Snowbond

You may be looking for the Beauty and the Beast zine Snowbound, A Path Not Taken, and The Swan OR the Pros story Snowbound.

Fanfiction
Title:	Snowbond
Author(s):	Janis E. Laine
Date(s):	1988
Length:
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
External Links:
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Snowbond is a Kirk/Spock story by Janis E. Laine.

It was published in the print zine First Time #20.

Summary

"Kirk invites Spock to his cabin for shoreleave where both, unaware of what the other plans, try to further their relationship."

Reactions and Reviews

The plot may not be very original, but this story is beautifully written. I really liked the idea that Spock would be turned on by Jacuzzis because of the effect or hot water on a Vulcan's moisture deprived skin. Nevertheless, I wonder why Vulcans would consider male/male bonding superior. That does seem unnecessarily sexist. I also think it unlikely that Kirk would be circumcised. Even now infant circumcision is becoming less prevalent than it used to be. By the 23rd century, only a small religious minority would be perpetuating this surgery.

SNOWBOUND while certainly a well used story line, is saved by its excellent writing and great ending.

Over the years K/S has been in existence, it's often said that every K/S author EVENTUALLY writes the inevitable "cave" story (you know, the ones where Kirk and Spock are trapped in a cave on some planet with no hope of immediate rescue, Spock goes into Pon Farr, is soon in a "do-or-die" situation, and...well, you know what happens next). And I think it’s safe to say the same adage can be applied to "Shore Leave Planet" stories (Kirk, or Spock, is on that famous planet and meets Spock, or Kirk, and thinks the other is an android when in fact it's the real thing and...well, you know what happens next) and "cabin stories" (Kirk and Spock take shore leave in a cabin, where Kirk, or Spock, plans to seduce Spock, or Kirk, and...well, you know what happens next). So you can imagine if you've been reading this stuff for awhile, it takes a particularly good story based on one of these three scenarios to make an old time K/Sr sit up and take notice. "Snowbound", which fits quite nicely into the third category, is indeed one of those particularly good stories.

Here the cabin, located in Colorado, belongs to Kirk. Due to some faulty equipment on the Enterprise, he finds himself with some unexpected leave time on his home planet and seizes the opportunity to put his plan of seducing his first officer into action (unbeknownst to said first officer, of course). He invites Spock to his cabin with the excuse that the Vulcan has "never seen fall color the equal of the American Wilderness zone in autumn." Spock, however, is reluctant to go at first since previous shore leaves in the past with his adventurous captain resulted in some rather unpleasant results. Upon witnessing his captain's disappointment at his refusal, however, Spock quickly changes his mind and agrees to meet Kirk at the cabin in "seventeen-point-zero- three hours." Once on the planet, however, it seems Spock is headed for another of those "unpleasant" shore leaves. As the "seventeen-point-zero-three hours" passes with no sign of the Vulcan, who, due to regulations against beaming down in a wilderness area, is forced to make a short hike to the cabin at the same time an incoming storm front (complete with wind and snow), decides to make an appearance, Kirk grows concerned. He is just about to mount a rescue operation when one very wet, very bedraggled Vulcan arrives on his doorstep. Apparently someone made a mistake in the coordinates (or did they?), resulting in Spock materializing a few feet above a nearby lake. The mishap (or was it?) gives Kirk the perfect opportunity to get Spock out of his clothes almost upon arrival. A massage in front of the fire, a cup of tea, and Kirk's robe, however, fail to completely thaw out the Vulcan, so off to the shower he's sent (alone, at least this time). It is there that the reader learns Kirk isn't the only one with thoughts of seduction, even though a past attempt by Spock failed to initiate a response. Spock, however, decides "that logic dictated he should proceed as if all things were possible, even in this most illogical situation." After a quick meal, it's time for bed in separate rooms. Kirk, however, soon discovers the roof right over his bed has sprung a leak, soaking the mattress (another unfortunate coincidence?), leaving him with nowhere to sleep except (yeah, you guessed it) and...(well, you know what happens next). The next morning, Kirk wakes to find himself alone, but thankfully not abandoned. Spock is downstairs waiting for him and after some interesting truths are revealed, the two decide to take a shower, this time together and...(well, you know what happens next). Despite the obvious plot device, what makes this story stand out for me is not just the writing, which flows smoothly throughout or the characterizations which are right on the money, but also how, as the reader soon discovers, what appears to be "coincidences" really aren't coincidences at all and that Kirk and Spock can not only be rather clever and inventive when it comes to getting what they want (especially when what they want is each other), they can also be quite devious, as well.

A wonderful example of how to take a tried (and tried and tried and tried)-and-true plot device and make it refreshingly new.