Tough Love
| Fanfiction | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Tough Love |
| Author(s): | Mary Kay |
| Date(s): | 2007 |
| Length: | |
| Genre(s): | slash |
| Fandom(s): | Star Trek: TOS |
| Relationship(s): | Kirk/Spock |
| External Links: | Kirk/Spock Archive, Side by Side Collection on AO3 |
Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Tough Love is a K/S story written by Mary Kay.
Although the author comments that the story was first published in Legends #8 (2013)[1] it was actually published online much earlier in Side by Side #21 (2007).[2]
From Mary Kay in 2015:
Summaries
In 2007: Mirror Universe AU. Kirk's addiction to a drug becomes a problem for Spock and McCoy.[2]
In 2013: A "Mirror, Mirror" Universe story in which two differently-natured individuals learn to overcome their society's programing to discover a new world they alone can build.[4]
In 2015: Kirk has gotten himself into a world of hurt with no way out except with the help of his CMO and First Officer. Trouble is, Kirk does not think he needs any help, but McCoy and Spock know otherwise. Without their intervention, Kirk is not going to live much longer.[1]
Reactions and Reviews
2015
[...] I enjoyed this: Spock's care for his Captain, Jim's vulnerability... in some ways the detox is the vehicle by which the proud and vicious man is able to admit weakness and move through that to attain the deepest desire of his heart. My only criticism - and it's one that really really annoys me in fanfiction as it appears with alarming frequency - is your use of "then" and "than". In several places you use "then" when you meant the comparison "than". [...] [3]
I so enjoyed the tenderness of this. And the characterizations were excellent. Thank you so much for sharing!![3]
While I'm not in general a fan of the Mirrorverse characters, I found this story completely engrossing and could not put it down. The portrayal of Kirk's desperate downward spiral of addiction was vivid and realistic. I have to admit that I enjoyed Kirk's encounters with his various alien lovers, as drug-fueled as they were! When Kirk went into detox, I understand McCoy that this was the first phrase, to get the drug out of his system, and that detox would be followed by treatment of the underlying addiction. I'm wondering how Kirk will be treated for the underlying causes of the addiction. Is the story suggesting that his new relationship with Spock, with someone he can trust completely, is in fact the "treatment" he needs? It seemed from Kirk's description of the forces and needs that led him to seek release in drugs, that a relationship with Spock could perhaps resolve the issues that led to his addiction. Just wondering if that was the intent in this story. I understand that for a substance abuser, just going "cold turkey" isn't enough -- the underlying causes must be treated. Hoping that this has, or will, happen to Kirk.[3]
I usually shy away from mirrorverse. But I found your summary interesting and so I started reading and was immediately captured. It is easily one of the most enjoyable reads I have found here lately. I found it felt so true, so painfully realistic, that I guess you must have had some very close experience in the matter of drug addiction and what it does to the user and his surroundings, to personality and social interactions. I find it is a very touching tale of deep friendship and dedication, of fears overcome for the sake of trying to save the other. This story is very well written and could be used as a tool in the prevention of drug use ... well, obviously without the more explicit (and very HOT) descriptions of the more intimate nature. lolInterestingly the mirrorverse itself becomes here a kind of allegory for the kind if society that often causes a person to help himself with drugs.
Very interesting, very well done. Thank you so much for sharing it here.[3]
Bravo! Dear,this is such an exciting MU story. A drug addict Kirk and an never-give-up Spock. Logical,perfect logical.Always love your work, some of them are sweet , some of them are shameless. This one, the dark baby, it is my favorite now. I will read it again and again in next days.
Thank you so much.[3]
References
- ^ a b Kirk/Spock Archive (accessed 28 Nov 2020)
- ^ a b Side by Side Wayback page (accessed 28 Nov 2020) Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "Year 2007" defined multiple times with different content - ^ a b c d e f Kirk/Spock Archive, Jan 2015 (accessed 28 Nov 2020)
- ^ Story summary from Legends #8