taking no lives at all.

Before all the gory details, I just have to say Eliza Taylor is out-and-out iconic. I cannot sing her praises enough with the shrewd way in which she fits into each character’s skin. The lucid distinction between Clarke and Josephine with her emotions surfacing in her ruse as the latter is exceptional.

In peace, you left this shore, Abby

If you follow my weekly posts, you’ll know my opinion on Abby is quite brutal. I’ve never liked her, perhaps a little in season one but she still caused her own husband’s death.  Season after season, episode after episode my fury towards her grew exponentially and I was more than ready to say goodbye - until now.

Looking into your daughter’s eyes, knowing it’s not her must be soul-crushing. I felt it with Abby, Clarke and Delilah’s parents, which is why I completely understood her threatening Russel. A little tear escaped my own eyes when she cried for the loss of Clarke while Raven tried to comfort her.

Keeping her promise to her daughter, Abby turned herself into a nightblood to save Madi. This has to be one of her most heroic moments ever. I’m not sure if Kane’s final words or this instance bears the turning point in which her past mistakes catch up to her, either way, it’s appreciated. Albeit a strong callback to the Finn and Pike’s deaths.

She did not get a redemption arc but at least her sendoff included a final forgiving chapter.

Ugh, I wanted to punch the smugness from Russel’s face when he realized Abby will be the perfect candidate for his wife. But it came as no surprise, I suspected it.

Her moment with Jackson and the apology to Raven was delivered with such intimacy and poignancy that it provokes a chilling heartbreak when Russel plunges the needle into her neck. Not to mention the way her life flashed before her eyes as she fell to the ground. Paige Turco truly is an amazing actress and I’m curious to see her portrayal of the prime queen even if it’s just for one episode.

At least she had a beautiful, although short, reunion with Clarke.

One last thing I need to add, Raven’s humbleness this episode was more than welcome. I needed to hear that she acknowledges her judgmentalism as a flaw which requires resolve. A lot can be said on the topic, as I’ve done many times before, though I hope it holds up. Seeing such a strong and smart character in constant high-horse mentality is infuriating, to say the least.

To the glory and grace of the primes

Props to Emori, she has really grown into quite the benevolent character. I’ve always liked her, but throughout the entire series, she has only improved. From a scavenger to becoming Raven’s skilled apprentice and a loyal member of the Spacekru family. And if 6x08 wasn’t enough to lionize her, she refuses to play house with people who deems a threat to her and her friends.

All while, Murphy’s plan was to show Russel that they’re useful and on-board with being false gods. I thought he would try to find a way to save Echo but clearly being immortal is his first priority. Apart from asking nicely, he did nothing to protect his friends. Did he justify the decision in his mind? Where is the John Murphy I’ve come to love? Raven’s look at Murphy mirrored all of my own feelings on the matter.

I just have to add that both of them looked stunning when they emerged hand-in-hand as brother and sister. Emori’s dress, damn baby, she hot as hell.

Clarke, on the other hand, is more than resourceful by using Ryker as a bargaining chip. No pun intended. As a mother herself, she knows it’s the quintessential key to Priya’s compliance. And Echo’s attempt at stopping them - top-notch. But can someone please explain when they became friends because if my memory serves correctly, the last time they were together, Echo tried to kill her? Even if she defended her in 6x01, I wasn’t aware they are on hugging terms.

Raven’s perception of the primes as serial killers in royal robes couldn’t be more fitting.

Like I said last week, Gabriel reminds me so much of Monty. Perhaps Mr. Green was slightly stronger; he did kill his own mother when it was necessary. Though, it doesn’t compensate for the lack of Jordan, where is he? Being such an innocent yet brave member of the ensemble, I cannot help but take his absence personally. It’s slightly ridiculous in my opinion.

Anyway, the prince of peace is hellbent on putting a stop to namings day and instinctively changes the plan. Even if I enjoyed his “there is nothing more powerful than the truth” speech, facing a king singlehandedly is foolish. Unfortunately, his presence alerts Russel that the red sun trigger is a fluke. And I suppose unlike all the other heroes of this show, he’s never killed anyone with a gun before. Then again, would pulling that trigger have made any difference with Simone being alive?

Why did Russel not kill Gabriel though? Was it because Dr. Santiago brought his daughter back and gave them the privilege of immortality? Sorry, that part confused me.

Abby!Simone sure is a vision in white, wow but what a total self-centered biatch!!! At least Abby’s death blew the morality right back into Murphy. The two of them have always had a strong bond since he kept Clarke’s heart beating.

Poor Clarke though, seeing Madi bound and realizing her mother’s dead must have shattered her soul. That, right after seeing Bellamy and Echo in each other’s arms. My heart goes out to her still playing the role of Josephine with enough conviction to fool her parents. Our female lead is one strong woman, blaming the tears on her mother’s return and Gabriel’s betrayal.

Now, Madi being alive and well is a bit of a conundrum. Sheidheda said he’ll kill the girl if Raven continues. So, my guess is that he let her live since Raven’s tied up and he needs to wake the Wonkru army and they’re playing right into his hand.

Finally, that standoff ending between the primes threatening Madi and Gaia against Indra, Niyalah and the rest of the crew was supercharged. I’m still yelling, “No, this can’t be it!”

The calvary protocol adjusted

There’s nothing more fun to watch as the Blake’s on good terms. Man, I love it. Octavia being the supportive sibling even more so. And It seems like Bellamy is becoming quite the clown this season. If I’m not mistaken, “I told you she’d get it done,” was like his third joke. He’s always been my favorite, can’t help but smile when he graces my screen.

Fun stuff aside, death to primes.

Bellamy and Echo reunite. Clearly, he’s delighted to find her safe and sound after learning him she’s in trouble. I believe him to be more than guilt-ridden about abandoning her to save Clarke, even if it ultimately was the right choice. I hate to sound like a typical Bellarke shipper but if their relationship continues with no addressing the last three episodes, it would trigger grave blemishes in the storyline.

It’s degrading for Echo to idly accept her boyfriend’s dedication to another woman. And Bellamy has to face those conflicting feelings inside and make a choice; right now he has his cake and takes little nibbles when the hunger strikes badly.

Of course there’s no time right now. It doesn’t have to happen right away or even in this season, yet it can’t simply be ignored. The looks on both Clake and Octavia’s faces suggest they're less than pleased with the intimate embrace.

Moving on, his inspirational declaration of the truth took me right back to season one. The man sure has a way of influencing the masses. Sadly, Russel’s had a bomb of his own which causes one hell of an outbreak for those without anti-toxin and Priya’s death by the hand of Delilah’s mom.

Convenient how there just happened to be a lockable storage unit nearby which Echo knew about. Was it one of her hideouts? And won’t they have to kill all the believers anyway once they break down those doors? Guess we’ll find out next week.

I can’t believe there’s only one episode left, I’m already dreading the hiatus. As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts! May we meet again next week.

[admiralkatcornwellfan]

DISCO confessions #spoilers# - Short Treks 06- Q & A

oh my god. I was super excited for this ( truth to be told DISCO s3 doesn't hold the same appeal for me since ...ya know... they killed off Kat)

And boy I was unprepared for the whole barge of emotions this short Trek made me feel.

First, Ensign! Spock omg isn't he the Cutest? And a brand new Ensign on his first deep space mission and he kinda remind me of Harry on Voyager's pilot episode ( 'At ease before you sprain something'')

And Number One.. oh my god.. she is amazing. I fell in love with her again after watching this. She is quick in her judgement, she does not sugarcoat stuff and definitely very efficient and logical. And she practically orders him to ask her question to the point of annoyace ( see her Tactic here? science officer should ask questions from their commanding officers and vice versa. there should be the continuous ebb and flow of questions between them, rank or experience nothwithstanding.) but they get stuck in the turbolift ( very old Trek Trope and a fanfic Trope in general but here is the twist, these two would be the least favourable candidates to your usual 'stuck in turbolift' fanfic).

Spock continues questioning and finally Una gets to end of her patience with the Engineering staff and Spock both. but The questioning so far lead to realization on both part that they are More alike than they thought ( both of them blurting out 'fascinating' was just squeezing my poor heart with so much joy) , and Una completely refused answering personal questions ( two so far, A (correct)deduction by Spock about her name and whether she prefer eggplants) and she is clear on the fact who is the Boss by Telling him to kneel so she could climb onto his shoulders and reach the panel in the turbolift. (oppose to him lifting her from hips...) and Una's tough exterior softens with Spock's next question about whether she had seen a specific kind of star and he admits openly that he is envious she had seen it. To which she replies you should be.

and then sparks fly (literally because Some circuitry totally blows up and lights are off in the turbolift other than Emergency lights and the duo ends up on the floor with Una losing her consciousness momentarily) And man talk about metaphors... them losing the careful balance of command structure the moment she let her emotional guard down? wow.

And Then she Questions him about his smile when he beamed aboard and Spock apologizes to it and say he would make sure it would never happen again.

To that Una replies ''No, the strength of a Starfleet crew is in its diversity and differences. I would never ask a crewmember to supress or conceal their nature.' Then she proceed to advice him , to prepare him for command. Spock denies any interest in command, but even he cannot deceive her because she had already deduced his preference because he had undergone the same rigorous training she did ( or I assume so because of her familiarity with it) 'If you want to command, you gonna have to keep your freaky to yourself, even if that's painful' This quote made me feel... ( I always knew there was a mysterious nature to her and here is it. she is keeping 'Una' hidden beneath Number One and ... makes me remind of another starship captain..) And the moment comes to these two souls who are alike, the like minds to prove that they felt this connection, this pull and to acknowledge it.

Una. starts.singing.

MODERN.MAJOR.GENERAL'

*mindblown*

She smiles, eyes twinkling and breathless and ... I went completely poof when Spock joined in the singing (because how dejected Una looked when he stayed silent and for a moment she questioned herself why she trusted him and then when he started singing her whole face lit up!) and they laughed together. laugh together!!!

but the moment ended too soon when their 'rescue' comes along. Una zips her jacket back ( Number One is back here now, and Una hidden again) , make Spock promise on his Starfleet integrity that he will forget this moment. And he promise to do so. (her despreate look in her eyes makes me feel sad). what happens in turbolift, stays in turbolift

( this soul bearing is far More intimate than actually having a physical relashionship and man it did hit right in my feels, that eyecontact man...that eyecontact...*sigh*)

And in the bridge, They behave as if nothing happened and Una even looks up a PADD to confirm Spock's name to which Pike sends a quirky glance (first officer forgetting new Science officer's name? hmmm) and there is lot of eye contact and this...

Pike : Do Vulcan's feel Awe Ensign?

Spock : They do. but they tend to keep it to themselves *looks at Number one with a ghost of a smile*

Number one: *smiles back*

(I'm officially ded, this Short Trek Killed me)

I Pray that CBS will make a Pike series because Rebecca romijn's Number one and Ethan Peck's Spock is way too valueble to waste as guest stars and they are amazing. especially Number one.

i fell More in love with her after this

Q& A>>>>> S3 DISCO (right now)

[voyager-into-the-unknown]

My December 29 Contribution to the Pikelavar Winter Event

“All I Want for Midwinter is Meklavar” Chapter 4:

Tradition

Meklavar studied her map before she and Pike set out on their journey through hill country. They had decided to stop at the closest village to take shelter for the night, knowing that evening would soon be upon them and the temperature would drop rapidly after sundown. It seemed like any other wintertime journey for them, except that it wasn’t. They had danced together in Talarian City, shared a warm bed in a cozy cabin for three nights, and then, after a narrow escape from near-death, they had kissed beneath an ancient oak draped in mistletoe. Pike and Meklavar had confessed their love for one another, and when he had asked for permission to court her, to his amazement, she accepted him as a suitor. Despite the bitter cold, Pike’s heart was racing with the euphoria of knowing that of all the males in the world, she wanted him to be her life mate. They trudged hand-in-hand through the snow towards the village ahead, with warm hearts and empty bellies.

They came upon the gates of the walled village, and were greeted by a pair of watchmen. “What business do you have in the village of Farwynd?”

Pike spoke first. “We need shelter for the night. We are traveling north for the Midwinter Festival, But we had to make an unexpected detour away from the valley road.”

“There’s been a mudslide,” Meklavar added. “The road is blocked with rocks, mud, and broken trees. We barely escaped with our lives.”

“This is ill news,” said the first watchman. He turned to his companion. “Go an alert the mayor of this unfortunate happenstance. He will want to alert the other villages in the morning and send out a work crew to help clear the path.” He turned back to the weary travelers. “Welcome to Farwynd. Your best bet for lodging is the third inn on the right, see it there? The Green Lion. Anyplace else is at full capacity tonight with all of the guests that have come to town for our own Midwinter festivities. You two look as if you could use a warm meal, a hot bath, and a soft bed for the night, and The Green Lion can provide all three.”

“Thank you,” said Meklavar.

“Happy Midwinter to You!” Pike added with a wave as they walked through the open gate.

The windows of the Green Lion Inn were lit with fairy lights in a rainbow of brilliant colors and the common room was warmed by the glow of an enormous fireplace. The aromas of hot, delicious meals filled the dining area, and the sound of cheerful holiday carols brightened the mood of every man, woman, child, elf, and troll that was gathered there to eat, drink, dance, and be merry. Pike and Meklavar entered the common room grinning broadly. The innkeeper, a stout woman with a ready smile and cheerful demeanor, greeted them.

“A Merry Midwinter to you, travelers. I am Beatrix Berylla. How might I assist you this fine evening?”

“Hot meals, baths, and a room for the night, please,” said Meklavar.

“Meals and baths we can provide, a-plenty, but there is only one room left for the evening. Will that be proper?” She looked at Pike, who was a bit nervous under the innkeeper’s scrutiny.

Meklavar blushed. “He is my Intended,” she explained.

“Oh, my dear! Congratulations to you both! Have you begun the exchange of tokens yet?”

“What—?” Pike didn’t know what she meant.

“—not yet,” interrupted Meklavar. “This is very new to us.”

“I see. Well, blessings be upon you both, and may your union be a joyous one. Would you prefer a meal or a bath first?”

Pike and Meklavar looked at each other, and then down upon their mud encrusted boots, cloaks, and trousers. “Baths!” They said in unison.

Beatrix clapped her hands twice, and a skinny serving maid appeared, “Verilyn, take these two to the bathhouse and have the boot polisher and the launderers get to work on their travel stained gear.”

“The bathhouse is full, ma’am, save for the honeymooner’s bathing room.”

“Oh, dear,” fretted Beatrix. “These two are Intended, but not yet wed.”

“It’s allright,” Meklavar said reassuringly. “We can begin the rituals tonight.” She was blushing so hotly that Pike could almost feel the heat radiating from her. What rituals? What were they talking about? Pike suddenly felt very nervous.

Verilyn beamed. “I will have everything prepared while you show them to their room, ma’am.” She exited through the back door of the common room.

Beatrix withdrew a key from the large ring at her belt. “Follow me upstairs, my dears.”

The room that Beatrix opened for them was spacious, clean, and warmed by a small fireplace of its own. There was a table with chairs where two might dine comfortably, an enormous wardrobe, a washstand and mirror, and even a screen for privacy that presumably concealed the chamber pot. The Green Lion was indeed a very fine inn, and Pike just stood there, his lips parted and eyes wide as he looked about at all of the fine furnishings. Meklavar thanked the innkeeper and gave her payment for their lodgings.

“I’ll send Verilyn up when your bath is ready. In the meantime, you can undress and put these on,” Beatrix explained as she drew two long, fleece lined robes from the wardrobe. “I can even have your evening meal sent here after your bath.”

“Thank you,” said Mek as Beatrix exited their room.

Mek set her helmet down on a side table. They both put aside their weapons and traveling packs, then shed their filthy cloaks and boots. Pike helped Mek as she began to remove her armor.

“What are the rituals that you two were talking about?” Pike asked, curiously.

“Before a dwarf maiden takes a husband, the bride and groom must be ritually purified by taking a bath together. They wash each other, but any kind of sexual activity is strictly forbidden.” Now he knew why Mek was blushing so hotly. “They share a meal and a bed after that.”

Pike’s eyes were as big and round as saucers. He stared at her in amazement. “You...you want to give me a bath?!” He was stunned by this new information.

“If you don’t want to do this, I will understand...”

“I didn’t say that I didn’t want to! I just think it’s really—“

“Weird?”

“Sexy,” said Pike, waggling his eyebrows at her. “And I really want to see what your amor has been concealing after all these years.” He winked at her.

“Actually, you won’t be able to see much of anything with only a few candles lit, and before you jump to conclusions, we won’t be completely naked. You won’t be allowed to touch me anywhere really private until after we are married either, so it’s rather innocent.”

“Still sounds like fun,” he grinned at her. “I always like touching your smooth skin anywhere and everywhere. And I really like being touched by you...” He gave her his most seductive look. Mek rolled her eyes at him.

“We should start undressing then, before I change my mind about this. Strip down to your underwear and put on that robe. Bring your sleepwear with you as well.” She said. He noticed that she tucked a comb inside the pocket of her robe. Mek disappeared behind the privacy screen in their room to undress, much to his disappointment. Although Pike put on a show of being an incorrigible flirt, in truth he was as inexperienced and nervous about intimate matters as Meklavar was. Nervous, and incredibly excited by the thought of it...

Pike was clad only in his very brief underpants when Mek came out from behind the screen wearing her robe. He gasped in surprise, but then decided to make the most of the opportunity. “Like what you see?” He stood with his hands on his hips, proud of his long, thin-but-muscular physique. He gave her what he thought was an irresistible smile.

“Pike, I think that you had better put your robe on now.” She bit her lip, trying to suppress her grin of amusement.

“Is my animal magnetism too much for you?” he said, moving closer to her and giving her his most smoldering look.

“No, but it might be too much for Verilyn. She’s standing right there in doorway behind you.” Pike shrieked and ran to grab his robe. He nearly tripped over the sash as he hurriedly scrambled into it. Meklavar was doubled over with laughter. That’s when Pike realized that the door was closed and no one had entered their room.

“Hey!” Pike exclaimed when he realized that she had tricked him.

“Well, she’ll be here any moment. I just thought you ought to put something on,” she said, giggling. “After all, she might be overcome by your animal magnetism.”

“You are one naughty dwarf maiden. That’s one of the things I like about you.” Pike smirked at her, then moved closer to her and tipped her chin up towards him. He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers, and Mek coiled her arms around his neck kissing him back with sweet affection that melted into mutual passion. The intimacy between them ended suddenly when there was a knock on the door to their room. They sprang apart, blushing.

“Come in!” Mek called.

Verilyn entered, followed by two other servants who had come to collect their soiled boots and garments. “The bathing room is ready for you. Follow me. We’ll take the back stairs.”

Pike and Meklavar put on the slippers that matched their robes, gathered up their sleepwear and clean undergarments, and followed Verilyn down the smaller staircase that led directly to the bathing area.

When they arrived, they beheld a dimly lit but cozy room with a below ground bathing pool, big enough for two occupants to swim in, and deep enough for them to immerse themselves fully if they wished. There were scented candles, soaps, shampoo, and lotions, bowls for rinsing, and a large pile of fluffy white towels. It was the nicest bathing room that either of them had ever seen. Verilyn indicated a small silvery bell on a delicate chain. “Just pull this cord if you require any assistance. Otherwise you will remain undisturbed.” She curtsied and made her exit.

“This is lovely,” Mek said, examining their surroundings.

“What, exactly, is this ritual?” Pike asked softly.

“Well, first you remove your robe and enter the pool. Then you allow me to bathe you, and you do the same for me. It is an opportunity for the Intended to see if the other’s form is pleasing to them and and for the maiden to discover if her beloved’s touch is rough or gentle. Symbolically, this tradition represents purification and an opportunity for us to begin bonding through gentle and playful touching.”

“I think I am really going to like this tradition,” Pike said with a grin. He shed his robe and waded into the shallow end of the pool. He swam around for a bit, then turned to face her. “The water is warm and feels great, Mek.”

Meklavar unfastened her robe, then dropped it to the stone floor. Pike stared at her, his mouth agape. She wore very brief, opaque underpants and her soft bosom was concealed only by a bandeau that covered her breasts and left her shoulders and midriff bare. She just stood there for a moment, allowing him to stare at her slender figure. “You’re so beautiful, Mek. I think I must be the luckiest male in the world to be chosen by you.” Meklavar blushed and smiled at him approvingly. She picked up the shampoo container and entered the pool.

Mek began by washing Pike’s hair, working up a rich later by scrubbing his scalp with her fingers, and taking special care to give his ears the gentle scratching that she knew he loved. He purred enthusiastically as she pampered him. When she was done washing his short hair, Pike rinsed the suds away by submerging himself in the water and shaking the water droplets away, splattering Mek. She giggled and splashed the water back at him. “My turn,” he said, smiling broadly as he reached for the shampoo bottle.

Pike ladled clear water over Meklavar’s bowed head with one of the silver bowls, then lathered her thick hair with the sweet-smelling shampoo, massaging her scalp with his long fingers and then carefully pouring clear water over her head to rinse it away. He then looked at the containers of sweet smelling oils. “Are these for the hair?”

“Oh, the red one, please. Just a little will do. Rub it on your hands first.” Pike did as she requested and then rubbed the sweet smelling oil onto her scalp and through the wet strands of her hair. She closed her eyes and allowed herself to enjoy the pleasure of the flowery aroma and the gentleness of Pike’s touch. When he was done she smiled at him and reached for the soap. He followed her to the shallow end of their little bathing pool. “Turn around,” she said, and she began to lather his broad shoulders and his smooth, muscular back. Pike closed his eyes and enjoyed the sensation. She swam around him and washed above and below each of his strong arms in turn, and then she lathered up his chest and belly. Pike observed her every move with interest. She was pink-cheeked and was totally engrossed in her task, as if trying to memorize the planes and angles of his body and every curvature of his lean musculature. His breathing quickened and his purring grew louder and she massaged his chest. When she was done, Pike kissed her forehead. He dunked himself in the water to rinse the suds away, then looked at her with an unspoken question apparent by his expression. He stared down at the garment that concealed her bosom, uncertain what to do next.

As if she read his thoughts, she said softly, “You can wash my arms, shoulders, and belly.” Pike took the soap then planted a soft kiss upon her left shoulder, then lathered up her left side, from the top of her shoulder down the length of one arm. Then he kissed her right shoulder and repeated the sequence, covering her with sweet suds from her right shoulder down the length of her other arm. He ladled clear water to rinse the soap away, then positioned himself behind her, sudsing her bare stomach and surprising her with a kiss on the neck that made her laugh with delight. He discovered that she was ticklish there and he hoped that he could use that to his advantage for many years to come.

With her back to him, Meklavar moved to the shallow end of the bathing pool and undid the fasteners that held her bandeau in place. She took it off, set it beside the pool, then pushed her damp hair aside, revealing her back to him. Pike’s heart hammered in his chest. She was giving him permission to wash her fully exposed back. Modestly, she cupped her palms and crossed her arms over her bare breasts as he drew near. He was glad that she couldn’t see his face at this moment. He was certain that he was blushing at hot as the noonday sun. He gently lathered the silky smooth skin of her back, marveling at how frail she seemed even though he knew she was a formidable warrior. “Thank you, love,” she said, looking over her shoulder. “Now leave the soap beside me and allow me a bit of privacy for a moment.”

Pike set down the soap next to her at the pool’s edge and swam away from her. Even though her back was to him he could tell that she was lathering up her... He shut his eyes, but his imagination was filled with speculation about her...chest... He covered his eyes with his hands but couldn’t stop thinking about the parts of her body he had not yet seen.

He heard her swimming toward him a few moments later, then felt her tap him on the shoulder. He knew she was facing him, waist deep in the water, and he was uncertain if he should open his eyes. Was this a test? “It’s okay. You can open your eyes, dear one.” Her bandeau was back in place and she was grinning at him. “Thank you for being such a gentleman.” He smiled back at her, looking a bit bashful, silly, proud, and adorable all at once.

“This way,” she said, swimming back to the shallow end. “Sit on the edge.” He did so, feeling rather self-conscious about how his wet underpants clung to him, leaving little to the imagination. She was washing his large feet and his long, thin-but-muscular legs, modestly averting her gaze from his loins. As soon as she was done, he slid back into the pool to rinse off, then picked her up from the waist and set her down gently on the edge of the pool. He washed her adorable little feet and relished in the sensation of lathering up her smooth legs as she leaned back, smirking at him. He lifted her up from the pool’s edge and pulled her back down into the water with him. She had her arms around his neck and kissed him tenderly on the lips. When they broke apart, he said in a low voice, “I know one place that you haven’t washed yet. I know it is an appendage you don’t have, and it’s probably going to be weird for you the first time you touch it, especially because it’s so long, but —“

“Pike, um, some parts of your body have to remain private until we are properly married.” She averted her gaze, too embarrassed to look at him. “You’ll have to wash down there by yourself.”

“I didn’t mean...” he was as flustered as she was. “I meant my tail.”

“Oh!” She laughed nervously.

“You thought I meant something else, naughty girl.” He winked at her. Red-faced, Meklavar’s gaze did not meet his own. She simply picked up the soap and said, “Turn around.” He did as she asked, and he yelped as she gave his tail a little tug as she washed it.

“You did that on purpose,” he accused.

“Maybe. I am serious about the parts you need to wash yourself though. We both have to wash in private places, so we should go to opposite ends of the pool and face opposite directions to do that, please. No peeking.”

“No peeking,” he agreed.

A few awkward moments later, Mek announced that she was getting out of the pool and going to dry off and change into her sleeping tunic.

“Still not peeking,” Pike said from the other end of the pool. “See what a good boy I’ve been?”

“Good kitty. I’ll reward you later,” she said with a little laugh. After a long pause, she announced, “I’m dressed now. And I am facing the other way, so you get out of the pool to dry off and put some clothes on.” Pike turned around to see that Mek was indeed sitting with her back turned to him, and was busy combing the tangles out of her hair. Naked, he emerged from the pool and quickly dried himself, then donned his pajamas. He then tapped her on the shoulder, and she turned to him.

“Well, did I do this ritual thing the right way? It felt like it was some sort of test.” He helped her to her feet.

“You were perfect in every way. I know I made the right choice.” She stood on tiptoe to kiss him again.

“So when we get married are we going to bathe together like this? I thought is was a great way for us to bond, you know what I mean? I like being able to be close to you this way.”

“Our future home has to have a bathing pool big enough for two, most definitely.” She smirked at him, and he blushed. “Hand me the little green container over there.”

Pike reached for the jar that she indicated. He opened it and sniffed it. “This smells really good.”

“It’s a lotion for after bathing. It’s for moisturizing the skin.”

Pike smiled shyly. “Do you want me to put this on you?”

Meklavar smiled at him. “Maybe later. Don’t you want supper?”

“Actually, I do. I am starving, Mek.”

“Then we should bring this jar up to our room,” she said with a smile that made his heart race. She pocketed the green container. She pulled the little chain to ring the silvery bell by the wall, and a servant appeared moments later to take their requests for the evening meal that would be sent up to their room.

[sometimesrosy]

1) Bob said B would be drawn to Echo...but it doesn’t make any sense to me. Why would anyone be drawn to someone who helped kill their girlfriend, almost killed their beloved sister, and more?? Let alone B, who is so emotional and feels things so personally and deeply? I guess I'm just worried they're gonna force the forgiveness arc, like they did with CL. I didn’t find it believable at all that C could so quickly get over L’s betrayal and fall back into her arms, and it rly felt like they did t

2) did that to cater to the CL fandom. But at least they had a romantic relationship before, so I guess there were some grounds established. So I find something like this even less believable for B, who takes things more personally than C and didn’t have a prior romance with Echo. It seems very strange to me that he’d just be able to get over Echo’s actions and feel “drawn” to her. I do believe it’s important to learn to forgive and B does need to learn this.

3) But that doesn’t mean you have to forgive every single person who has ever hurt you, especially when Echo has done so many things that have hurt B, such as almost killing the person most important to him?? I think part of my uncomfortableness also stems from the writers’ penchant for turning abusive relationships involving great betrayal and pain and casting them as romantic so I’m dreading seeing Becho when she has hurt him so much. It just doesn’t make sense to me. Thoughts?

Okay. The reason why it doesn’t make sense to you is because you are looking at it as romance. And looking at romance as the idea that Love is The Answer. Which… this show does not do. Love is really important on The 100, and it does make the suffering worth while and give people motivation, but not all love here is pure. Not all love is healthy. Love is used a patch to fix things that it can’t fix. It’s not a very romantic show. 

The reason why people are drawn to the people who hurt them is– well, people are drawn to those who hurt them. Abusers. Kidnappers. Bad parents. Sisters who blame them for everything. Rivals. Especially in a world where everyone is doing things that harm people, but everyone has valid reasons for the harm they cause, they are drawn to those people in whom they can see a reflection of themselves. 

Clarke was drawn to Finn, Bellamy, Anya, Lxa, Dante, Roan, Jaha, even Emerson. Some of these relationships turned out better than others. All of them caused harm. Most of them were warlike and/or tyrannical.

Bellamy was drawn to Clarke, Finn, Gustus, Lincoln, Kane, Maya, Echo, Pike, Roan. Interestingly, the people Bellamy was drawn to were more likely to be conciliators and peace makers than the ones that Clarke was drawn to. I think that has to do with how they were looking for an aspect of themselves that they had not mastered yet. 

Why has Bellamy been drawn to Echo? Because she reminds him of himself. A tool for the powers that be. A loyal knight. A person willing to do anything for her people. A person struggling with the difference between doing what is right and doing what is best for her people.

Forgiving Echo offers him a chance to forgive HIMSELF. He feels he killed his own mother. He feels a monster. Still. He’s trying to make up for it. Just like he stopped Riley from starting a massacre, to make up for what happened with Finn, finding a way to forgive Echo and help her in her redemption, opens the door for him to forgive himself and find his OWN redemption. Forgiveness and Redemption are big themes. 

Might it open the door for romance? It might. Is it ABOUT romance? It is not.

As for CL. I don’t consider it fanservice. I consider it a story they wanted to tell because it was a good story and involved all the themes and struggles and obstacles they wanted for Clarke Griffin, and one that was dashing and gorgeous and dramatic and romantic and “edgy” or “progressive” or whatever their intention was with making a relationship that started in kidnapping and betrayal a wlw relationship. I don’t think they thought all the repercussions through.

Clarke’s easy forgiveness of L wasn’t necessarily the right thing to do. The story didn’t actually say she deserved to be forgiven. She didn’t REALLY change. L ended her story the way she started her story with The 100. With a kill order on ALL the Sky Crew. Clarke forgave her while her prisoner. She forgave her while Sky Crew was still on lock down and denied freedom and the ability to survive independently or to defend themselves. This is definitely an interpretation of canon, but so is believing that Lxa reached a legitimate redemption. WAS L redeemed? I don’t think so. Some do. 

Did Clarke’s interaction with L make her a better leader? I don’t know. She seemed a lot better leader in season 1. She was certainly less broken, although more naive. Did Clarke’s interaction with L make her a better person? That’s something to consider. 

I do think we have a tendency to use the word “abusive” too much, and people might think that’s ironic coming from me, but I did NOT use that label casually when I said it about CL. I didn’t even just base it on my own personal feelings and experience. I did a LOT of research and tried to define what an abusive relationship meant before I started putting it out there. Abusive relationships are not just saying mean things or causing physical harm. They are about a pattern of continued behavior with intent to control and over power tied with the emotions and connection of intimate relationships. CL took a political relationship ABOUT power and turned it romantic. The power issues never went away. Season 2 was not a romantic relationship, it was a political one with chemistry and attraction. And one kiss which was rebuffed. That is not a relationship. I’m sorry it’s just not. As much as people want that to be a relationship. You don’t get a girlfriend by kissing someone who then says, “sorry I’m not looking for anything right now.” That is not how relationships work.

Echo and Bellamy did not have an abusive relationship because they were not in a relationship. They were comrades and she betrayed him. Then they were enemies. Quite clearly. That is not an abusive relationship. They saved each other and became comrades again at the end of the world. I think we can give them a pass on that since the real enemy was Praimfaya. 

But YES, I can agree that they are paralleling CL with BE. However, just because they use some of the same elements, does NOT mean it’s going to turn out the same way. Compare Bellamy stopping Riley from starting another massacre to Bellamy failing to stop Finn and starting a near genocide. So for all we know, the parallel between CL and BE will serve to show a BETTER way to deal with that betrayal/forced relationship. Let’s watch and see if we get an actual redemption and positive character growth instead of what happened to Clarke. 

And also, remember, Echo is a name of a character in Greek myth. She was in love with Narcissus, who did not love her back, and she pined away for his love until all that was left was her voice, echoing him. Are you SURE they’re setting BE up for some meaningful love relationship? I’m not saying there won’t be a romantic thing, but…the larger narrative and literary themes are not pushing in that direction. 

All I’m saying here is look more closely at how the CL and BE relationships (whatever they may be) affect Clarke Griffin and Bellamy Blake. Because THIS is the story being told. Not the romances themselves, but how those romances (if that’s what they end up being) affect our heroes. 

[winterverses]

Chapter Nine

The way Bones growled about Anne, you’d think she was dying. Kirk could tell that she was shaken-- the lines of her body were tense and she was just barely trembling. The phaser burn on her arm was only superficial, though, and she was otherwise uninjured. He’d come to the med bay after everything had settled; the two ships had fled, and the Enterprise was still in possession of the Sorte, the captives, the smugglers, and the cargo. Another small team of mercenaries had been captured on their way to the cargo bay, and the brig was so full that they had some of the captives two to a cell. Kirk had briefly considered pursuing the two ships, but in the end, the higher priority was getting back to Yorktown with what they had. The two ships would be taken care of later, along with any others they could find.

But they were able to stand down. The red alert was canceled, and the ship returned to normal activity, with the exception of Scotty, who was overseeing the hull repairs on deck 31. It stung a bit-- first hole in his new ship. Kirk knew he'd get over it, but it wasn't something he could brush off.

Bones had made Anne wait for treatment. There were others who were wounded more seriously and he had to prioritize them, which was why, as Kirk came up behind her, she was only just having her arm healed an hour or so after everything had cooled down. “It had to be the broken one,” Bones groused, running the dermal regenerator over her arm. “What in God’s name possessed you to go and join the fight anyway?”

“I had to,” Anne said simply. “I had to make sure the prisoners didn’t go free.”

Kirk could sympathize. After some of the things he’d heard the night before, he might have gone himself if he hadn’t been busy with the attacking ships. On the other hand, she’d ‘borrowed’ a phaser without authorization and possibly endangered the crew members in the brig. But it wasn’t as if he could officially reprimand her, and she had helped, after all. Reports were that she’d taken down at least one of them herself. Kirk decided to shelve the entire thing. It was such a tangle that it should probably just be glossed over, as it wasn’t likely to happen again. He waited in the background, not wanting to intrude when neither of them had noticed him yet. And eavesdropping, a little. Maybe.

“That was stupid and it could have gotten you killed. You should have left it to the security teams.” One edge of the burn didn’t seem to be responding well to the dermal regenerator, so Bones fiddled with some settings, and then went back to work.

“You don’t understand. If Tarenn had gotten free, he was planning to find me if he could, and I will fight to the death before I go back into that hell.” Anne’s tone was firm, but Kirk could hear a small tremble in her voice. “I had reasons to want a weapon.”

Shaking his head, Bones prodded the new skin. “Any feeling in that yet?” Kirk had the feeling that he didn’t want to pry into her implications about the phaser. She was off-balance enough already.

“It’s tender, but it’s all right.” She flexed her arm experimentally.

Kirk stepped up, and he must have made a small sound because Anne was instantly on the defensive, her head snapping around toward him, her hands clawed and her eyes so wary that they might have been feral. When she registered who it was, however, he saw her tension disappear, her body immediately relaxing and her expression warming into human relief. “Everything’s fine,” Kirk said, risking a little smile. “It’s all taken care of.”

He got an answering smile from her, although it was guilty, awkward. Her gaze flicked away from him, her eyelids lowering. “I’m sorry I didn’t come to you with that attack strategy of theirs before it happened. I only remembered what they were doing once we were in the situation.”

“But you got it to us in time to stop them. That’s what matters.” He felt her gaze come to rest on him again, the pressure of her scrutiny. “Of course, I’d like to know anything more that you have. I’m sure Spock explained it to you.”

Her lips tightened, and he could see the fear lurking beneath the surface of those misty grey eyes. “He did, yes.”

“As a medical professional, I have to protest. A mind meld with that green-blooded menace to mental stability would be more traumatic than useful.” Bones scowled, as if the force of his disapproval might cancel out the idea.

“It’s risky, yes. But it would help catch the people who hurt you. And we’re only asking you to consider it.” Kirk grinned again. “So no more pressure. We won’t bring it up again unless you do.”

Anne relaxed a little more. The idea of a mind meld must have spooked her badly. “All right. We’ll see.”

There was just something about her that made him want to see her smile. Made him want to make her smile. It was better than seeing her worried or frightened… or maybe it was just the way it lit her up, brightened her eyes and made her angular face striking. Maybe. “For now, it’s time to relax. Have something to eat, have some drinks, go see one of the movies playing in the rec rooms… There’s a lot to do on the ship. There has to be, or we’d all go nuts on long missions.”

Bones huffed in displeasure and packed up his tools. “Get out of my med bay. You’re cluttering up the place.” Bones disapproved of his involvement with Anne. Kirk wasn’t sure he cared-- he’d seen this sort of thing before. Bones was just being territorial about his patient, the way he was about his staff and his med bay.

Anne thanked Bones, and walked with Kirk out of the med bay. “I think I’ll just go to my room. This has been an interesting day. I’m not up to a crowd.”

“Do you want to be alone?” he asked, not sure if he liked the idea of her hiding away in her quarters all by herself after what had to have been an awful experience for her.

“Are you offering to stay with me?” she asked, turning those dangerous eyes on him. He almost felt like shivering under her gaze.

“Yes,” he said immediately. His logs and reports could wait a while. “Dinner or something? Nothing fancy.” He grinned down at her. “And nothing too heavy, I promise. If you want to talk, you can, but we can keep it light too.”

That smile of hers lit her face, the sight of it satisfying in a way he couldn’t define. “Light sounds good to me. And food. And music.”

Kirk laughed. “Good. I hope you like classical music.”

They ended up having creole food and listening to ancient jazz. He’d picked a safe genre since he didn’t know anything about her musical tastes, but her reaction when he’d suggested jazz had been to immediately suggest a recording by one of the most influential jazz artists of all time without even thinking about it. He couldn’t help but like that. Instrumentals made a good background to the talk about their past lives-- hers before the kidnapping, his before the Narada’s return. She’d traveled extensively for a civilian, having been to several planets that Kirk had passed by, and many that he had stopped on for whatever reasons. “I really spend all my time traveling,” she had said, her lashes lowering as if she were embarrassed.

Kirk set his beer glass down. It had seemed a bit wrong to have beer with oysters en brochette and crawfish étoufée, as if he should have been drinking something classier, but Anne had insisted that this was how it was done in New Orleans. He’d never been there, never had the time, but he decided during his next shore leave on Earth he would check it out. The food was amazing. “Did you ever think of joining Starfleet?” he asked, curious. She was intelligent enough, and he suspected that once she’d gotten to a healthier weight she’d be fit enough. Even as underfed as she was, she had some muscle, lean and toned, as if she were no stranger to physical activity.

“I thought about it. I took the aptitude tests. It was a very strong possibility, but before I’d made up my mind to apply, my first book found a publisher. Suddenly I had the means to travel-- the book was a runaway success. So I had too much to do then, writing the next book and arranging for passage to different worlds. The Academy would have had me in a science or tactical track, but… I chose just being free to write, and to see things.” Her eyes were dreamy with pleasant remembrance. “I would have suited Starfleet, I think, but I’m not sure it would have suited me, even now.”

“That’s fair enough. If you’d been an officer on a ship, you’d be stuck with the same people doing the same thing for years at a time. That can get… tedious.” Kirk flashed her another grin. “If you forget that what you’re doing is just going out into the unknown and learning it for the first time, every time.”

Anne picked delicately at her étoufée, looking down at her plate. “It sounds like you really enjoy it, although you might not have, once.”

Nailed it on the first try. Didn’t even watch him to make sure. Kirk felt his smile turn self-deprecating. “What can I say? I’ve forgotten that, in the past. Not anymore. And my crew is my family; I’ve done a lot of crazy things for them, and they’ve done the same for me.”

“What made you decide on Starfleet?” Anne asked, looking back up at him.

That open gaze made it impossible to consider embellishing to make himself look better. She deserved the unvarnished truth. “It was a dare. I got into a bar fight with three Starfleet cadets and their captain broke it up. Asked me if I liked being ‘the only genius-level repeat offender in the Midwest.’ He knew my files and aptitudes because of my father. He’s dead now.” Kirk looked away from her, wondering if this was too far, too intimate. Anne would see exactly what this all meant to him, he was sure of it. But… it didn’t feel wrong. It felt all right, as if letting her see that would put them on more equal footing after all he knew about her. “Both of them are dead, actually. Admiral Pike died in the line of duty, a victim of a terrorist attack that I couldn’t prevent. My father died saving the lives of everyone on his ship, the Kelvin. He was Captain for exactly twelve minutes, while he evacuated it and then crashed the ship into their attacker.” Kirk laughed humorlessly. “I was born in one of the escaping shuttlecraft just before he died.”

Instead of the gush of sympathy he usually got when a woman found out about that part of his past, he saw only calm consideration in her eyes. “I’ve heard of you. It’s a lot to live with, and to live up to. From my point of view, you’re doing it admirably.” Those perilous eyes warmed. “But you know I’m biased.”

“I can handle that kind of bias,” he laughed. It was sort of a relief to have that out and not to get sympathy that he didn’t need. The shadow of his father’s deeds hung over him, yes, and Admiral Pike’s death had hit him hard, but those weren’t things he wanted to be pitied for.

Anne laughed too, and sipped her beer. It was a light, crisp raspberry beer that she claimed was originally native to New Orleans, and it complemented the meal nicely. Kirk suspected that she had programmed it into the food synthesizer herself, even though she hadn't been given access. Someone who travelled habitually would pick up things like that. He couldn't bring himself to worry about it; the synthesizers had safeguards to prevent anything harmful being programmed in. “I think you get a lot of bias,” Anne said, the corners of her eyes crinkling with humor. “And I don’t think you mind it one bit. In fact, I think you enjoy it.”

Kirk found himself carefully looking her over, unable to entirely hide smile playing on his lips. “Let me just ask you this, because I don’t want to get it wrong. Are you flirting with me?” She definitely was, and she’d fallen so naturally into it that he suspected it was habit. One she enjoyed, too. A flirt who liked it for its own sake was his favorite kind of flirt.

Her eyes widened in surprise, and she looked down, thinking for a moment before she answered. “Yes, I guess I am,” she said, seeming to marvel at the idea. Looking earnestly back up at him, she asked, “Is that all right?”

He could have said no, kept his professional distance. He knew intellectually that he should. Leaning back in his chair, he gave her his most devilishly charming grin. “It’s fine by me.”

For the first time he saw faint color rise to her cheeks, that pale skin delicately touched with pink. “Good,” she said, and her lips curved in a smile he had never seen before, a half-mysterious, half-demure expression that was more an invitation than a statement of feeling. “Good. Because I don’t want to stop.”

Something about that expression suddenly had all of his attention. Kirk had to remind himself that pulling her over the table and kissing her was completely out of the question. Way too far, way too fast, way too aggressive for her mental state. Flirting only. Well, if she wanted to flirt, he was definitely going to respond. “And I don’t want you to stop. By all means, keep going.”

A/N: If you can guess the recording I mention, put it in the comments here and I’ll send you a chapter early, whether that's the next one or one further along down the line. :)