Lost in Translation (Star Trek: TOS story)

Fanfiction
Title:	Lost in Translation
Author(s):	Anne Elliot
Date(s):	2006
Length:
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
External Links:
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Lost in Translation is a Kirk/Spock story by Anne Elliot.

It was published in the print zine T'hy'la #26.

Summary

"After more than a year, Spock is at his witʼs end as to how to approach Kirk regarding his feelings for him—and Kirkʼs for him."

Reactions and Reviews

Help! I'm seeing visions of a soft, butter-yellow sweater floating in the dark. Filled to the brim with a curvaceous, muscular body. It seems strangely familiar and I lust for it. Never mind, you'll find out. Just go on and experience the pure bliss of this superbly written story. It has all the romantic nuances that feed my famished soul. Kirk and Spock are together all the time, on the ship, which is a turn-on for me. The only angst they feel is that old bugaboo, will he or won't he? Does he or doesn't he? Everything takes place like a day-in-the-lives-of our favorite beings. From the severe dressing-down our Captain gives to a careless crewperson to the end of the perfect piece with Jim and Spock together.

My admiration knew no bounds for this sweet, dreamily imagined but oh-so-believable plot. Reading it I could see clearly those flirtatious smiles and come-ons Kirk laid on Spock, every time he was anywhere near his Vulcan. Exactly like those pics from the series that Liz treats us to in her analysis. It was a blast reading this and seeing it in my mind.

I loved the mention of just when Spock had discovered his deep love and need for his Human--at the end of the Organian affair. This passage, vividly describing Spock's thoughts are titillating and the image of Spock returning to his station 'in a state of mildly apprehensive euphoria' swelled my heart to unheard of proportions. Plus, Spock had decided his love for Jim was logical. That brought a laugh from me. And it was great to know that Spock finally understood his father's statement in "Journey To Babel":..."marrying Amanda was the logical thing to do." Spock also actually likes the touches and special attention Jim gives him. This highly intelligent Vulcan knows enough to plan his strategy for getting his love to yearn for the permanence Spock himself craves so much. Cool!

Then, too, we learn that Spock's aborted attempt at joining with T'Pring has already taken place. I love it when the episodes are wound all through the story like that. It not only gives me a sense of where we are in time, it makes everything decidedly real to me.

The thing that's real to the ship's crew, though, is the personal influence Commander Spock has on his close friend and Captain. They realize what's going on and their knowledge affects Spock, surprising him too. I mean surprising him that they do know. Yet he good- naturedly takes McCoy's advice to "just dive in." Spock is no fool. He reasons it out, makes his play and wins the prize. How he gets there, how Kirk gets his prize is the plum you'll have in your hand with you get hold of this zine.

This sensual love scene deeply affected me. So much I was sighing with a silly smile on my face all the time. Oh, once in awhile I'd give a groan. Who could resist? That butter-yellow sweater and those amber eyes! An intimate dinner in Kirk's cozy cabin with the only man he'd ever dress this way for...it's enough to give you chills. I had them and you will too. This author has given us so much beauty in this final scene, so much just-for-them information that we are privy to also, I really did feel privileged.

You have to read it to find out the history of that sweater, how it was treated: did it survive or not? This sweet rendition by such a gifted author proves that a simple theme can be presented in a fresh, knock-your- socks-off way. But tenderly, tenderly. It is a downright pleasure in a zine full of spectacular stories. This is my very favorite of the zine.

Yet another wonderful story by the incom-parable Anne Elliot. Here, Spock is in love with Kirk, a situation only Anne can make both bittersweet and funny at the same time. For the last year Spock has been trying to move his relationship with Kirk more toward the closeness he desires with little success. Spock loves Kirk but as far as he can tell, Kirk's feelings are strictly platonic.

Thing is, everyone on board knows about his feelings, or think they do, even though Spock obviously thinks he's been subtle about his campaign to win Kirk. When McCoy finally confronts him, being sent round the bend by Spock and Kirk's "well choreographed but endless ballet," Spock decides to do something about it that night when he is to meet Kirk for dinner. I love the set-up for this, as the reader is given the first inkling that Spock's chances are much better than he thinks. During a course he's giving before he is to go to Kirk's cabin, he suddenly realizes that an ensign persistently questioning him might actually be developing an infatuation for him. Though he admits to himself that he finds it difficult to tell when someone is attracted to him, Spock doesn't work out that he could very well be missing the signs from Kirk. Spock finally manages to break free of the questioner and makes his way to Kirk's cabin. Once there, the real breakdown in communications begin, as both men try to deliver a message that's sailing right over the other's head. Finally, everything falls into place for Spock and, taking McCoy's advise to "just dive in," he reaches over and takes Kirk's hand in his.

Things, of course, move along nicely after that. There's a perfectly lovely sex scene, ending with them planning on a shared shower. The next morning, both realize that, while both of them were trying to seduce the other, it had taken a little machination on McCoy's part to finally get them together. So from now on, they vow, "no more game playing, no more maneuvering, no more tactics, just honest, open communication." Just the way it should be.