Interlude (Star Trek: TOS story by Maggie McClendon)

Fanfiction
Title:	Interlude
Author(s):	Maggie McClendon
Date(s):	September 1977
Length:
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	ST:TOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
External Links:
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Interlude is a very early K/S story by Maggie McClendon. It was originally published in the The Sensuous Vulcan.

art by Merle Decker for "Interlude"

art by Gerry Downes for "Interlude"

Reactions and Reviews

"Interlude" by Maggie McClendon, is a nicely written idyll, somewhat spoiled by an ending just a trifle too sweetly sentimental and overdone (to my taste). Spock, with Kirk who is recovering from a broken leg and exhaustion, are taking three weeks of shore-leave on Andrion, a benign and beautiful planet with harmless, unusual flora and gauna, and a strangely hypnotic, soothing and healing aura. One morning, Kirk tells Spock that Andrion reminds him of his childhood, and confesses his urge to go skinny dipping. He asks if Spock ever feels the urge to do some thing uninhibited; he replies "yes", softly, but does not elaborate. Kirk strips and runs through the grass to the lake, urging Spock to follow suit. They reach the lake, spend a moment contemplating each other's naked beauty the "magic" of Andrion's aura is mellowing Spock considerably then they dive in. The water proves to be unusually buoyant and silky-slippery, with a unique and oddly lulling musical tinkling, encouraging them to swim and play in it, and encouraging odd thoughts .... Suddenly Kirk realizes Spock has become badly chilled and needs help. Holding him in his arms, Kirk swims rapidly for the nearest shore. Their clothes are too far away to help (funny how these things happen, isn't it?!), so Kirk begins to rub Spock down briskly, to warm him quickly. As he gradually returns to normal, the stroking turns into a massage. Both men acknowledge the pleasure of it, wordlessly admit to each other their pleasure, and what they both want. They begin a gentle, dreamlike lovemaking, finding joy in discovering the particular sensitivities of each other's bodies. They press and rub against each other until they reach orgasm. Afterwards, they sleep. Kirk awakens first, with a sunburned back, and tells Spock, "I love you... Who'd'a thought —a sensuous Vulcan!" The next weeks are spent in love and sharing. When the time comes, neither wants to beam back up to the ship, and Spock has a moment of misgiving that Kirk is feeling shame at their actions. But Kirk presses a small flower lovingly in his palm, saying, "Beauty is its own reason, Spock." Later, Spock contemplates the flower, and The Meaning Of It All in his quarters, and concludes that "... the reasons they suddenly no longer needed... only each other... because we are..." (Perhaps this is just too foggily sentimental/metaphysical for me, but I believe that so weak an ending harmed an otherwise charming tale.)