#I've seen posts about Spock saying 'let me help'

[ensign-cadet]

Ok I've been trying to figure out how to word this, but I cannot get over the fact that when Spock says "Let me help"-- an episode after Jim claims that that phrase is "recommend[ed]... even over 'I love you'"-- Jim tells Spock he needs him.

[ID: A gif from Star Trek: The Original Series where Spock is lying on a checkered red-and-gold pillow, wearing sick patient garb. He is facing up (towards the camera) seeming to stare at the ceiling; his eyes appear especially reflective. In the gif, he is captioned saying "Let me help." End ID]

When this scene happens, before the grand solution, everyone kinda thought Spock was going to die. We know he won't (because TOS plot armor), but at this point Spock is infected with the very thing that killed Jim's brother and sister-in-law. And yet, he's extending his metaphorical hand to Jim. Unambiguously, too, because he is declaring himself for help, as opposed to asking it in a manner where his question could be denied (like "can I help you?" or "do you need my help?"). I can understand why Jim thinks it may be superior to "I love you", since its usage is choosing to care for/love the person wholly, even with and including whatever they may be going through.

Which makes Jim's reply of "I need you, Spock," especially interesting.

[ID: A gif from the same scene as above, but this time showing Captain Kirk (left) and Dr. McCoy (right). They are standing in a green-tinted room with a screen/monitor behind them. Bones' arms are crossed, and Jim's are at his side. In the gif, Kirk words are captioned as, "I need you, Spock." End ID]

The scene itself seems to imply that this is all under the guise of professionalism and moves on, but Jim never clarifies that here. There's no follow-up about needing Spock as a First Officer, or even as a friend. It is just, for lack of better words, needing him. We know this is true from the following episodes and movies-- where Jim repeatedly sacrifices himself and his career for Spock-- but this is a rare instance where he actually says the quiet part out loud. And this context makes a later scene in this episode, where Bones talks to Jim about his "affection for Spock," seem more like a confrontation, since he was in the room when those words were exchanged.

[ID: A gif from Star Trek: The Original Series, where Captain Kirk and Dr. McCoy are in a lab. They are in a room with white walls and green carpet, standing by what looks like a small computer monitor. Dr. McCoy is facing Jim as he states, "I understand your concern... your affection for Spock...". Jim seems to be looking at the ground distantly, while Nurse Chapel turns in to listen in the background. End ID]

I don't think people consider Operation: Annihilate a particularly slashy episode, but this has been driving me insane.

#I've seen posts about Spock saying 'let me help' #and others about Jim telling Spock he needs him #but nobody told me it's from the same interaction #spirk #the premise #K/S #tracking tag #rambling #star trek tos #my gifs

[getaway-gatsby]

Highly Illogical - 1/1

It is no easy task getting Dr Leonard McCoy to admit he needs a day off. Luckily, Y/N has a few tricks up her sleeve.

Originally posted on AO3 as getaway_gatsby. Trektober2022 gen prompt 26

"Y/N, I'm begging you, can you come and collect your fiancé? He's contaminating my med bay."

The exasperated voice of Nurse Chapel sounded from your communicator. You suppressed a sigh, although the call was hardly a surprise - you'd known that Bones was coming down with something since that morning. Aside from the persistent coughing, he had been unusually irritable at breakfast, a clear sign that he was under the weather. Leonard McCoy may have been notorious amongst the crew for his irascibility, but he was only tetchy with you when he felt utterly miserable.

With a groan, you flipped open your communicator.

“I did suggest he take the day off, but I got told to mind my own business.”

"Sounds about right. I've been trying to talk some sense into him for hours now. It's not going well. He's pricklier than an Andorian porcupine."

This piqued your interest. "When have you ever seen an Andorian porcupine?"

"I may have embellished slightly", Christine said dismissively. "The point is, you've got to help me before I have an epidemic on my hands. My job's so much easier when the Chief Medical Officer's not doubling as patient zero."

“Understood, Chris. I’m on my way.”

***

The doors of the med bay parted with a hydraulic hiss, revealing the harried face of Nurse Chapel. From the CMO’s office, the sound of raised voices drifted into the otherwise peaceful infirmary. Recognising the even tones of the First Officer, you raised a quizzical eyebrow at Christine.

“Why is Spock here?”

“He wanted the doctor to sign some reports, I think. Now he’s trying to logic him into going home.”

You heard Leonard’s unnaturally husky voice responding to Spock, his speech punctuated by ragged coughs. The sound was enough to make you wince in sympathy.

“He wasn’t that bad this morning. That cough sounds awful.”

Christine rolled her eyes heavenward. “I’ve been telling him that for the last five hours, but what do I know? I’m only the ship’s head nurse.”

Leaving Chapel to her patients, you wandered over to Bones’ office, where Spock stood in front of the CMO’s desk, his back to you. Leonard sat hunched over said desk, head in his hands. Both officers were too engrossed in their argument to notice your presence, and you let them quarrel whilst you considered your next steps. 

"You're making a fuss about nothing," Bones was saying, in little more than a hoarse whisper. "I'm hardly ready to kick the bucket yet.”

"I fail to see what relevance such a receptacle has to your condition." Spock sounded completely bewildered, and you bit back a laugh.

Muttering something very unprofessional under his breath, Leonard cleared his throat. "It's called a metaphor, you pointy-eared hobgoblin." It was some small comfort that the CMO still felt well enough to insult Spock.

"I am familiar with a metaphor, Doctor. A most illogical device."

"Spock, if you call me illogical one more time..."

"Very well." Spock smoothly interrupted the CMO's threat. "But you must admit you are being irrational, at the very least. Your productiveness is down 52.3%, and by refusing to leave, you risk infecting others. That is not the behaviour of a logical man."

Fortunately for Spock, Bones' retort was lost as he doubled over in a fit of hacking coughs. He clearly needed rest, but Spock's approach was getting nowhere. However, all this talk of rationality had given you an idea. If Spock’s logic was failing to make an impact, maybe you should try being illogical.

Stepping forward, you tapped the Vulcan on the shoulder, indicating that you would take over. Although Spock rarely showed his emotions, something akin to relief crossed his features as he exited the room. You moved closer to your fiancé, and, sensing a presence, Leonard groaned.

"Spock, if you don't leave me alone, I swear, I will find my dermal regenerator, and I will shove it so far up your- "

"Now, is that any way to address your loving girlfriend?", you reprimanded teasingly, and, at the sound of your voice, the CMO finally lifted his head from the desk. He looked absolutely wretched. His usually limpid eyes were red-rimmed, perfectly complementing the spots of high colour on each cheek. In contrast, the rest of his face was ashen.

You dropped your hand onto his shoulder, concerned by the tremors that wracked his frame. "Chapel says you aren't feeling too well."

A look of intense irritation flashed across his face. "People keep telling me that. I feel fine."

Now for the illogicality. "I believe you."

Bones peered up at you, his irritation replaced by deep suspicion. "You do? Why're you here then?"

"Do I need a reason to visit my fiancé?" You perched on the edge of the desk so that your face was level with his. "You know, I'm glad you feel alright. If you were ill, then I couldn't do this." And you slowly began to close the gap between his lips and yours. You knew there was no way he'd risk kissing you in his current state. Sure enough, a glint of alarm appeared in his eyes.

“I’m on shift, darlin’”, he said, recoiling uneasily. “Someone might see.”

You gently guided his face back towards you. "Who's going to see? Spock's gone."

“I know what you’re doing, Y/N, and it won’t work.”

“No?”, you replied, bringing his lips still nearer to yours; until they were almost touching. Three centimetres… two… one…

“Goddamnit, woman!”, Bones expostulated, pushing his chair away from the desk, away from you. “Fine! I’ll admit, I might be slightly under the weather. Are you happy now?”

Once more, you drew him close to you, but instead of kissing him, you pressed your lips against his forehead, frowning at the heat you found there. 

"I think slightly might be an understatement, Len. You're burning up."

Now that he had been caught out, his tough facade crumbled quickly. "I feel like hell", he confided quietly. As if to prove his point, he pitched forward in a trio of explosive sneezes, groaning dejectedly after each one. Your heart ached for him.

"Why don't you come back to our quarters, sweetheart?", you suggested softly. "I'll even make soup."

"Pressing a button on a replicator doesn't count as making, Y/N. And I've got all this paperwork to do." He gestured at his PADD and the notes scattered across his desk, but you could see his resolve was beginning to weaken.

"Chapel can do those. You're always saying you need to delegate more."

"I'll do anything." You hadn't realised Christine was standing in the doorway until she addressed Bones. "Just please get out of here. You're becoming a biohazard."

Bones grumbled something about traitorous nurses but rose to his feet regardless, swaying slightly as he did so. You tucked one arm around his waist and, winking triumphantly at Christine, started to wend your way back to your shared quarters.

You had nearly arrived when your communicator chirped. With some difficulty, considering you were still supporting Leonard, you hooked it out of your belt.

"Y/L/N here."

"This is Spock. I wondered if you had had any success regarding Doctor McCoy."

"Affirmative, sir. We're nearly back at our quarters now."

"I am curious. How did you get him to leave the med bay?"

You grinned. "I tried to kiss him."

There was a brief pause in which you could practically hear the cogs in Spock’s brain turn. Then: “A highly illogical approach, Lieutenant.”

“He’s a highly illogical man, Commander.”

“I heard that”, Bones groused, clearly not as out of it as you had assumed.

Smiling slightly, you signed off from your call to Spock, continuing on your mission to care for your highly illogical doctor.

Star Trek Taglist: @imherefordeanandbones

#leonard mccoy x reader #leonard bones mccoy #leonard mccoy imagine #star trek aos #star trek tos #christine chapel #spock #sickfic #trektober2022

[coconutwaterbending]

10 characters | 10 fandoms | 10 tags (we'll see about that last one) I haven't made a text post in so long how's everyone doing. Thank you, rj (@sidprescot), for the tag! This was a nice surprise. :)

Gosh do I have a type and they're all Old Men and Tragic Ladies my beloved. Let's go!! 1. Varric Tethras (Dragon Age 2): he shot right through my heart with that crossbow THE LITERAL SECOND he came on screen and I've been cursing Bioware ever since. He is a nonromanceable short king and I have never wanted anyone more thx. 2. Nakmor Drack (Mass Effect Andromeda): the Tempest Crew is so freaking charming, and while I love my jelly fish cat aliens the Angara, my favorite character is absolutely this old cantakerous grandpa Krogan. Whom, much like Wrex, I wish I could romance. (p.s. there is a TEASE of a flirt option and u can imagine how little that helped my case) 3. Spock (literally every Star Trek iteration): He is my Everything. Nemoy, Quinto, and Peck all bring something unique to the character's portrayal. I love him in every universe and I can never get enough of this EMOTIONALLY COMPROMISED NERD.

4. Alicent Hightower (House of the Dragon): one half of my divorced lesbinems and I feel so much for her and the tragedy/complexity of both her character and the heartwrenching slow decay of her r/s with Rhaenyra. I cannot wait for S2. 5. Aerith Gainsborough (Final Fantasy VII): ooooough, beautiful, tragic, kind, funny, cool flower seller of my life. Remake!Aerith particularly stole my heart along with the show. There is this sad, beguiling mystery about her that draws you in, and she is so cheerful in spite of it all. I can't wait for Rebirth but also I am terrified lol. 6. Yennefer of Vengerberg (The Witcher): "How ravishing she is, he thought. Everything about her is ravishing. And menacing. Those colours of hers; that contrast of black and white. Beauty and menace. Her raven-black, natural curls. Her cheekbones, pronounced, emphasising a wrinkle, which her smile – if she deigned to smile – created beside her mouth, wonderfully narrow and pale beneath her lipstick…" I mean. C'mon. That is MY WIFE etc, copy paste rj's exact blurb. Anya Chalotra is the perfect Yen. She is everything and deserves the world and I will glady let her burn it all down and murder me if she wants to. 7. Zero (Final Fantasy XIV): [Endwalker patch spoilers!] who doesn't love an autistic badass goth half-human half-voidsent who has lived as a monster for so long she forgot her own identity and is learning how to be human again and finding her humanity via the power of friendship and delicious food, like. I needed more of her and I miss her already!!!

8. Kim Wexler (Better Call Saul): omg so hard to pick just one from this show (ilu nacho), but Kim Wexler SUCKER PUNCHES U IN THE THROAT with her awesomeness. She is this extremely competent, understated cool, calculating yet caring and earnest character who compliments Jimmy so well and whose nuances her amazing actress Rhea Seehorn manages to convey so masterfully. She is also tragic af, but hello it's Breaking Bad prequel lol. On that note... 9. Kim Kitsuragi (Disco Elysium): DOUBLE KIM WHAMMY!!! They're so alike it's not even funny. I'd say Kim has the stronger moral center between the two, but I love them for many of the same reasons. He is also extremely competent, understated cool, with a side of being totally game for Harry's antics once he warms up to him (my Harry build was 'himbo' so he did a lot of dumb shit but he was nice). 10. Irving Bailiff (Severance): firstable, if you haven't seen Severance yet, please do yourself the favor and don't let me spoil this for u!! Irving Bailiff is an Experience. He is a stickler for the rules and very much a stick in the mud compared to his colleagues, but his true self leaks into this version of himself slowly at first, then in surprising bursts of rebellion that become clear at the end when it is shown that his Outtie/true self is actively trying to bring Lumon down like a TOTAL FUCKING BADASS in the most delightful reveal. Also he has a whirlwind romance with another old man played by Christopher Walken.

phew!! this was fun. lol @ my answers getting longer. I'm not tagging anyone but consider this an invitation to join in on the fun anyway!

#tag games

[onekisstotakewithme]

ALLY I feel like this bathtub is begging for a Spirk one shot…… 👀 just an idea!

Okay, so first off THANK YOU. I've been missing writing these two idiots 💜✨ and second of all, this is not the WHOLE one-shot, there's a lot of lead-up, and some stuff after as well, which I can hopefully get polished and posted tomorrow. but that being said....

~

Jim limps his way over to the bathroom, but instead of a regulation shower stall, there’s a beautiful bathtub set into the wall, a window showing the stars outside.

But there’s no shower to be seen.

Jim lets out a low whistle. “Mr. Spock, it seems you were right about a captain’s privilege.”

“Explain.”

“Come see for yourself.”

Spock walks over, standing beside Jim in the doorway. “Ah.”

“It’s certainly better than our bathroom back on the Enterprise, isn’t it, Mr. Spock? Very roomy.”

“Not exactly a logical use of space on a space station, Captain. A luxury, if ever I saw one.”

“Yes, well,” Jim says, waving his hand as he imitates Captain Koloth. “You Vulcans are not as luxury-minded as us Earthers, after all.”

Spock looks as though he’s trying to hide a smile, and it makes Jim grin. “Certainly, Captain.”

“Now, I… do believe that’ll be all, Mr. Spock. We’ve had a long day.”

“Captain… forgive me, I do not wish to make you uncomfortable.”

Jim, who is busy leaning over the edge of the tub to turn on the tap, turns. “But?”

“Would it not be logical for me to help?”

Jim flushes hot, hot enough that the water running from the tap over his fingers suddenly seems cool by comparison. “H-Help, Mr. Spock?”

“Some of your injuries… may be difficult for you to reach without assistance.”

“And you… want to help.”

“Yes, Captain.”

“Fine, just… turn around.”

Spock raises an eyebrow. “I will never understand man’s need for privacy.”

“You don’t have to understand it, Spock, but please. Turn around.”

“Very well.”

Spock obliges, turning around in the doorway as Jim carefully undoes his pants and boots, stepping out of them, and into the tub, hissing in pain as the warm water meets the wounds on his back.

He’s feeling very shy all of a sudden, looking out at the stars over the space station instead of Spock. “You uh… you can turn around now, Mr. Spock.”

“Very well.”

“How bad is it?” he asks, hearing Spock’s footsteps on the tile.

“Lean forward.”

Jim does, baring his back to Spock, his face hot as he rests his chin on his knees.

“Captain… I would advise caution in the future,” Spock says, pressing a damp cloth gently to Jim’s back.

“Oh?”

“You were fortunate this time, but the probability was against you.”

Jim hisses through his teeth as Spock touches a particular tender gash.

“I’m sorry, Jim.”

“It’s okay, Spock.”

“Why did you fight the Klingons? I did not know there had been an altercation until Mr. Scott informed me.”

“Well, they said some unkind things about the Federation.”

“Hardly a reason to brawl, Captain.”

“They think they’re better than us – and they’re barbaric.” Jim winces as Spock presses the cloth down hard. “But that isn’t the real reason.”

“I should think not, given that you are usually an exemplary model of Federation diplomacy.”

“Spock, was that sarcasm?”

“No.”

Jim smiles, letting the lie go. “It was about you.”

#i can hopefully polish + post this tomorrow but thank you again!!!! #spirk #kirk x spock #star trek #star trek tos #the trouble with tribbles #(or at least in that neighbourhood) #james t kirk #spock

[burninglights]

this is a bit of a possibly invasive question so feel absolutely free to delete this but I feel you post about star trek racism really helped start discussions, and i know that since then i've seen more people than before acknolwedge and hopefuly stop with the green spock thing which we have been asking for for uhm. ages. and yet like the post was about much more than antisemitism. (1/2)

(2/2) So as a jew I wanted to ask what else do you as a black person in the fandom, like, wish u had more support on /wish to see changed in the fandom behaviour like we were with green spock. I am not finding a non weird way to word it so again please ignore if this is emotional labour or just plain weird / invasive but like. what should non-black trekkies stop doing or start doing?

Hello! I’m glad you feel that my post has helped to open up a discussion, and I’m very grateful for all of the input that you and other Jewish trekkies have added regarding antisemitism in trek - I’m not well-versed in Judaism and I’d hate to have spoken over the voices of others on such an important issue.

As an African of mixed race, I can’t speak for black trekkies, and welcome input on this issue from any black trekkies who have anything to add. A couple of things that I’d really like the Trek fandom to address regarding racism would include:

1. The speed with which people were willing to sideline Michael Burnham, the main character in ST: Discovery, in her own show, in favour of white male side characters. I understand that Spock and Pike are fan favourites, but to completely ignore how ground-breaking it is to have a black woman as the main character, and a black woman who’s allowed to be a complex, well rounded and emotionally vulnerable character... that’s Not The One, to be honest.

2.  everyone trumpeting that Strange New Worlds will be “a return to Star Trek as it should be.” I just...hm. Interesting way of saying “less brown people in Star Trek”, and as I mentioned in the first post, there are characters of colour who have fascinating backstories that deserve just as much as attention and involvement. Joann Owosekun’s childhood in a Luddite cult, Hugh Culber’s medical school days, Micheal Burnham’s Totally Logical Teenage Vulcan Shenanigans, Hoshi Sato’s globe-trotting adolescence... there are so many stories just waiting to be unpacked!

3. The tendency to characterize the natives of new worlds as either bloodthirsty savages, innocently naïve, or a backwards people who live in servitude with only one or two “’enlightened’” individuals (who are coincidentally working for or helping Starfleet) doesn’t sit well with me. My home country got colonized (cheers, Queen Vicky) and the Brits then proceeded to fuck inter-tribal relations and the economy all the way up, to the point where the effects are still being felt today. Trust me when I say trek has had and in some aspect still continues to have a problem with the ‘civilised colonizer’/white saviour complex. 

4. Let’s talk about brownface and the complete disrespect for native traditions, especially the way that Chakotay was portrayed and the fact Voyager’s Native American consultant was an absolute piece of bullhockey.

I hope that helps! If there’s anything I can do to clarify, or anything else you’d like to ask me about, feel free to DM me! I’m always willing to start a conversation with people who want to open up a respectful dialogue and who are willing to work to make fandom a better place for all! :)