Here on Earth

Fanfiction
Title:	Here on Earth
Author(s):	Dovya Blacque
Date(s):	2002
Length:	19 pages
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
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Here on Earth is a Kirk/Spock story by Dovya Blacque.

It was published in the print zine First Time #54.

Summary

"Kirk refuses to take no for an answer when Starfleet offers Spock a ship after the five year mission and Kirk insists on keeping the Vulcan at his side."

Reactions and Reviews

2002

So, Kirk misses the rain, does he...? That got me thinking. My goodness, this writer draws some beautiful characters. They are happy, secure, full of humour and warmth, even when facing life-changing decisions. Her Kirk, Spock and McCoy are really loveable, and part of this is their ease with themselves and each other.

But how does she do this? Early on, the author shows Kirk through Spock and McCoy’s eyes, and we learn (as if we didn’t know) that the man is brilliant - lecturing at Oxford on astrophysics, and a reader of demanding fiction. This is a lovely contrast to the sleepy Kirk cuddling up to Spock when he gets home.

Spock is allowed to be properly alien, with strange nutritional tastes and the ability to read straight through piles of books. Mostly, character is shown through conversation, so effortless to read.

Lovely closeness between Kirk and Spock is revealed by humour, physical closeness, Kirk’s knowledge of the food Spock likes, the silent communication, finishing one another’s sentences, and Kirk’s honest evaluation of Spock’s weaknesses as a commander. What strength the relationship has, for Kirk to be able to describe Spock’s faults so accurately, and for this to seem loving!

I liked the lack of distinction, at first, in Kirk’s mind, between their lives as Enterprise officers and potential bondmates. Noticing he loves Spock is almost an afterthought because some part of him knows this so well already.

Not sure what the weather reports were saying, but they were very beautiful. Nice to see a different position for sex: well done! To sum up, in a few words, the atmosphere this story left me with...it was light as air, yet with steady, unfailing power, warmth. Reading this author’s work is like snuggling up with Jim and Spock.

"Here on Earth" (19 pages) was an a/u story set in San Francisco after the first five year mission. It mainly concerns Kirk, Spock, and McCoy. All the way through the story I was expecting it to end differently than it did. And I don't know if that shows the author's skill that I didn't guess the ending or not. This made my list of shows in the top half of the 17 in the zine.

There is such a warm, comfortable, cozy, intimate feel about this story, which is set on Earth immediately after the end of the five year mission. Spock and McCoy are staying with Kirk in his house in San Francisco while they are all being debriefed. I loved how Kirk, Spock and McCoy know each other so well here. They are so comfortable with each other, with the ease that only comes from being very close, long time friends. McCoy and Spock are alone for a few days at the beginning of the story, and are shown as being totally relaxed around each other. I liked this side of McCoy. After five years, he should have gotten to know and understand Spock well, yet the TV series did not often depict this. I loved the easy banter back and forth between them, and the way the author shows them interacting with each other.

The threesome know each other’s quirks, such as McCoy and Kirk are familiar with Spock’s occasionally weird eating habits. So many little intimate moments are found in this story. Spock reads Kirk’s books simply because Kirk enjoys them. Without being asked, Spock gives his captain a towel and then a robe when Kirk comes home from a trip tired and soaked. Kirk snuggles up next to Spock on the sofa and Spock allows Kirk to sleep in his arms all night. McCoy observes this behavior, and both understands and accepts that Spock will allow Kirk to stay where he is for the night. Kirk’s brutally honest discussion with McCoy of Spock’s weaknesses as a commander is the kind of conversation you could only have with very close friends. Kirk often touches Spock—a hand on the shoulder, a pat on the leg, etc. And Kirk and Spock often seem to know what the other is thinking, or plans to say.

We learn that Star Fleet has plans to promote Spock and so separate Kirk and Spock. The rest of the story is about how Kirk, determined to keep Spock with him on the Enterprise, resolves this dilemma. I don’t want to give away any more details since this story is fairly new, but trust me when I say that I think you’ll love his solution! I thought this story was really wonderful, and it left me with a warm, happy feeling of contentment and satisfaction after I read it.

I agree with other LOC’s about the pleasing picture of Kirk, Spock and McCoy and their easy friendship and living together in San Francisco. There are a couple of things, though, that I found odd in this story; and the funny thing about it is that those odd things are often what stick with me after reading a story.

One thing was when Kirk came in from being out in the rain. Even though I like the idea of Spock being totally at Kirk’s command as his first officer, of his serving Kirk with his whole self in this honorable, military way, what I’ve never cared for in many K/S stories is his taking care of Kirk’s clothes. That’s a yeoman’s job, not the executive officer’s. Of course, by this time in their lives, they do have a more personal relationship than just their military relationship, but still....

In this story, Kirk came in out of the rain and Spock was there with a towel and robe for him; but what rubbed me the wrong way was how Kirk just dropped his wet clothes and left them on the foyer floor. What a pig. Actually, the issue there for me is probably more Kirk’s sloppiness, not Spock’s picking up after him (and it wasn’t said that Spock actually picked up these wet clothes, anyway). I think Kirk can be as sloppy as he wants when he lives by himself, but not when living with others.

I seem to be making much ado about nothing. Perhaps this is a K/S “housekeeping” issue for me. This is nitpicking, but also, the weather in San Francisco was off. Yes, it’s a somewhat changeable climate there, but this story had it thunderstormy, then hot and humid, and then seemingly only a few days later, snowing. It did mention that the snow was a rarity, which it is (and humidity isn’t that common there, either), but still, it was unrealistic enough for me to remark on it.

It seemed there was more than one passage of considerable dialogue (about food and meals, for the most part, if memory serves) that didn’t move the story along any.

However, the story is a good and important one— after the five-year mission, how they deal with their assignments, with Spock’s special Vulcan needs, and what decisions they make that will affect the rest of their careers and lives together.

Plus, some lovely little breathless moments, such as when Spock gives Kirk a Vulcan “kiss,” a brushing of minds. This was divine—as was the first sex.

I enjoyed the little bit with Adm. Mendez, about whether Kirk and Spock are in a lover-relationship or not.

I want to join with other reviewers of this story in saying how charming I found this depiction of the Kirk/Spock/McCoy relationship. There is an ease, a respect born of long time familiarity and affection between the three men that is just delightful to read, and it’s brought out almost completely by the masterful use of dialogue.

As a writer, dialogue is one of the more difficult aspects of the process for me, so I tend to pay particular attention when someone does it as effortlessly, as gracefully, and as well as it’s done here. And there were so many other facets to this piece that I admired. I loved the characterizations: McCoy is wonderfully himself, yet less acerbic regarding his interactions with Spock. This makes perfect sense to me seeing as how it is after the five-year mission, and he now understands more of what makes Spock tick. He knows by now that Spock feels emotions and feels them deeply. Kirk is Kirk: brilliant, caring, charming, and a toucher from the get-go. I love the touches he gives Spock in passing—a pat on the thigh, a fast clasp on the shoulder. And Spock: as endearing, as concerned, as loving as always, and with an extra helping of humor that shows, he, too, has progressed in his understanding of humans and of himself. I adore the way Kirk and Spock communicate without the need for words.

The descriptions of that little house with a fire burning brightly on the hearth to keep out the harsh physical weather of rain and wind, and the even harsher emotional weather of impending separation were perfectly done. I could feel the warmth and coziness.

There were two parts of the story that did cause me problems however. First, I had a difficult time believing that Kirk would see Spock as “immature in certain ways,” “inexperienced with delicate emotions,” and having poor people skills. Maybe once that was true, but Spock as portrayed here, certainly exhibits none of these traits. Furthermore, Kirk has always spent time supporting and building up his friend, not tearing him down. Second, it bothered me that Kirk thinks of bonding with Spock more as a way to keep Spock as his second in command aboard the Enterprise, and also to thumb his nose at Starfleet Command, and less because he absolutely must have Spock as his bondmate because he loves him desperately. Of course as the story progresses, he is properly awed by what is happening between them, but still the original proposition to Spock lacked a little romance.

All in all though, I really enjoyed this story. The talented Ms. Blacque has been perfecting her craft for years, and it is so nice to know she is writing K/S again after such a long absence.

2004

I love this sweet story. It is a post 5 yr mission story, without any reference to Spock leaving for Kolinahr on Vulcan. And I like that, I’d like to think that they completed the 5 yr mission and continued on together without that painful separation. So the story allows me to have a perfect world for my guys.

The story shows a strong relationship between the Kirk, Spock and McCoy and I especially like that McCoy is kept a strong part of their friendship. The first few scenes simply allow us to share in a few moments of the three of them relaxing and teasing each other. Then when Kirk is forced to consider breaking the command team up, allowing Spock to take command of another ship, he schemes a way to keep him on board. His plan is to bond with Spock! But rather than it being as heartless as that sounds, Kirk comes up with the idea and slowly thinks through the details with Spock. His arguments are so very Kirk-like, blunt and thoughtful at the same time. He tells Spock, “I truly feel we would be having this conversation. Maybe not tomorrow. Maybe not even next year. But, eventually we would have it.” One of his points was “If we both can agree that we are where we’ve been going,” was excellent.

Their discussion continues with Spock planning to meditate on this during the night but not before he gives Kirk a Vulcan kiss. It is magical, managing to be sweet and alien at the same time.

“So, what is a Vulcan kiss?” Kirk asked leadingly. Spock’s light touch traced the arch of Kirk’s brow. ”It is not something I have experienced but I believe it is something like this.”

Kirk’s eyes melted, his mouth filled with the flavor of hot wind, his spine was drawn upward, his blood pressure rose, his ears heard songs that had no sound. It was over as quickly as he noted it had begun.

Kirk stared at Spock. “What was that?” he asked, his voice shockingly rough.

“A kiss,” Spock told him, a hint of pride in his deep eyes.

“Whatever that was,” Kirk told him, letting all his weight rest against Spock’s side, “it wasn’t just a kiss, my friend.” “It was merely a brushing of minds.”

It makes me smile and pause to reread it every time. Then the next morning, after Spock has meditated, he and Kirk discuss their options, the pros and cons. I think that’s what I enjoy so much about this story, the fact that through it all, Kirk and Spock remain in character. They don’t just fall into each other’s arms without being sure of the possible ramifications for each other.

Then they do kiss and finally allow their passion for one another to take over. It again is a sweet, beautiful love scene that I enjoy reading each time. Though I am greedy and would have liked a little more description of when they touched each other’s minds. I think I wanted to feel more of the Vulcan kiss from the scene above in the mind meld. Oh well.

McCoy, who has been called away for family reasons, returns and the scene where Kirk explains this to McCoy again is very in character and a joy to read.

Kirk is explaining, “...So, I thought, okay, we’d bond and worry about everything else later.” McCoy comments, “Now that’s a great idea...“ Can’t you just see McCoy rolling his eyes? But he is supportive, checking with Spock to make sure he was okay with the plan. The story ends with them convincing command about their bonding and then a short paragraph describing a snowy night in San Francisco and the three friends who were sharing it together. Even though I would have liked a little more, one more scene with Spock and Kirk, actually that feels right. I can see them sitting in front of the fireplace, teasing one another. The story just continues in my head. In my opinion, the sign of a good writer. Makes me smile and lets me imagine how the story continued on my own.

An excellent story and one I turn to late at night when I just want to forget everything and relax.

2009

Back on Earth after the 5-year-mission, Spock is offered his own ship, again - except this time, he might not be able to refuse. But Jim is determined not to lose the most important person in his life. Permeated with that warm-fuzzy feeling I associate with Dovya's stories, with awesome K/S/MC dynamic and a cosy and domestic ring throughout. Kirk and Spock's tender caring is obvious long before they get together. Lovely.