not me heatedly arguing about Leonard McCoy’s chances of thriving in a throuple
If we’re being honest, most of us study our favourite character less like an entomologist studies a bug and more like an astronomer studies a distant star: drawing complicated inferences from extremely limited data, then getting tetchy about it when somebody else draws incompatible but equally well-supported inferences from the same data because it’s the fucking principle of the thing.
can we talk about TOS & AOS Jim Kirk real quick --
TOS
jim kirk + his family, friends
trauma but with traditional support networks
teammate but prefers to put himself in danger first
AOS
jim kirk + frank, troubled brother, absent mom
trauma without traditional support networks
more of an actual lone wolf figure
TOS
open to using sexuality as a means/tool/weapon
crew as family -- never seems to have discomfort/surprise at his closeness with his crew, very natural
AOS
tendency towards fisticuffs or cunning w/o sexual implication
emotionality as reaction
seems more vulnerable? (e.g. interaction w/ spock after being suspended after spock tattled on him for violating the prime directive)
crew as family -- shown as coming around to this -- definitely some imposter syndrome at first, + his happily surprised sense of gratitude at everyone being there for his bday (Beyond)
This isn’t very different from my personal take on weddings.
I love that the entire resolution of Amok Time depends on the fact that McCoy was going to what he thought was basically a wedding and thought, “hmm, better pack tranquilizers”.
I love the trope of Spock saying something straightforward and unromantic and Kirk responding as though he was serenaded on a bed of roses under moon and candle light.
Playing around with five times Leonard cared for Spock and one time Spock cared for Leonard.
Read on AO3 here.
Leonard’s hand stilled mid-pet and he shook his head, immediately annoyed. “It’s called caring about you, you green-blooded maniac. What’s illogical is that right there -- that I care about you, when you can’t even understand why the thought of you being dead has me all tore up!”
“Tore up,” Spock repeated. His words dripped with humor as he sat up and away from Leonard with a wince. “Your verbiage is as lively as ever.”