Forbidden Colors

K/S Fanfiction
Title:	Forbidden Colors
Author(s):	Jenny Starr
Date(s):	1987
Length:
Genre:	slash
Fandom:	Star Trek: The Original Series
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Forbidden Colors is a Kirk/Spock story by Jenny Starr.

It was published in the print zine Naked Times #17.

Summary

"Though sheʼd like the captain for herself, Uhura steps in and helps Spock realize Kirkʼs love for him."

Reactions and Reviews

FORBIDDEN COLORS is an unusual piece for K/S in that it's told in first person, from the point of view of Uhura. (in this story, we are shown Uhura's desire for Kirk, as well as her subsequent recognition of Kirk's love for Spock. and vice versa. Told In a straight-forward yet poignant style for which this author has become known. An excellent read, with some powerful images.

A quietly powerful, beautifully written story. Intriguing imagery and symbolism that carries through the story-line naturally, somehow not separate from the conveying of emotion. Actual physical things are used as these story-symbols, things meaningful to the characters, so they're not just abstractions. This story is like a fine piece of very visual poetry.

It takes a few paragraphs in the beginning to realize who is telling this story, but then we see it is Uhura, thinking of her village, of being the girl named freedom, thinking about the village matchmaker, and about the "forbidden colors" — the sacred leopard killed and worn only for wedding nights but otherwise never even looked upon. Such a colorful insight into Uhura, how this experience has carried with her and defines her experience even now. All her feelings are expressed marvelously. Also, her first-person telling is just perfect; I especially like when she says "you," as if she's telling us this story.

She looked once, that little girl, at the forbidden colors. She had to, for she thought she'd never otherwise see the sacred sight, because she felt she'd never marry.

Perhaps she was cursed for her looking; she'd never have James T. Kirk. That was the first of a number of dramatic and revealing lines which paced the action and feelings throughout the story.

I love how Uhura is a such strong woman, immune to most men's charms, except when she doesn't want to be (a unique and meaningful line in itself). But, of course, James Kirk is highly irresistible.

Oh but she did have him, one night. I have to tell you that so I can tell you how gorgeously it was written. The way his energies fill the room. The vivid description of the way he drinks brandy - savoring, paying homage, then lustily imbibing (and Uhura envies the brandy in his mouth). Then; "James Kirk makes love like he drinks fine brandy." A very heady experience, for Uhura, for us.

That one time took place right after their run-in with the Platonians; that makes sense. They have such an interesting heart-to-heart talk about it and, naturally, the truth must come out...the truth about with whom Kirk's heart lies. Again, written in such a spare, poetic and powerful way. Everything said had logic and substance, and at the same time such emotional impact. And drama without being forced.

So she ends up being the matchmaker; Kirk and Spock haven't been exactly forthcoming with each other, both believing the other would think such feelings inappropriate.

There is a song which Uhura made up for them; but I actually didn't quite get it. Maybe because of singing it in public for them, it had to be fairly veiled as to who "he" is, etc. I couldn't tell if it was meant to be Kirk to Spock, Spock to Kirk, or Uhura to Kirk, Spock or both of them.

Just a short epilogue of her/our seeing Kirk and Spock together, where we know they are on their way to being lovers. So there's no K/S sex, but I still just loved this story.

What is it that I find so appealing about stories that show the K/S relationship through the eyes of another person? When it's believably done, I guess I like the close-up, intimate feel of this approach. This story, which is Uhura's version of what happens followingthe events of "Plato's Stepchildren," certainly falls into that category.

Among the delightful things about this story is Uhura's characterization. She is intelligent, sensitive without being overly sentimental, and extremely perceptive. Kirk and Spock are depicted only through their interaction with her, and their dialogue is both believable and revealing. My only real quibble is with the scene in which Uhura talks to Spock about his feelings for Kirk. This seems too easy somehow, or maybe simply too sudden, as though there should be more background, more of a buildup to this scene. Given the little we are shown about Uhura's relationship with Spock, I have some trouble believing that she would feel comfortable bringing up such an intimate subject almost out of the blue. Despite this, Spock's dialogue here is excellent, and the scene itself does not feel out of place.

W e also learn something about Uhura's background in this story, and several Swahili traditions are crucial to the plot. The theme of the matchmaker is woven throughout, and in part explains Uhura's actions. I like the idea that she comes from a society that has preserved its cultural identity, that a Starfleet officer can be the childof a technological age and of a tribalfamily as well. In a way, her portrayal here is similar to Spock's, whose Vulcan heritage is never far beneath the surface.

Now you might be wondering, what about the K/S? Believe me, it's there, and it's quite wonderful. Though the story does not include a sex scene (at least not between Kirk and Spock!), the love each feels for the other is obvious and very moving. This is a tale of their coming together, helped by a mutual friend who recognizes that neither is prepared to make the first move and takes steps to remedy the situation. Sacrifice is involved as well, as Uhura has feelings of her own for Kirk. Their scenes together are beautifully done, and Kirk seems absolutely in character to me: tender and sensual and painfully honest even when it hurts.

And I love that Kirk tells her that he feels committed to Spock despite his belief that the Vulcan is unattainable. It's an utterly romantic notion, perfectly suited to this very romantic tale.

Was it only that I was in the mood for a tranquil retrospective piece, or would this account of a budding relationship through Uhura's eyes always provide the same comfort?

Swahili tradition—I don't know if it's real or the author's creation—involving the familiar hoops in Uhura's ears, is beautiful and imaginative. The lady named Freedom knows marriage is not in her future, so she has chosen to convert to earrings the double, entwined rings that are symbolic of commitment to her native people.

When, in a moment of shared vulnerability, Kirk provides an inkling of his unrequited love, she gradually realizes she is destined as "shangazi" or matchmaker.

The author is very skillful at showing us through another's eyes the special feelings these two have for each other. While it isn't a new plot line altogether, it does have elements that make it very unique. The clever way the old traditions are woven into the lives of these people of the future shows us the reason traditions become traditions, because they transcend time and individual circumstance and survive.

Uhura's catalyst of choice is quite naturally, song. The repeating chorus:

"You turn your head

You will not see

You think such splendor

Is not for the likes of me"

Very nice.

Everybody has their own personal thrills when it comes to fic, and my biggest one happens to be writing style. Give me a story that flows like whipped cream, and I'm buttah in the writer's hands. Forbidden Colors flows, but what impressed me greatly is the true brevity of words used by the writer. That, to me, takes real writing talent. (Or a damn good editor, or both!)

Either way, FC is a pleasure. Very tightly written, Starr takes the POV of a lesser-used character: Uhura. The author builds a story around a memory from Uhura's childhood, a Swahili cultural tradition, from which she derived the story title: I remember once as a child hiding in the bush when the hunter returned with the sacred skins. There is a saying in Swahili: "All heads turn when the hunt goes by." That was our law. Turn your head, do not look at the colors. They were taboo. The spots of the leopard were spirits that would put a curse forever on the one who looked. From this one cultural fact, the author is able to weave a wonderful relationship between Uhura and her regard and love for her captain, Jim Kirk, and her eventual knowledge and understanding that in fact it is Kirk and Spock who care for one another very, very deeply. Bonus points, too, for the story being tied very neatly into the series' timeline (it takes place just after Plato's Stepchildren) and making good use of "the infamous kiss." And yet, despite the skillful writing and style, what really charmed me most in FC is the portrayal of James Kirk, as seen through Uhura's eyes. I confess, I'm a Kirk fan from '66. Even at my then- tender young age, I was old enough to recognize something in that character that just did it for me, on all levels, and it continued to do so for the next 40 years. And Starr utterly captures the real essence and magic of Kirk's character in the main scene between Uhura and Kirk....

[much snipped due to length]

Great story, creative use of pov, of canon. Great characterizations, and a wonderful example of very tight writing. I highly recommend it.