The Gamblers

Fanfiction
Title:	The Gamblers
Author(s):	Dovya Blacque
Date(s):	1986
Length:
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
External Links:
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

The Gamblers is a Kirk/Spock story by Dovya Blacque.

It was published in the print zines First Time #7 and Shadows in the Rain.

Summary

"A month after Psi 2000, Kirk discovers that Spock never received the antidote for the virus and indeed, does not desire to."

Reactions and Reviews

1994

A wonderfully intense opening scene. Spock in the grip of emotion, alone, tense, crying, straining for control. He hadn't let himself go since Psi 2000, Good scene, his frustrated meditation. Very vivid mind-stuff and anguish.

It turns out McCoy hadn't known Spock had gotten the disease, and hadn't been given the antidote! But Spock refuses the antidote; he doesn't want his controls returned, because now he has learned he loves Kirk.

Really excellent words in a tense situation when the meaning (love) beneath their words {friendship) comes through.

Spock finds he can still admit to his feelings after the antidote. He tells Kirk of his love, although not knowing what to do with it, Heart-breakingly sweet scene, the touching and kissing. In Kirk's soft acceptance Spock finds a place where he feels free to love....

A bit of explaining the obvious (Kirk seeing Spock in a new light, etc.) Maybe just a little naive, but so nice.

I love what they express to each other, but maybe those sentiments would have been better said in narrative or in their thoughts rather than in dialogue. It seems in dialogue that really exquisite expressions can sound unnatural or trite.

Except for "battling" tongues, an expression I personally never care for, the story was warm, and hot, with beautiful lovemaking-perfect words.

1996

Another story in the contest zine.

"The Gamblers" concerns Spock after the PSI 2000 incident. He's acting strangely and Kirk finds out that he never took the antidote for the disease.

Kirk confronts him and they have a beautifully moving and poignant conversation. Spock cries (yes, cries, but in a strong way) and says he doesn't want to take the antidote because he doesn't want his control back.

Some terrific dialogue here—" 'It is a sadness I've never known, having this...love so close to the surface, being near you without being able to show you....'" Spock says if he takes the serum " '...that love would again be buried and I would no longer know its beauty.'"

But Kirk convinces him to take the antidote and afterwards he is still able to tell Kirk that he loves him.

This Kirk is so nicely drawn — he's forceful, yet caring. He's concerned about Spock's behavior yet he doesn't want to reveal his own deep feelings.

A small difficulty—a scene begins as they kiss and touch each other, but the scene quickly fails apart and the mood is broken as they engage in banter. Banter is fine and there's lots of appropriate times for some good bantering, but right before sex is not one of them.

But, still, a lovely, well-written piece that I enjoyed.