Playing Footsie
| Fanfiction | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Playing Footsie |
| Author(s): | Anne Elliot |
| Date(s): | 2004 |
| Length: | |
| Genre(s): | slash |
| Fandom(s): | Star Trek: TOS |
| Relationship(s): | Kirk/Spock |
| External Links: | |
Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Playing Footsie is a Kirk/Spock story by Anne Elliot.
It was published in the print zine First Time #58.
Summary
"As Kirk and Spock begin their love affair, Spock realizes that the part of his body he most wants to keep hidden is the part that Kirk most wants to explore."
Reactions and Reviews
As much as I liked Anne's other story in First Time 58 called "Just a Simple Word," I disliked this story "Playing Footsie" which is about 13 pages long. I started reading it and then started skipping paragraphs and pages and then went straight to the end. Maybe I have a reverse foot fetish or something? The story did start out with a great line, however, which I liked a lot. But it went straight downhill from there. I'm only mentioning this story because I liked Anne's other story "Just a Simple Word" and thought it would be weird to ignore this one. This is another case where you'll have to read somebody else's LOC to get a fairer opinion of the story. [1]
What a delight this story is—charming, whimsical, funny and erotic. Apparently, one of Vulcan’s many deeply hidden secrets is the foot problems of its people and their tendency to regard their feet with distaste and to keep them covered at all times, even while in bed. Kirk discovers all this while making love with Spock for the first time, and is a bit boggled that the Vulcan had come to bed wearing decorative “foot coverings”, as Spock calls them, or “passion killing booties”, as Kirk refers to them. I just love the way Anne writes. She is so clever— she managed to incorporate T‘Pau being carried around by muscular young men, T‘Pring‘s gliding walk, and Spock‘s at times uneven gait into the story, and have it all be the result of Vulcan foot problems! (I loved the whole part about T’Pau and the discussion of her attendants and their “traditional” costumes.) The entire story is amusing but some parts I especially liked include Spock wondering about Kirk taking his time with the relationship and not wanting to rush, and Spock pointing out they had been carrying on a courtship, “unnoticed even by themselves“ for the last three years. Or the part where Spock worries about getting interrupted if they make love on the ship: “The thought of being interrupted in flagrante delicto, especially in first flagrante, was most disconcerting.” And I laughed out loud during the love scene, when Spock is determined not to have his first orgasm with Kirk be the result of having his toes sucked! “Playing Footsie” is another one of Anne’s excellent humorous stories, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.[2]
When I see this author’s name, I usually prepare myself for a light, fun story, and indeed her other offering in FT 58 is just that. “Playing Footsie” is a delight, from start to finish. This story is somewhat darker, though it does have humorous elements. I don’t think this author is capable of omitting them.[MUCH snipped]
I can’t help but think what a perfect set up this story is for a sequel. What happens when Spock dies? How does Kirk feel about never putting his love into words then? Oh, how I’d love to see this extraordinarily talented author answer those questions! How about it, Anne? [3]
Surely it’s not necessary to praise this author’s ability to write a humorous story—not to anyone who has read Animal Magnetism in FT 54, or Toys for the Boys in the KiScon 2004 zine. And folks, she has done it again! Playing Footsie is just delightful and had me grinning the whole time I was reading it.If the opening line—“Vulcans were martyrs to their feet”—doesn’t get you smiling, nothing will. At KiScon, Anne described the lucky chance of sitting behind two very proper British ladies on a cross town London bus and hearing that line, spoken of course about some unfortunate gentleman (not a Vulcan as far as I know), and finding the perfect inspiration for a story. (If this is an example of what she can come up with, I for one, will be perfectly content to periodically send her bus fare.) Kirk and Spock have grown increasingly fond of each other and, with a much needed shore leave approaching, have decided to postpone sexual gratification until that time: “Spock savoured the thought, allowing himself an indulgent moment to enjoy the pleasant anticipation. In two days time they would remove their clothes and lie close together on a flat surface where they would achieve a highly pleasurable sexual release. Spock was rather hazy on the details.” This is so my Vulcan! Now for the fly in the ointment: Vulcans view anything to do with their bare feet as highly private, extremely distasteful, and definitely a sexual turn-off. And wouldn’t you know it, James Kirk turns out to be the biggest toe-sucker of them all. His surprise when he sees Spock’s “bed socks”—Cr 187 a pair, wholesale— had me grinning from ear to ear. Anne is equally good with the little subtle humorous bits that you might not catch until a second reading, such as Spock’s observation on meeting up with Kirk at the hotel room the captain has rented for them: “Spock was mildly surprised: he had expected more mirrors.” Now there’s a comment on Kirk’s perceived bedroom habits.
And yet it’s not all fun and games. This author also can write one hell of a sex scene—as tender and loving as you could wish. [4]
Since the anatomy of the Vulcan foot is a topic rarely explored, the subject of this story comes as quite a surprise. Yet in the first few paragraphs it manages to answer many questions I’d never thought to ask. The author successfully explains why Vulcan men appear ungainly at times, why Vulcan women appear to “float” as they walk and why T’Pau uses a cane. Things proceed along predictable but enjoyable lines; the whole tale is warm, loving and slightly daft. In other words—great fun! [5]