#Oh Boimler what have you done

[cozyforjate]

I loved the crossover! It was fun as expected and also had some really emotional moments that I did not expect.

Warning: Spoilers ahead... Mostly about Spock&Chapel!

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Boimler, baby I love you but how dare you?

Boimler and Chapel scene was hard to watch for me. Jess Bush once again killed it! Christine says she never assumed that she would get to influence Spock forever and she didn't want it anyway. But the truth is, she wanted everything with Spock. She was just too afraid to admit it. Aww my poor baby!😭

Btw- the theme that played in this scene is the same from 2x05 where Christine injected the serum into Spock and later Spock confessed his feelings to Chapel. So it seems that we have not 1 but 2 Spapel themes!🧡

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Spock later tells Boimler that "Nurse Chapel" told him about their exchange... I'm happy that Christine told Spock. She didn't get into detail but she didn't keep it a secret. I'm glad she's honest and communicating with Spock!

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"But you did say something to Christine that upset her."

What Spock really wanted to say: Why did you upset my girlfriend?

Gotta love boyfriend Spock!

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Spock saying he's not gonna change his path bcoz any change based on what Boimler said would impact the future is logical. It makes sense. BUT it’s also what Spock wants to do. Logic works in his favor coz Spock doesn’t want to give up on Christine anyway! He is not gonna end things with her and suppress his feelings for her just bcoz he was supposed to be more Vulcan in the future and the books don’t mention Chapel.

And just bcoz the books don't write about Spock&Chapel, doesn't mean it didn't happen. It's happening right now. Maybe Boimler will write about them one day!

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Look, Spapel might be doomed, but it's still a beautiful and tragic love story. Every episode of SNW is creating history and adding extra layers to TOS and beyond. For example, I recommend all Spapel fans to rewatch Charades and The Naked Time back to back. I did it and i was mind blown.

#spapel #spock x chapel #everything hurts #protect them at all costs #my poor babies #i want to give Christine the biggest hug ever #she is my sunshine #Oh Boimler what have you done #but angst is coming #and im a sucker for angst so #maybe its not that bad #star trek strange new worlds #star trek snw #strange new worlds #spock #christine chapel #i will go down with this ship

[starseneyes]

Spock / Nurse Christine Chapel - Star Trek: Strange New Worlds S2 Eps 8 & 9

So, I was gonna wait until the Finale to do another Meta, but then I saw all the Chapel hate coming out after 9, and I felt the need to insert my (uneducated) opinion.

SPOILER ALERT: Spoilers are like garlic for me. If the recipe calls for a clove, I'm adding a head. So, if you dare eat this Spanish/Ukrainian princesa's babaganoush, then this spoiler-filled Meta is for you!

Everyone clear on how this thing works? Brilliant. Let's dive in with kleenex in hand.

"Under the Cloak of War" AKA "You Had To Be There"

"The ally ambassador must have many interesting insights on delicate matters of diplomacy." ... "Christine." "What? Oh, you're doing the word game. Um, I'm sorry. I don't really have one right now."

The staging of this is so haunting and beautiful. Spock has his back to the situation, because he was never really apart of it. Spock didn't see the ravages of the Klingon War up close.

Christine faces it head-on, refusing to look away when it might be healthier for her. She shouldn't even be here. But the Veterans are forcing themselves to put on a good face for the sake of Starfleet.

And, ugh, that kills me inside. M'Benga writes it off, saying he's survived worse than polite conversation. True. But that doesn't make any of this right.

Spock is worried about his not-girlfriend, but he has no idea how to help her. He can't understand what she's been through, but she won't/can't help him understand.

And, please don't misread this as a criticism of Christine. She is under no obligation to help Spock understand. But he cannot understand it, and from his perspective, he's trying to. He never will.

"You are under duress."

Spock shifts from standing in front of her to standing alongside her. I love that choice. I don't know if it was writing, acting, directing, or something else. But it shows the shift in him turning that blind eye (intentionally or not) to standing with her.

Also, gosh, he knows her. He's observant of her. He's paying attention.

He wordlessly looks down to the glass in her hand.

"Quite understandable. I do not know much about your service in the war, but... I am available if you ever feel the need to share." "Yeah, I don't, so let's just change the subject, yeah?"

Her duress increased. The exact opposite of what Spock hoped to achieve in telling her that he was there for her.

"I just wish he would shut up for one second about all this amazing peace he's achieved." "I can help with that."

There's vulnerability in her eyes as she looks over to him, because she really doesn't want to close herself off to him.

She doesn't want to deal with all that she lost during the War. And, in a small part, what she's going to lose shortly based on Boimler's words.

Spock strides over to the Ambassador, inspired by Christine's previous words, "let's just change the subject" and he puts it into practice. As conversation shifts, he looks to her.

"Did I do right?" his eyes ask. Because all he wants is to help her. She offers him a small nod and smile in return. Yes, in a small way, this is actually helping.

"Okay, I'm gonna go see if she needs anything."

It sucks that their first time sitting alongside one another at a dinner now that they're dating is one... like this.

There's nothing to report here on them besides the fact that Christine takes the out to leave and check on Erica while Spock sits in his chair stewing over what he could have done differently to help.

Spock earnestly wants to help. He doesn't know how. And Christine doesn't know how to tell him what will help because nothing will help.

"I want to apologize for my part in last night's dinner." "You don't need to apologize. None of this is about you. You just see me going through something and our closeness makes you feel responsible."

Spock is still looking for some way to help her. But Christine is still living in moments long since passed. And he can't get there because he's never been there.

But, she's right. Their "closeness" factors into him wanting to help. We know from the future that Spock cares deeply about the people he holds closest and would do anything for them.

"You're not." "I understand." *Spock looks around to see no one there* "That is not true."

Spock steps into the corner and Christine leans against the wall. They both relax into their positions almost effortlessly, but they aren't alongside one another anymore. They aren't facing anymore. They're separated with feet planted almost perpendicular.

This is where their paths diverge. No longer towards one another. No longer alongside. This subtle blocking choice shows us we're at the beginning of the end.

"I am having difficulty watching you experience such obvious distress. I want to help."

I love the clear communication on his end. Truly! Spock is laying it all out for Christine.

"But it would appear all that I am doing is making it worse." "War, it doesn't leave you. It can, it can bury itself, but it's-it's always there."

And she's trying to give him insight. But how can she truly explain? She can't.

"I researched J'Gal. It was a forward operating base. The data suggests the loss of life was disproportionate-" "J'Gal is not a statistic, Spock. J'Gal is what it is. War, it makes sense if you've been there, but it will never make sense."

That last line. Wow. I have nothing to add.

"Like I've been trying to tell you, I just need some personal time."

Like you've been trying to... huh? She's not even looking him in the eye while she says this. Because she's taking this opportunity to take that "closeness" that makes him feel responsible for her and push it away.

Maybe she's been trying to say this, but not saying this. We know Christine's not the best at communicating what she wants in a relationship.

And we know that right now he is making it tougher on her. Even he realizes it. But what he doesn't know is that in giving her this space, now, he'll never regain back what he thought they had.

"I understand. You require personal time away from me."

And he'll give it to her. He'd do anything for her. For goodness sake, he almost started a war for her when he was still in a fully-committed engagement. Of course he'll give her space if that's what she needs.

He only hopes she'll close the gap when she's ready. But poor, sweet, Vulcan/Human boy... you aren't ready.

"Subspace Rhapsody" AKA "Don't Go Breakin' My Heart"

"Oh, I have to talk to Spock."

But. She. Doesn't. Christine doesn't like truth-filled conversations with the people she's dating. We know that this is a core flaw in her attempts at relationship—she has no idea how to effectively communicate with a romantic partner.

She's not going to talk to him... and instead he's going to stew (and eventually make his own stupid decision) because they're not communicating at all.

I feel like Christine was one of the best at communicating with Spock pre-romance. They built this really beautiful friendship. And even as they were in the early stages of their dating relationship, that connection still seemed strong.

But J'Gal tested them in a way neither predicted. And that would have happened whether or not Boimler dropped the future truth bomb.

Christine has a lot of PTSD that is unprocessed. And Spock lacks that understanding because he has never shared those experiences. I've seen relationships implode more than once when one partner had PTSD. It's brutal.

And enter this huge opportunity for Christine. She once told Spock that relationships are about mutual sacrifice, that one puts the relationship above work. But that's not how either Christine or Spock operate.

In a parallel universe, they could discuss this openly and honestly with one another. But this Spock and Christine have communication issues that they'll sadly never resolve (at least so far as we know canon).

"Unfortunately, we have had another communication failure."

Dana Horgan & Bill Wolkoff (the screenwriters of this episode), I love you. To have that line as the verbal cue to switch scenes was so bloody perfect, especially considering the state of the Spapel relationship. These two are definitely experiencing a communication failure.

"Is that transmission regarding Nurse Chapel's recent fellowship application? Was the news... favorable?"

Oh, dear, how long has he been giving her "personal time" that he's asking Uhura for updates?

"I don't look at personal correspondence." "Of course, that would be unethical."

And, look, he's not trying to spy. But he does want to know. And he wishes Christine would be the one to tell him. Our poor boy has been doing everything he can to help her—including giving her space.

But while he's been wishing to be close to her, again, she's been widening the gap.

"You and Nurse Chapel have become close, haven't you?"

Okay, so the whole crew isn't aware that these two are shacking up. But, we've seen Uhura be hyper-vigilante about the connection between Spock and Christine since Season 1. She was the first person to call it out.

And Spock really isn't sure what to say. In his mind, they are still an item, even if they aren't a "couple", right?

"I suppose it would be accurate to say that we are more than colleagues." "There's that classic Vulcan romance I've heard about."

She means it in a ribbing way, but it hurts. Uhura notices, and makes the adjustment, like any good communications officer would.

"Why don't you ask her about it?" "Of late, our communication has faced challenges."

Gosh, he needs this. In the absence of Christine, he needs someone he can talk to. Someone who can see the whole of him and truly listen. To make Uhura that foil considering the TOS-era friendship they seem to have makes total sense.

Spock Presses the Issue

It feels like Uhura and Spock both thought he'd be the one to sing when this was pressed. Was it a stupid move? Gosh, yes. But if characters didn't make mistakes, we'd scream and wail about their plasticity and lack of organic truth. They have to be flawed to be well-rounded.

But, Spock's mistake leads to one of the most energetic songs of the episode, and a lot of unspoken truths.

"Christine. Logic would dictate you are toasting good news regarding your fellowship. So, allow me to offer congratulations." "Thank you, Spock." "I am curious why you chose not to inform me. Was it an oversight? Or was it intentional?" "Can we, um, can we talk about this later?" "I am just curious."

Again, Spock pressing this in front of everyone was asinine. I'm not glossing over that. But her hiding it from him was stupid, too. They are both in the wrong in how they handled this situation.

But I truly believe Uhura though Spock would be the one to sing. They were trying to incite a song, and she could already tell he was o the verge of emotional when it came to Christine and this fellowship.

But, Christine busts out with absolute glee. And she deserves to be gleeful. A partner should never be her whole life.

And I truly believe she never would have told Spock in front of the entire bar under any other circumstances. We already set it up with La'an warning Pike and then Pike and Batel exposing themselves in front of everyone.

To borrow the phrase from Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist, these are "heart songs". These are things that dwell in the deepest part of selves that would never come out under normal circumstances.

Pike would still be lying to Batel. La'an wouldn't have run off to hide in her quarters because she was belting truths. And Christine would have dealt with Spock in her own time... even if that was still a bad choice.

The song forced Christine to share this truth.

And, gosh, there are so many lyrics in here that show Christine's state of mind. The validation. The freedom. The future that she already knows she doesn't share with Spock.

Christine has applied to something that only a handful of people get into every year, and this isn't a 2-month trip that she'd return from. This could be the start of an entirely new path for her. She may never come back to Enterprise.

And, from his perspective, I see how cold-hearted it seemed. But I do not begrudge her going after her dreams. I simply abhor that she cut Spock out entirely prior to this big musical number.

But... our characters have to make mistakes. Otherwise, we'd be watching "the perfect people" do nothing every week.

"If I need to leave you, I won't fight it. I'm ready."

She speaks the line the last time... "I'm ready." It's spoken outside of the song. She means it. And it crushes him.

He turns over that left shoulder... but away from her, this time. He's spent the entire song standing still while the world around him moved, while she moved the world with her words. And now he feels out of place in a realm where she thrives.

Her spark is ignited, while his flame painfully claws at the last threads of wick before dying.

Uhura and Chapel are the only ones who watch Spock go—who understand what really happened there. We don't see Christine's reaction, but we see Erica smiling up at her.

Christine meant it. She's ready to move on. But it does kill me that she doesn't try to go after him, to seek him out, to make sure he's okay.

Again, our characters have to make mistakes. They have to screw it up. And in how she handles breakups, Christine consistently screws up. It would be out-of-character for her to handle this one well.

Again, I don't blame her for breaking up with him via song. He pushed her to sing by pushing the issue. But her actions before and after are entirely her own just as much as his to push was his. They're both idiots.

"I didn't expect Christine to be so definitive about ending our arrangement."

He doesn't even refer to it as a relationship. But, since he's opened up to Uhura at the start of the episode about them being "more than colleagues", he feels freer to speak.

He also feels exposed.

"Relationships can be difficult, Spock, and you're Vulcan" "But I am also human."

Oh, my sweet boy. You finally got there. You finally learned to embrace both sides of yourself only to experience your first true heartbreak.

And now you'll endeavor to do what so many other humans have done before you—shut out the pain.

"I feel things differently. Bigger. I see her logic and, yet, I am hurt."

Gosh, the pain. Listen to his emphasis on "hurt". This is where Ethan Peck's vocal inflection and range really sing (pardon the pun).

Uhura has never seen this level of emotion from Spock. But they are becoming friends, which is welcome and needed for both their stories. And he's opening up in a way he won't, again, for a very long time, I suspect.

"I am left behind."

I hate to say it, but I imagine this is how T'Pring felt when he took off on their engagement night. There was always something Spock seemed to be choosing over her.

The difference is that Spock thought he and T'Pring's relationship could weather all his other duties. With Christine, that isn't even a possibility she's willing to entertain.

She's done. It's over. And he's hurt.

The Music Swells

Spock and Uhura lock eyes. They both know a song is coming on, but I love how he doesn't run away, and she stays there with him.

If anyone knows what it is to be alone, it's Uhura. She's the one who pressed him to press Christine, so she's not leaving his side, now.

And it's Christine's Song. It's their song. Oh, gosh, this hurts. I didn't call it right on them sharing a song in terms of a duet, but in this melody, they share the two sides of the same song—one elated, one defeated.

Though, Spock's in the minor key where Christine was in the major. So, even though the melody and rhythm are matching, the songs aren't quite the same, even in construction. Damn, this is masterful.

My husband, who started playing piano at age 5 and studied for 21 years, said they gave Spock and Chapel the "Les Mis" treatment, and I about died laughing. He's not wrong.

"This news really changes everything-"

Starting the same way, too, whew. This is already super painful. Christine's version was a boisterous, celebratory tune with raucous dancing, cheerful backup vocals, and lots of pageantry.

Spock is in the echo chamber of Engineering. Without Uhura, he would be utterly alone. But there's no one to sing with him. His voice rings out alone.

"I can't believe how wrong I've been. Convinced myself we shared the same feelings. I won't make that mistake, again."

And Uhura can't interject to tell him about interdimentional space and everything that Christine said there. It's not her place. But, damnit, communication would have changed this whole story.

"For her I set aside my need to analyze. Now I'm wrecked and searching for Why. I'm the Ex."

Beautiful play on words. Though, I'll admit a small part of me was mentally breaking into the Calculus song from 2gether (yes, I'm that old).

While the other song was more hilarious, this one's eloquently and agonizingly crafted. It makes so much sense that our favorite Science officer is merging math and music, as only the best STEAM students can.

"I've got no one but myself to blame. I betrayed my core philosophy. Unending reason must be my true north, lest I drown in this sea of pain."

Imagine you've grown up in a constricted world and when you finally decide to break out of that and test the waters, your boat is capsized by the person you trusted to help you steer.

Spock took a great risk with this relationship, and he knew it. But he never predicted it would end like this. Yes, Christine was upfront with not wanting to label it and not wanting to tell Starfleet. She didn't pretend in any way.

But Spock still hoped. And now that hope's been dashed.

I think a lot of us have been there—having our hearts broken by someone we really trusted. Gosh, I remember my first boyfriend.

He broke up with me over the phone on my birthday, which happened to be the week of Prom. Oh, and he was cheating on me because two months in on my first relationship I wouldn't sleep with him. We still went to Prom together because I thought I could win him back.

Seventeen-year-old Rachel wasn't that bright. But she was hurt. And she had hope that she was wrong to be guarded, that it was okay to let those walls down a bit and let someone in.

"I'm so dysfunctional, weak and emotional, feelings I just can't contain. Escaping this misery, you're breaking free, not a possibility.

Uhura's brow furrows as she listens to him talking about himself so harshly.

"Weak and emotional" is a gut-punch to me considering how a season ago in episode 9 Spock was lamenting his weakness while Christine cupped his face and told him it was his emotions... and that they didn't make him weak... they made him human.

"I solved for Y in my computation but missed vital information, the variable so devastating... I'm the X."

Watch how he looks to Uhura mid-phrase. He nearly forgot she was there listening to him bare his soul. But he can't stop it as it's flowing out. He has to finish the song, no matter how painful.

"I'm the ex."

He speaks the line the same way Christine spoke her last line. Because, it's real. It's true. And it hurts like hell.

"I am sorry."

He's near tears, again, and it's all wrong. So far this season Christine, M'Benga, the transporter chief, and now Uhura have seen the Vulcan near-tears or crying. He can't have that, now. Before, he allowed himself the vulnerability. He tested the bounds of his humanity.

Never again. He refuses to let himself be hurt like that, again.

"So far, we've only witnessed people being torn apart by this event." *pointed camera on Spock*

Look, we all knew this was coming, right? This story is set in canon, and canon dictates and Spock and Christine are not together in TOS-era.

And Spock has already started to bottle up those emotions that plague him. We saw that he can pull it together quickly enough, as demonstrated in the season opener.

Yes, this will take work, but he's willing to do whatever it takes to never feel this pain, again.

The Missed Moment

At the end of the big musical number, everyone's feeling connected and elated. There's hugging and congratulations. But when Christine turns to Spock, there's a wall there.

She didn't expect that. You can tell she didn't expect him to wall her off so swiftly, though it's not entirely unexpected. And she's not going to chase after him.

But it still hurts. I mean, we all saw how broken-hearted she was at Boimler's news that she wasn't even a footnote in Spock's written story.

And I posit that's part of why this isn't harder for her—she's been letting go for weeks. Pulling away. Making space. But Spock's had mere moments to wrestle with the consequences of giving into weakness.

A few weeks ago, he would have been laughing and hugging with all of them. He was reveling in testing the waters of his humanity while basking in the love of this beautiful, human woman. So much changes in the course of a few weeks.

Look, I'm thrilled for Christine. I am definitely not a woman who thinks any woman should change her plans for a man. But celebrating with her friends over champagne before telling Spock was tacky.

And I'm not excusing him pressing her in front of their friends for an answer. While he did it under the guise of duty (and we all know how married Spock is to duty), it was a bad call.

But they're both in the wrong. Spock was right at the beginning of the episode—their communication is a problem.

And, now, their paths are potentially, permanently diverged. I say potentially because there are dozens of possibilities.

Maybe they try, again, but something external pulls them apart. Maybe they get together in another timeline. Maybe years after TOS they reunite. We can dream, right?

In the season finale, there'll be awkwardness between them, I'm sure. This looks like the Gorn issue is coming to a head, and we know from early promos that there's footage of the pair of them together in space suits.

Will it be a final coda on their relationship? I suppose we'll find out together.

There were so many little things that made me squee during this episode. Paul Wesley's voice reminding me so very much of 1960's-era Disney princes, the Gilbert & Sullivan reference, the Buffy-coded Bunny reference, Uhura's amazing earrings that were giving me major Nichelle Nichols vibes, the raucous joy of Chapel's number, the crispness and clearness of Chistina Chong's vocals, M'Benga's surprising range, the varying styles and eras... so much. I could go on and on and on.

And, I'd be so remiss if I didn't call out two things in this episode that took my breath away beyond the obvious Spapel:

"You see the connections between us when all we see are the empty spaces."

This line skewered me so beautifully. I'm a communications person. I have two degrees in it. I held together a group of friends who met at college orientation through our four years of school, and we've been together over 20 years, now.

This line is so beautiful and so meaningful. I will think of it often. Because we need people like that in the world. They're the connective tissue.

And this line captures why so beautifully with so few words. That's masterful. In a season that's all about connectivity and communication, this line stands out.

Celia Rose Gooding

No quotes needed. She's simply sensational. I like to think Nichelle Nichols is looking down on her with a proud smile on her face. Her entire solo I had chills.

Yes, there was another episode this season that focused on Uhura, but I really feel like this was her show.

We saw how she flawlessly handled all of the communications issues early, how she worked beautifully with Spock, how she cut loose with her friends with a musical number while working, and how she ultimately saved the day.

She is a marvel to watch, and I'm so grateful she had an opportunity to shine as she did in this episode. I've loved her performance up until now, but this episode is the one where I was completely wowed. What talent!

Truly, everyone was amazing this week. Yes, she was a stand-out, but everyone poured their hearts and souls and songs into this. It shows. And it's magical as a result.

My predictions for this episode weren't quite right, but the spirit sadly was. Now we get awkwardness next week in space suits. We all know how that ended for B'Elanna Torress and Tom Paris, but I doubt Christine and Spock will have such a positive experience.

Maybe some sort of resolution, but Spock's declared he won't make the same mistake, again. He's walled off that part of himself already. Christine won't be able to access it, again.

Unless, of course, I'm completely wrong and Season 3 opens with them in a parallel universe where these crazy kids get it right. But, what fun would that be?

Look, we all make mistakes. Characters make mistakes. They can't magically be completely different versions of themselves because it suits a happy ending. We all knew this wasn't a happily ever after story.

We knew it'd be messy and painful. We knew it'd end in tears. But, the writers, directors, and performers (not to mention the rest of the incredible crew) have given us something really beautiful, here. It's achingly beautiful. What a privilege to witness it.

Thanks for reading, my friends. Be kind to one another. Build one another up. And never forget that you have intrinsic value and worth that nobody can take away.

Look for the connections in the empty spaces. They're there. We're here. And you are not alone.

#Strange New Worlds #ST: Strange New Worlds #SNW #Christine Chapel #Spock #Spock x Chapel #Chapel x Spock #Nurse Chapel #Ethan Peck #Jess Bush #Meta #Spapel #Spock x Christine

[walkingstackofbooks]

SNW 2x07 Those Old Scientists thought-stream

[24 July]

Ayyyyy! Boimler!!

"Yeah, Uhura was cool as hell. Probably because she had a life outside of work." Hah, nooope, not if last week was any indication!

You should listen to Tendi on this one... don't partcipate in Orion erasure, Boims 😬

Boimler's Spock impression was actually better than the crew's Vulcan ones from a few weeks ago!

"I wish I could disappoint Uhura." XD

"You guys look.... very realistic." Oh, you

Oooooh! Animated opening scene! Oooooh!

Directed by Jonathan Frakes?! Nice!

"But flipping it open's the best part." I mean you're not wrong

"Worf's honour" oh my goodness I cannot with this show

"Don't make any attachments" ohhhhhh, La'aaan 💔 "It's advice from personal experience." MY HEART CANNOT

"They never improved on these. I mean, yeah, they got smaller and more powerful and arguably less likely to explode, but design-wise?" "Explode, you said?" BOIMLER STOP

"Well, it's kind of considered offensive in my time to assume all Orions are pirates." Goodie <3

"I feel like I'm trying to stop a toddler from knocking over the furniture." XD

"Do you have jetpacks or what?" "We have jetpacks now."

"How do you know Pike's birthday?" "Well, I mean, in the future, his birthday's a holiday.... Crap! Crap. Crap." Hehehehehe

Close up on Spock's smile XD Yeah, you're damn right it's weird. Every time it happened in TOS it was deeply strange

"He'll get back to his, like, real serious self soon?" Oh Christine....

"We can't just not look!" I love this episode, really a lot

"Patience, forgiveness, benevolence... really great hair." XD

"Five to beam back." Pike's so done with this who thing, isn't he?

If Boimler is bad, Mariner will be even worse XD Boimler's just incompetent - Mariner won't care about flaunting time travel laws

"Stuck in San Fransisco in middle of a riot." Very specific. Do people now know Sisko pretended to be Gabriel Bell?

"I really want to say no, but how much more damage can you do at this point?"

"Are you familiar with Starfleet break codes?"

"Erica, you're brilliant!" "I am true why?"

"They had a Trelane thing." TOS REFERENCE

"And I never get caught." "What are you doing?" The comedic timing of this episode is so on point.

The fact the the two are being reprimanded by Pike while he's cooking cooking XD

"I love grapplers."

It's so cute everyone freaking out about the NX-01 :3

"Are we sounding like.. them?"

"Ad Astra per Aspera." "They put that on the poster?" My heart!!! Una you deserve this! "Your flagrant disregard for temporal protocols by telling me this is deeply troubling" Hah! Of course she has to cover up her emotions like that :3

"Live long and prosper." :o :o :o

The Orion scientist saying "That's all I've ever wanted" is everything.

The animated SNW crew is a real nice touch at the end :3

That was so much fun, guys. So funny too, I really loved it!

#SNW 2x7 #SNW Those Old Scientists #andi watches snw #Or did watch anyway #Months ago XD #Boy I have so many drafts to go through #The trouble is I never want to pause the episode much to write down my whole thought #So then I have to decipher my hastily-scribbled and thoroughly-autocorrected notes XD #And that's been way too much effort with the new job XD #Anyway #maybe here we go today? #WSB

[fardell24b]

On An Alien Beach - Part 1

Lower Decks – On an Alien Beach

Shore Leave on a Second Contact Planet... Cerritos had remained in orbit of Palanarea after the official Second Contact procedures had been completed at the behest of the Planetary League, the confederation that loosely united the world’s nations.

Boimler and Tendi looked around them as they came onto the beach. “I wonder if this would be like a beach on Earth?” the latter asked excitedly.

“Probably.”

“Almost certainly!”

“Only one way to find out,” Boimler said.

“Of course!”

Tendi then crouched down and ran her hands through the sand. She giggled.

Boimler smiled.

Mariner arrived on the beach and saw Tendi building a sandcastle. ‘Of course!’ she thought. She knew that Tendi wanted to experience sand that wasn’t like the sand on Orion. “What’s up?” she asked.

“I’m making an epic sandcastle,” Tendi proclaimed.

“Oh that’s great,” Mariner said with sarcasm. While Tendi was excited, Mariner knew that she would find that boring.

“I’m trying to relax,” Boimler said, “Before you inevitably draw me into some adventure.”

“You know me too well,” Mariner commented. She then noticed someone else arriving. “T’Lyn! Join us.”

“Greetings,” the Vulcan officer said.

“What are you doing?” Mariner asked.

“Observing my friends on this beach,” T’Lyn answered.

“What else?” Boimler asked rhetorically.

“Where’s Rutherford?” Mariner asked Tendi.

“I’m not sure,” Tendi answered as she tried to steady a precarious wall. “I think Billups had him doing something.”

“Right.”

T’Lyn looked at Tendi’s construction. She had to admit it was quite good for an admitted beginner. “Are you sure you haven’t done anything like this before?” she asked.

“No,” Tendi admitted. “Not even on a holodeck!”

As illogical as it seemed. Tendi had a point. Even with the dramatic improvements over the past two decades, Holodeck experiences were still a pale imitation of the real thing. “Of course.”

Mariner then came up to her. “Want to go for a swim?” she asked.

“That’s an illogical request,” T’Lyn responded.

“Why?” Mariner asked.

“You would recall that Vulcan is a desert world.”

“Oh.”

“The Vulcan fleet also doesn’t train its officers for aquatic duties,” T’Lyn added.

“Sorry, I didn’t know.”

“Apology accepted.”

“But maybe it’s not too late to learn?” Mariner asked.

“Maybe not, but socializing on the beach is what I came down to do.”

“Sure.”

Boimler had overhead T’Lyn and Mariner’s conversation. It was too bad. He wanted T’Lyn to join in, if only to help tone down Mariner’s competitiveness. ‘Oh boy!’

T’Lyn sat near where Tendi was building her sandcastle. It was already quite large.

A few more officers came along. “Barnes?” Boimler asked.

“Hi, Boimler,” Barnes said. “I thought I would join you lot.”

“Really?” Boimler asked with a smile.

Barnes nodded.

“Can you swim?” Boimler asked quietly, hoping that T’Lyn wouldn’t hear. (Though one always underestimated Vulcan hearing.)

“Of course,” Barnes answered at a similar volume. “Trill has similar coastal regions to Earth. I even brought my surfboard.”

“Surfboard?” Boimler asked.

“Yes. Surfing came to Trill late last century,” Barnes answered. “Our oceans may be purple, but they work the same as Earth’s.”

“Sounds good,” Boimler said.

“So, surfing,” Mariner said as she came up to them.

“It’s quite exciting,” Barnes said.

“You don’t have to tell me that,” Mariner said.

T’Lyn looked out to sea. The waves were getting bigger. She turned to Tendi. “I believe the tide is coming in,” she said.

“Don’t worry. I have planned for that,” Tendi responded as she placed several shells as re-inforcement.”

“I see.”

#beckett mariner #bradward boimler #d'vana tendi #fanfic #lower decks #star trek #t'lyn

[thelongestway]

It's finally Thursday! So: Lower Decks Liveblog time!!

Who is the narrator's voice this time? The director, perhaps? :P Starfleet Academy!! That moment when you know it before the text comes on. And Sito!! Aw, Wesley!!! Aw, baby Mariner, kiddo!!! And the one name nobody remembers. :P Also god, those kids and the four-way friendship... Back in the present, Locarno, so much bullshit, considering how you've treated her before... Oh you fucking asshole, 'junior member'?!?! Soo, how the fuck did you steal all those ships. A fucking D'Deridex, those are HUGE. Tell us about V'ger. C'mon. Oh god please tell me Freeman is trusting Mariner on this. Please tell me this is what last season's finale was the set up for. The Tom Paris line is a bit much, esp. 2 times in a row; "the Maquis would like a word" is great though! Holy shit, Mariner, way to go!!! Aw, T'Lyn! Good anthropologist!! And the depts checking in! Annnd we're pirating, right, Tendi? :P U.S.S. Passaro, stealing your mom's command codes, Beckett? :P Barter by combat, hehehe ^^ And Migleemo, I KNEW IT, he was so out of place in that lineup and had like exactly one moment to shine all season! MARINER DIPLOMANCY FOR THE WIN OFC YOU KNOW THE FERENGI! Like even with the fail, legit good try!

also damn, the "one weakness" plan failing? :P And way to raise the stakes, writers. The ship can't stay in Orion hands, but Tendi?.. Y'know, if any Trek could pull this off well, it's yours. Also not too extremely likely, but hell, who knows? ...The D'Deridex in hiding, you can always count on cloaks! Ooh, Livik comeback, and T'Lyn, lol! ...how long did that LARP take? also Boimler must've told her? Ah, Nova 1, enjoy the ion storm. What chain of command? Holy shit, that's a good excuse for putting Boimler in the captain's chair. The senior staff is making that destroyer battle-worthy; the Cerritos has glorified tractor beam duty... But MAN does it make for a good moment. (yeah, yeah, there's tons of people in the chain of command before him; I imagine he volunteered and Freeman let him because it's his best friend they're saving). OHH even better. Full command away team. AHAHAA the Captain's yacht!!! Someone knows their STO. :P PAYWALL BOMB. Which lieutenant, I wonder... I'm wondering if Starfleet won't want to give up D'Vana and are planning some other sort of barter now that relations are open? "Everyone, shut up, myself included" is one of my favorite turns of phrase. <3 Also "ohh there you are", Boimler, way to go! And Boimler and Mariner ribbing each other in the honest-to-goodness most affectionate way possible! Yeah, T'Lyn, maybe outright ghosting Sokel wasn't the best way of handling it. :P Also, science besties? Why the change of heart?

...yyyeah I was thinking that might have been a warning on a private channel.

But no, that's just D'Erika. And oh man, Tendi's face in the window. That's the face of someone who is code switching into "I am going to have to thoroughly break some bones around here, aren't I." Tl;dr: dammit, Lower Decks team, well done and thank you for doing this, you're amazing! I goddamn cannot wait for season 5, and like for the first time in a while - if I can get my hands on merch, I will buy it to support y'all. Like, you're getting priority in my "life across multiple countries" situation, that's how good y'all did.

#lower decks #star trek lower decks #lower decks spoilers

[lastoneout]

“He just joined up with like Starfleet Black Ops, that’s still technically the good guys, right???”

I don’t watch Star Trek media save for lower decks, but aren’t black ops SPECIFICALLY meant for shady stuff (if not utter fucking atrocities) that can’t be connected to the military/navy/etc. for fear of sullying their “respectable” reputation? That’s pretty evil (maybe I’m just paying too much attention to the evil laugh).

Also lower decks has been sending the not so subtle message of “twust the systewm uwu”, and consistently portraying star fleet (space navy? Idk) as the “good guys” which just seems like bullshit to me, but then again this is just my two cents as a non-trekkie.

Nah that's fair, I haven't really seen a whole lot of Trek that portrays Section 31 so I'm not entirely sure exactly how they operate, it's entirely possible Clone Boimler is gonna be getting up to some Morally Grey shit, it's just that when someone says "oh he's evil" my first thought was "he's a spy or traitor or not even actually a transporter clone" not that he just joined a different, less squeaky clean branch of Starfleet.

Especially since like, his story still doesn't add up?? There's no way Boimler of all people, clone or otherwise, could have made it out of that situation so quickly or like...at all? He was trapped under rubble and there were Packleds 2 seconds away from stabbing him to death plus the exit was blocked?? Lower Decks had set up the expectation that even the little details are important in the previous season, so having such an obvious plot hole just led me to believe it was on purpose and Clone Boimler was going to turn out to be evil, especially with all the "what's going on with the Packleds really is someone helping them behind the scenes" plot line set up. It's genuinely disappointing for them to just be like "yeah nah don't think about it to hard he's not evil/fake/a spy" when anyone with a brain can see that his story doesn't add up.

And the rest of season 2 kinda gave me the feeling that the writers were like, suffering under their own format's restrictions? They seemed to WANT to tell deep, intriguing stories with drama and plot twists and character conflicts that lasted more than one episode but they couldn't because they were a comedy cartoon that only gets ten twenty minute episodes per season. And sadly in this season it kinda feels like their solution has just been to more or less give up.

(And yeah in season 1 they really had set up the idea that this show was going to be about, in part, how Starfleet ISNT perfect and how they do fuck up a lot and that seemed to be an integral part of Mariner's character, like what it was like for someone who was disillusioned with Starfleet due to something in her past, but that also hasn't really gone anywhere which blegh. I liked the concept of a character like Mariner who takes issue with Starfleet fundamentally but still sticks with it, but they gave that up in favor of her just needing to rely on her friends more, which is development, but not really as interesting as what they initially teased.)

But that's just my take, yeah Section 31 is still shady so Clone Boimler def is more morally grey than Original Boimler, but the show hasn't done enough to make Starfleet seem morally grey for me to believe he's really Evil(tm). And hey overall the episodes are still enjoyable(except for the Peanut Hamper one god I hated that episode so fucking much) and so if this is the status quo I can live with that. It's just all turning Lower Decks into a show akin to Miraculous Ladybug, where I'm more in it for what it could be, not what it currently is, you know?

I just wish Clone Boimler was actually a spy or something. That would have been cool.

Edit: also not a fan of how this season it making it seem like the solution to Mariner's likely very legitimate, fundamental issues with the way Starfleet operates is that she just needs to just blindly trust authority more. Like...ehg feels kinda weird :/

#lower decks spoilers #lower decks season 3 spoilers #lower decks salt #spoilers #long post

[discotreque]

LwD 2.10: First First Contact

I haven’t been able to do notes for the past few weeks, but that’s not much of a loss: I’ve been having too much fun to get analytical even if I could. All you “missed” would’ve been a lot of yelling about how much I love these characters and this show, and a list of jokes I thought were funny, which is pretty close to “all of them.”

Nor do I have much analysis of the finale. Yelling, though? I’ve got yelling. And a list of jokes I especially liked? Absolutely. Right behind this spoiler cut:

SONJA GOMEZ MY BELOVED 😍😍😍😍😍

Hmmm, we haven’t checked in on Mariner’s abandonment issues in a little while, how’s that g-OH MY GOD NO

Okay I knew Mariner had a crush on Jennifer, I KNEW IT, I even started writing a fic about it a few weeks ago and just left it 90% done like an IDIOT

Huge fan of Rutherford and Tendi having an intimate moment where they confess their love for… the ship. Tendiforritos OT3!!!

Mike McMahan, if you kill Sonja Gomez I will revoke at least three of the beers I owe you, I swear to god

Characters blurting out the (obvious) emotional subtext of a scene always gets a laugh from me, and Rutherford chirping, “We have to drop our defenses, like Mariner has to do with people!” got a BIG laugh.

Removing the ship’s hull is exactly the wild shit you can only do—and therefore must do, imho—in a Star Trek cartoon. Even Disco doesn’t have the VFX budget for that kind of ridiculousness.

The thing with Rutherford saving all his memories of Tendi in triplicate, just in case he forgot her again? Hit me right in the feels 😭️

“Nothing explodes around here unless I’m blowing it up!” I’m so glad Shaxs can never, ever die. Ever.

“But in seven hours, we’ll be dea—oh, I see what you did there.”

This was a great episode for Billups! Hilariously losing his shit at even implied criticism of the warp core; has a sweet fatherly moment with Rutherford and gives him legitimately good advice; totally saves a lady’s life out of nowhere; says “dragon’s blood!” as a curse. What a legend.

Ransom finally gets his hands on the Riker joystick (not like that)

HEY UH WHAT THE FUCK WAS UP WITH RUTHERFORD’S WEIRD MEMORY THERE??

CETACEAN OPS, these mad bastards finally delivered, and of COURSE the beluga whales are wearing little Starfleet uniforms, and of course they’re sex pests omg

Wait uh didn’t Barnes and her pals invite Rutherford to “go swimming in Cetacean Ops” earlier this season? In retrospect that’s starting to sound kind of kinky for a first date…

Get you a friend like Tendi who can eventually have ENOUGH of your shit and tell you to shape up, tbh.

God, those exteriors of the thrusters firing are sexy as hell

This entire episode is gorgeous as FUCK, actually????

J E N N I F E R 💙️ 💙️ 💙️ 💙️ 💙️ Saving Mariner!! (And I think Mariner’s into it?)

Didn’t catch the name of Capt. Gomez’s first officer, but I really liked him.

Cerritos to the rescue!!! HELL yes!!!!

Are they going to just completely fuck up the ship in every season finale?

Promotion for Tendi, which she absolutely deserves, hell yeah

“Who the fuck is that? I don’t know who that is. I mean like Spock!” We don’t see that much of Dr. T’Ana, but Gillian Vigman crushes it in every scene she gets.

Tipsy Captain Freeman is adorable omg MORE OF THIS PLEASE

Carol Freeman is absolutely one of my favourite Trek captains ever and I will be devastated if/when Dawnn Lewis actually leaves the show, even though she probably has to at some point. (Not yet, though...!)

MARINER AND JENNIFER FOR REAL??????

Sooooo when Boimler “almost drowned in whale pee,” was that during the mission or the celebratory skinny-dipping…?

That episode was so good I forgot they hadn’t paid off Chekhov’s Varuvian Bomb until they REALLY paid it off, like holy shit, Pakled Planet (heh) is just gone

…holy SHIT, what??? They’re arresting Captain Freeman????

My full-body CHILLS when “To be continued” came up in the TNG font, though...

What an excellent episode of Star Trek. What an excellent season of Star Trek. I’m honestly kind of emotional about how many things this show has given me that I’ve wanted for like 30 years, since I was a feral little nerd sitting way too close to the TV before dinner, or even 10 years, since I started dipping a toe back into online Trek fandom.

Only two (short) seasons is still too soon for me to definitively say that Lower Decks is my favourite Star Trek series ever—but the facts are, I’ve ended both of those seasons with tears in my eyes because I love Star Trek so fucking much (as you maybe have noticed)… and so, obviously, does Lower Decks.

See you in a couple of weeks for Prodigy! I’m sure this fandom won’t be intolerably weird about a kids’ show...

#star trek #star trek lower decks #lower decks #lower decks spoilers #lwd spoilers #amy's episode notes

[ackerslut]

we're living in a powder keg (and giving off sparks)

Fandom: Star Trek Lower Decks

Rating: M

AO3

Beckett Elizabeth Mariner wakes up with the absolute unshakable knowledge that she has done something unspeakable.

“Oh my fucking god.”

On the pillow across from hers, Brad opens his eyes. He blinks once or twice, squinting at the obnoxious sunlight streaming through the blinds. It creates bars of light slanting across the bed and floor. There’s a brief moment of confusion where he stares up at her owlishly before he groans and rolls over, burying his face in the pillow. Clearly not shaken at all by the unspeakable horror coursing through Beckett’s veins.

“Oh. My. Fucking. God .”

“Please lower your voice,” he mutters, voice muffled almost beyond comprehension. Almost. “I think I have a migraine. Or a hangover.” A pause. “Or both .”

“Oh god oh god oh god-”

Beckett’s comm begins chirping on the nightstand, derailing her mental breakdown. She lunges for it, flips the device open and answers the call. “Yeah?”

“Beckett Mariner, where in god’s name are you?” her mother’s voice shrills across the tiny speaker. Not exactly the distraction she was looking for, but she’ll take it. “I’ve been calling you for hours. I swear to god if you’re in prison again-”

“I’m not in prison!” she hisses. “And that was one time!”

“Six times. In the last month.”

“I- mom -”

“We’re in Wvaxuv,” Brad snaps, snatching the comm out of her hand. “We’ll be there in fifteen. Over.” He snaps the comm shut, throws it at the nightstand on her side, and flops facedown into his pillow again. Beckett, both impressed by Brad hanging up on his captain and horrified by him hanging up on her mom , stares at him, mouth agape.

“You just hung up on my mom.”

“Mffffmmn.”

“My mom , Bradward.”

“Mm.”

“Your Captain .”

This does get a reaction out of Brad, but not quite the one she expected? He peeks one eye out of where he’s currently trying to become one with the bedding. It’s cute, in like a cat-like way. Which is exactly where Beckett is trying to keep her thoughts from going. There is nothing cute or nice about waking up in the same bed as Brad. There’s not.

“I think I’ll care about that when I’m sober,” he says, at last.

“You don’t care that you just hung up on my mom, but you know what city we’re in?” Beckett raises an eyebrow, both impressed and unimpressed. She contains multitudes.

“I always know where I am,” he mumbles, turning his face back into the pillow. “Also, it literally says in the tourist brochure on your nightstand.”

Beckett grins and then stops herself. “Okay, Mister ‘I always know where I am,’ how long will it actually take us to get back to the Cerritos ?”

“ Ten minutes if we get dressed like right now.”

She stops, face heating at the reminder that oh yeah they’re both fucking naked under the duvet. Beckett carefully inches away, toward her end of the bed, just in case. She casts a quick look around the room and locates her clothes on the floor, near the bathroom.

“Don’t look,” she warns. Threatens?

Brad gives her a thumbs up, seemingly content in continuing his faceplant. Beckett decides that she can trust him not to sneak a peak--not that it mattered at this point but she was not thinking about that --and hurriedly dives toward them and gathers them up. She throws them on the bathroom floor and slams the door shut.

“Oh my god.” Beckett stares at the yellowing tiled floor. “Oh my god .” She turns on the sink, cupping the freezing water in her hands and splashing it onto her face. It does little to clear her mind, but it does help with the hangover nausea. She grips the sides of the sink, breathing in and out slowly. After a few moments of this, Beckett finally dares to look in the mirror.

She’s looked worse. Especially after a night of getting blackout drunk. Her hair is down, out of its usual high ponytail. It’s also completely wrecked, she notes, running her fingers through it to pull out the tangles. She looks a little sweaty and her eyes are bloodshot with dark circles rimming them, but nothing about her appearance suggests that she did anything stupid or dangerous last night. All of her limbs and toes are accounted for. All things considered, it’s not that bad.

Well, except for the trail of hickeys going down her neck. Jesus , she thinks, straining her head around to see how far they go. Nevermind, she doesn’t really want to know. That’s definitely going to be a problem to examine later. Much, much later.

She quickly pulls her pants on, studiously ignoring her sore muscles and the purple bruises in other places besides her neck and shoulder. Fuck . She can hear her comm chirping again through the bathroom door, but doesn’t make any attempts to hurry and answer it. From the sound of things--or lack thereof--Brad isn’t making an effort either. He probably decided, as she has, that they can get reemed out when they actually get back on the ship.

Beckett pulls her tank top over her head, frowning when she realizes that it does absolutely nothing to hide the bruises on her neck. Where the fuck is her jacket? She pops back into the bedroom.

“Where’s my jacket?”

“You threw it in the Gezorvazors’ fountain.”

“And you didn’t stop me? Dude, that was my favorite jacket.”

He makes a vague hand gesture, still face down on the bed. “You can borrow mine.”

“Yours isn’t nice like mine is,” she snaps, picking his weird hoodie/jean jacket hybrid. “Mine is leather, and badass, and-” She slips his jacket on, pulling the collar up to hide the hickeys. “-And. Oh shit this is comfortable.” The fabric is soft in the way that clothes only get after you’ve owned them for years and years and ruined the fabric with too much fabric softener and shit. Also, it’s a little big around her shoulders, and Beckett’s kind of a slut for comfy clothes that are too big for her. “You’re not getting this back,” she realizes out loud.

Brad finally lifts his head off the pillow, eyes zeroing in on her. His face is unreadable. “Huh.”

“What?”

Her comm chirps again. Brad picks it up and throws it to her. “Call your mom.” He jerks his head toward the balcony on the other side of the suite. “Or don’t. Either way, we’re gonna be late.” He makes to get out of bed, which is Beckett’s cue to get the fuck out of there . She escapes onto the balcony which is less of a balcony and more of a ledge.

She flips the comm open and answers it.

“ Your mom is flipping out,” D’Vana says. “She thinks you went AWOL and kidnapped Boimler again.”

“Her thinking that is a thousand times better than what actually happened,” Beckett replies, relieved. “She’s not leaving, is she?”

“ Without you? Fat chance.” There’s a pause. “So are you gonna tell me what did happen-”

“Just a long night of drinking and bad decisions. I’ll see you back on the Cerritos, ” she swiftly interrupts. “If my mom asks, everything is fine. Don’t worry.” She hangs up over D’Vana’s sputtering protests. “Shit.” What was she going to tell D’Vana. What was she going to tell her mom?

A gust of cool wind blows through the street, cutting straight through her. She wraps the jacket tightly around her. It smells like Brad. “ Shit. ”

_____

Beckett sits in her mom’s ready room with a paper cup of coffee heating her hands. The smell isn’t doing great things to her nauseous stomach, but the warmth radiating through her fingers is soothing and the caffeine is knocking out most of her headache. Turn of the century and there still isn’t a definitive hangover cure for humans. Go figure.

Her mother’s slightly raised eyebrow is both a question and a criticism. She has too much tact to say that Beckett looks like shit, but they both know Beckett looks like shit. Damnit.

“I’m not even going to ask,” Freeman says at last, rubbing her temple with two fingers. “Just please stop violating regulations while on shore leave.”

Beckett wants to ask if this means she can violate regulations while off shore leave, but feels too shitty to get into that argument. “You got it, Cap’n,” she says, instead of emoting. She gives her mom a lazy, two fingered salute.

“Also, please remember to keep up with your birth control, I don’t really need any Beckett/Boimler hybrids running around on this ship-”

“Literally what the fuck -” Beckett all but shrieks, voice way to loud for the hangover she’s sporting. “ Why would you even say-”

Her mom looks pointedly at Beckett’s bruised neck. “I’m not a complete idiot, kiddo.”

“Oh my god,” Beckett buries her face in her hands. “Oh my god .”

Freeman rolls her eyes, flicking her fingers at her daughter. “Yeah, yeah, I know, it’s my job to embarrass you. Now get out of my sight. And ask T’Ana for a hangover cure.”

This has Beckett sitting up. “Wha- T’Ana said there wasn’t a hangover cure .”

Flat look. “Beckett. What century is this?”

Beckett scowls at the desk. “Ripped off for five years and counting,” she mumbles.

_____

Avoiding Brad was harder than she thought it was going to be.

(Not that she’s avoiding him. She’s not.)

(She totally is. )

When he first came back to the Cerritos --almost two years ago now?--it had been easy. He’d been in a state of remorse/guilt, and had basically allowed Beckett to call the shots. This was generally considered a bad idea by absolutely everyone, because it meant that Beckett swung dangerously between watching his every move like a crazed stalker to having nothing to do with him. It had accumulated in Sam and D’Vana going the old-fashioned route by locking them in a storage closet.

Things had eventually ironed out after that. Nothing was ever quite the same--it couldn’t be with Brad’s newfound confidence and Beckett’s decision to see him as an equal rather than someone to mentor--but it was better that way. They worked better that way. At least until Beckett had fucked everything up by having drunk sex with her best friend of four years.

So here Beckett was, hiding in medbay because she thought she might have seen Brad walk by.

“You gotta admit, this is weird, even for you,” D’Vana says.

Beckett peaks over the biobed. “He’s gone, right?”

“Honey, what’s going on between you two? Do I need to fight him? I can totally fight him.”

“What?”

“I mean, the last time you were this mad at him was because--”

“I’m not mad at him,” Beckett waves her off, not too keen on dredging up ancient history. Shitty ancient history at that. “Everything’s fine.”

“Everything’s fine,” D’Vana repeats dubiously. “Which is why you’ve been hiding in medbay--your least favorite place--all day. Instead of doing fun things, like moving everything in Ransom’s cabin a little to the left or putting extra espresso shots in T’Ana’s coffee.”

Beckett grins. “We should put extra espresso shots in T’Ana’s coffee.”

“You’re deflecting.”

“I’m not.”

“ So are.”

Beckett scowls. “Aren’t you supposed to be on my side?”

“I am, as in I will help you bury the body if need be, but as it stands there isn’t a body to bury and you’re in my way.”

“Rude!”

“Coward.”

“Killjoy.”

“ Both of you, out,” T’Ana snaps, from like 20 feet away. She’s not even looking at them, but one of her ears is swiveled in their direction.

D’Vana gives Beckett a dirty look, turning on her heel and marching out of the medbay. Beckett follows, more subdued.

“Seriously, you need to get your shit together,” D’Vana says, once she’s caught up to her. “I promise whatever happened between you and Brad isn’t as terrible as you’re thinking. It’s probably even fixable.”

“Real encouraging, bestie.”

“I try.” D’Vana gives her a friendly punch on the arm that’s probably going to bruise. “Now go find your man.”

_____

Becket does not, in fact, “go find her man.” First of all, because she doesn’t have one, but also because the idea of facing Brad right now is so mortifying--seriously what is she supposed to say? --that the thought makes her break out in hives.

(Not literally, but still.)

A couple more days of this has Sam and D’Vana returning to the tried and true method of locking Beckett and Brad in a storage closet to sort out their shit.

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” D’Vana shouts through the door.

Beckett flips her the bird, even though she can see, scowling at the door. “Fuck you, D’Vana Tendi!”

There is no response, meaning that her ex-friends have left her alone with her thoughts, Brad, and Brad’s very loud thoughts. Goddammit.

“Look, just say it,” Brad suddenly snaps after the longest, most awkward pause Beckett has ever had the misfortune to be a part of. His entire body is tenser than Beckett has seen in a hot minute. Probably since before he transferred back to the Cerritos.

“Say what?” she says back hotly, now not really sure if they’re about to argue about something, but also not one to back down from a fight.

“I don’t know-just. Whatever it is- just please. I’m tired, D’Vana’s tired--hell the whole ship is tired of this. So just.” He runs a hand through his hair. “Look, I know it was bad, I know that you regretted it.”

“I. What.”

“But, you’re also my best friend and I don’t want things to go back to how they were when. When I came back and you hated me and I was shitty to you and-” Brad stops messing up his hair. “Just say it was awful and we can forget it ever happened.”

Beckett steels herself as she finally admits: “I don’t remember it.”

It was Brad’s turn to go still and quiet.

“Brad--I. You know how I get when I’m drunk.” Beckett has never felt embarrassed by her drinking habits, but now she wonders if she should. Okay, she’s not, not really. But she was at least regretful that she had done something so stupid as fucking up one of her best relationships while intoxicated. Literally. “I don’t remember anything after the sixth drink,” she groans. “I think I was messing with your hair?”

“You said it was the color of jellyfish.”

She manages a weak smile. “Yeah.”

“And then I said jellyfish were translucent and have been extinct for over a thousand years on Earth so your point was redundant and that’s when you kissed me.”

“Oh.” Beckett wracks her memory. Nothing comes up. She doesn’t know if she feels proud or scared by the fact that she was the one to initiate whatever happened between them. “Was it. Good?”

“For me.” Brad shrugs, nonchalant in a way she wishes he weren’t. “Can’t really say if you liked it or not. Rest of the night is.” He makes a gesture with one hand. “Fuzzy.”

“But you remember more details than I do.” Beckett takes a step toward him.

He takes a step back as she crowds his space. Swallows. “Guess I do.”

“Was that good? What came after?” she asks, steadily, taking another step toward him.

His back hits the wall. He makes a little oof sound, maybe at the impact, but more likely at her question. “I-it was fuzzy ,” he reiterates, voice pitching up.

“Just answer the question, Bradward. I thought this was honesty hour for-”

“Yes it was good!” he snaps. “It was awesome, and earth-shattering, and all the stupid fucking cliches we both make fun of and mock together, and-and you didn’t care the next morning! Actually, no, you were fucking horrified-- so I panicked and--”

Beckett kisses him. It’s a short peck, hardly a brush of lips really, but enough to leave him gaping like a fish after. Kind of shocked, like a computer bluescreening. Goddamnit, he is cute.

“I. I- what .”

Beckett carefully leans in, brushing his hair out of his eyes with one hand--giving him time to opt out or push her away if he wants-- and kisses him again. This time she goes a bit more slowly, somehow coaxing his panicked mind into letting him kiss her back. Only for a moment, sadly. As soon as he begins softening against her, mouth opening slightly to kiss her back, he draws away, face disturbed. “Beck, what are you doing?” His voice is weak.

“Experimenting,” she replies, eyes quickly darting back and forth between his.

“ Experi -”

“I mean, there must be a reason I jumped straight from drunken makeout to lets fuck on our last night of shore leave. I’m just trying to find the missing puzzle piece.” She leans back in. Kisses him again. Pulls back almost immediately. “That means kiss me back, dumba-”

Brad cups her face and kisses her back. Like really kisses her back. Like tilts her face to the side until the angle is just right and slips his tongue in to slide against hers-

“Fuck,” Beckett says, when they draw back for air. “ Fuck.”

Brad drops his hands, but makes no move to pull out of her space. “Got enough data?” he asks sarcastically.

“I might need a larger sample size,” she says breathlessly, eyes darting back down to his lips.

“Well, feel free to go makeout with whomever-”

“Not that kind of sample size, dummy. I'm working with just one test subject, you see.” Her hand fingers the top button of his shirt almost thoughtfully. “My sample size needs to be bigger in quantity, not diversity.”

“ Beck- ” he whines.

“What, so you get to remember this awesome, showstopping one-night stand while I wonder forever if you're actually as good as my sore everything implies?”

Brad’s face visibly heats up. “Well, it's not a one-night stand if we do it again, is it?” he mutters.

“No,” Beckett replies curtly, making her eye contact as direct as possible. “It's not.”

“And you really want to fuck in a storage closet.”

“It can't be much worse than on a planet of jellybean aliens.”

“Gezorvazorians,” he corrects. Pauses, considering. “It might not be that good sober.”

“Are you seriously trying to talk me out of having sex with you?” Beckett groans again in exasperation. “This is literally a one time, limited offer, Bradward.”

“I have anxiety, Beckett! It was fine when I was on drink number eight, but I'm going to freak out if I do this without-”

“Oh my god, just stop thinking-” she shoves him back into the wall, hands fisting his stupid Starfleet shirt, “-just do what feels good.”

Apparently what feels good is letting Beckett once again call the shots on this one, like she does on everything. He lets her crowd him back against the wall, pop each of his shirt buttons and makeout as aggressively as they can while still standing upright.

“For the record,” she says, in between kisses, “if you don't want to have sex with me, that's a hundred percent fine, I don't want to pressure you-”

Brad rolls his eyes. “You really gotta-” kisses her again, “make up your mind-” her hand pulls at the short hair on the nape of his neck, eliciting a high pitched noise “- getting mixed signals-”

“My mind is made up, it's just that I realized that I maaay have been a bit pushy-”

Brad pulls away to give her a deadpan expression. “Yeah, if there's one thing I do remember about you in bed, it's that you're kind of pushy. Actually, scratch that, you’re relentless.”

Beckett flushes. “I-”

“I don't mind. Just as long as you're sure.”

“I am,” she meets his gaze challengingly, fighting her blush down.

“Cool.” He nods once, curtly. The image doesn’t exactly mesh right with his disheveled hair and unbuttoned shirt. “Cool, cool, cool. I'm probably going to freak out in the middle of this, fyi.”

“Don't say ‘fyi,’ it's lame.” She glances around the room. “So. Floor or wall?”

_____

They don't actually fuck in the storage closet, much to Beckett's disappointment and everyone else's general embarrassment. D’Vana in particular is going back and forth between remorse and spastic giggling. It’s just as well. Brad really couldn’t stop laughing at her after her “floor or wall” comment which made getting laid kind of hard. No pun intended.

_____

The next few days are kind of a living hell for the Cerritos. Which is unbelievable, considering how weird Beckett and Brad had made it for everyone before their conversation in the storage closet.

It really really doesn’t help that Brad’s bunk is like. Right over hers. Goddamnnit.

“Good news is we have shore leave again in three weeks,” Jennifer says, handing her a wrench.

Beckett, who’s holding a screwdriver in her mouth, makes whahed? noise, eyes glued to the charred remains of the food replicator. Jen leans back against the counter casually, flipping her silver hair over her shoulder. She’s not really helping Beckett, just watching while she takes advantage of her own buffer time. Beckett doesn’t mind because a) everyone’s entitled to their own buffer time and b) Jen isn’t bad company. At least when she isn’t involving herself in the soap opera worthy drama that is Beckett’s life. Like right now.

Jen gives her a bemused look. “You don’t have to tell me what happened last time,” she says, which is great because Beckett has no intention of bringing up the events of their last shore leave, “But you want my advice? Fix it this time. For everyone’s sake.”

Beckett takes the screwdriver out of her mouth and places it on the counter. “I literally have no idea what you are talking about,” she says in lieu of feeling an emotion.

“Me neither,” Jen admits, sighing. “Look, I don’t put much stock in the rumor mill, but even I know there’s something going on between you and Boimler.”

Oh. Shit.

“Oh, shit,” Beckett says.

Jen grins. “Yeah, shit Mariner. Who’d have thought: you and Brad Boimler. Six years ago, I’d have laughed in your face.”

Beckett makes a face. It’s not a laughing one. More of a grimace, really. “It’s not whatever you’re thinking.”

“With you it rarely is.” Jen looks wary, but the corners of her eyes still crinkle with amusement. “I’m just saying, I know something’s up. Don’t really care, but it’s making this ship socially awkward. I refuse to work somewhere socially awkward, Mariner.”

“Oh, we are in agreement,” Beckett quickly defends, holding her hands up.

“Good, then fix whatever the fuck’s going on. I can’t take much more of this.”

Beckett doesn’t have much to say to that. Mostly because she’s in total agreement, but also because that’s the moment D’Vana comes around the corner and she’d rather not get Into It with the perky Orion today.

_____

It’s Sam who brings it up. “So, shore leave on Earth,” he says. “Who’s down?”

The four of them are sitting at the bar, pretending like nothing weird is going on between two of their members. It helps that Sam is sitting between her and Brad, but it also doesn’t because he keeps catching them staring at each other. It’s super fucking awkward, so Beckett takes the opportunity to direct their attentions elsewhere.

She groans loudly, dropping her face onto her folded arms. “If I wanted to be on Earth I wouldn’t have joined Starfleet,” she grumbles. “This fucking sucks.”

D’Vana perks up immediately, like Beckett knew she would. “I love Earth!” she says, enthusiastically gesturing with her martini glass. “So many different cultures and languages and religions on one planet. If I wasn’t stationed in deep space, I’d have asked for a position there.”

“All those religions and cultures and shit is why Earth has a reputation of not getting along with itself,” Beckett mumbles into her arm.

“That’s not specific to Earth though,” Brad points out, pretty much speaking for the first time that night. He looks a bit surprised, like he hadn’t meant to talk to her at all or make eye contact. Which was most likely the case, considering. Still, he pushes on. “I mean, how many interplanetary disputes have we broken up in the last year alone?”

“Yeah, but I don’t come from those planets so I don’t have to feel bad about it,” Beckett mutters.

Sam snorts. “So is that a no?”

Beckett shrugs. “Fuck if I know. Will there be alcohol?”

“There can be.”

She flutters her eyelashes at Sam. “Well, if you insist then.”

Brad and D’Vana exchange a look.

_____

Earth isn’t too bad.

Beckett should know, she was born there.

The distinct lack of shenanigans she can get up to are fairly disappointing, however. And the distinct presence of cops is still as annoying as ever. But Sam drags the four through downtown San Francisco, intent on making the most of it.

He is determined to teach D’Vana how to surf, so they find themselves at one of those swim stores--the ones that smell like chlorine and weed and have like a display of goggles that takes up two entire ailes and the walls are covered in surf boards and body boards, and there’s little naked mermaid figurines everywhere. It’s one of those out-of-this-world vibes that has Beckett remembering the little things about earth she misses.

Sam somehow cuts a deal on four surf boards and some swim trunks for him and Brad. Beckett, who had the foresight to bring her own swimwear, doesn’t spend a dime on anything but the salt water taffy up at the front counter. D’Vana, who showed up for shore leave already in a bikini and has chronic steal Beckett’s food syndrome, walks out of there the least broke.

“So we want to start in the whitewater,” Sam says, rubbing copious amounts of sunscreen on D’Vana’s back. It’s a wise move, considering the last time they spent free time on a sunny planet, D’Vana walked away with the worst sunburns. “That way we can work on your stance without any pressure.”

“Speak for yourselves,” Beckett flips her shades down. “I’m heading out for the Big Bois. The Chungos, if you will.”

Sam rolls his eyes. “Have you ever surfed before?”

“Does doing handstands on a floatie in my pool count?”

“No.”

“Then listen to the expert. We also probably don’t want to go way out until we get wetsuits. Trust me on that one,” Sam says, grimacing. “I mean, I’ve gone without, but it’s cold as shit out there.”

Beckett snatches the sunscreen from Sam’s hand and squirts a glob on her calf. “Fine, defeat me with your logic. You want some of this, white bread?” she asks Brad, who very much lives up to said nickname. He sighs, accepting the bottle from her.

All sunscreen up, Sam stands, picking up his surfboard. “I’ll take D’Vana out first,” he says in a blatant show of favoritism.

Brad and Beckett roll their eyes in tandem. “Whatever,” Beckett says, shooing them off with one hand. “I’m taking a nap.” She flops down on a towel under the giant umbrella that D’Vana got from god knows where . Brad looks from her to Sam and D’Vana unsurely before deciding that he’ll strike out on his own for a bit.

“Don’t drown,” Beckett says, already half asleep.

“Duh.” She can practically hear his eye roll. “Remember to wake up in two hours and apply more sunscreen,” he shoots back.

She gives him the o-k hand signal, not opening up her eyes. “You got it, Mom.”

_____

A few hours later--way past when Beckett was supposed to dump more chemicals on her skin (and yes she’s going to be feeling that later)--Beckett wakes up to Sam and D’Vana’s dulcet tones. By dulcet tones she actually means they’re belting out I’ve Had the Time of My Life in tandem with the music booming on the speaker Sam brought because they are those annoying beach people .

D’Vana must’ve gone to one of the street vendors on the boardwalk, because she has a tray of tiny sandwiches and a paper bag of popcorn that she’s sharing with Sam. Beckett tries to get in on that action, but because D’Vana is the biggest hypocrite Beckett knows, she finds herself banned from the snacks.

“You and Brad can get your own,” D’Vana says stubbornly.

Beckett rolls her eyes. “Where is he, anyway?”

D’Vana points vaguely off in the direction of the water. Brad is sitting on his surfboard, looking more relaxed than Beckett’s seen him in a while.

She stands up, stretching out the kinks and stiffness in her joints, grinning when Sam winces at the cracking of her spine. Shaking the fogginess away, Beckett makes her way out into the waves, shivering at their chill. In a stroke of genius, or maybe just chaotic evillness, Beckett ducks under the water, swimming beneath where Brad is peacefully sitting.

“Nice view,” Beckett says, bursting out of the water. Brad flails, arms pinwheeling. He does fall off his perch on the surfboard, but Beckett catches it before the waves can take it away. She heaves herself gracefully over the side, sitting with her legs in the water. After a moment she offers a hand to a very sulky looking Brad, who’s usually coiffed hair is plastered to his skull by the water.

He takes her proffered hand and sits beside her.

After a moments pause, where they sit bobbing in the waves and watching the sunset, Brad says, “I would like to say that not even the holodeck can recreate colors like that buuut-”

“We do have top-of-the-line technology,” Beckett agrees. “It’s still nice knowing it’s real, though,” she adds.

“How sentimental of you,” he says, almost teasingly. It does wonders for the tension Beckett’s holding.

“Shut up,” she gets out, shoving his shoulder good-naturedly. It’s not hard enough to push him back in the water, but it’s enough that he swats her off. “I’m just saying .”

“So Earth isn’t so bad, after all?” he asks, smug.

Beckett rolls her eyes. “I guess ,” she allows, grudgingly. “But don’t go telling anyone.”

Brad just grins, turning back to the sunset. They don’t say much more after that.

_____

Beckett is lying in bed, staring at the ceiling of the hotel they’re staying at overnight, when she comes to a decision. “I’m going to have sex with Brad.”

D’Vana, who Beckett had been pretty sure was sleeping, chokes in the dark. “Beckett what the fuuu -”

Beckett sits up. “I’m going to have sex with Brad,” she reiterates, throwing the covers off.

The bedside lamp clicks on, washing the room in a pale, yellow light. D’Vana’s expression is somewhere between I’m too sleep-deprived to deal with this shit and a murder is happening tonight .

“Like, right now?” she asks, finally.

“No time like the present,” Beckett says, already halfway out the door. Whatever protests D’Vana has is cut off when the door slides shut behind her. Sam and Brad are staying just across the hall, so it takes no time to get there and knock on the door.

“So are we gonna fuck or what?” Beckett asks the minute Brad shows his face. Sam makes a choked, gagging noise from somewhere behind him. Brad makes an equally despairing sound.

“Sam, could you-?”

“Gone! I'm gone.” Sam pushes past them, heading for the other suite. “I'll just sleep with D’Vana-- in D’Vana’s room!” He hurriedly course corrects, “In her room. I'm--I'll. Bye.” He ducks behind the door, slamming it.

“Yeesh, my girl ain't getting any tonight.”

“But we are apparently,” Brad dryly remarks. Or tries to dryly remark. It comes out strangled. “I thought that was a limited offer.”

“Yeah well, maybe I changed my mind. Are you gonna invite me in or what?”

Brad opens the door wider. “I didn't know you needed a literal invitation like some sort of vampire.”

“I was being polite.” She brushes past him. “I am capable of that on occasion.” She flops on the bed with forced bravado. Brad starts doing that thing where he avoids eye contact but realizes it's awkward so he then makes too much eye contact. Beckett resists the urge to tease him about it, if only because she's starting to feel weird about everything too.

“I’m not saying no-”

“Jesus, okay, rejection time-”

“But right now might not be the best time,” he finishes, face crimson.

“What?” She glances around the room. “Master suite in a five star hotel in San Francisco is a worse time for you than a storage closet? I didn't know you had an exhibition thing-”

“ I don't.” Brad scowls. “I'm just not in the mood.”

Oh.

“Oh,” she says, leaning back with her hands supporting her behind her. She kind of feels like an asshole for just assuming he’d be down anytime. There’s another moment of silence. Awkward.

Then, “I have some old timey soap-opera that Jen gave me, on my padd. You down?”

_____

“I don’t think this is a soap opera,” Brad says, ten minutes into their third episode.

They’re both lying on top of the covers, padd propped on a pillow, watching a collection of random episodes Beckett seemingly has. There’s about four feet of yawning distance between them, four impossible feet that’s frankly starting to piss Beckett off for reasons she’s trying not to examine.

“He’s married to his best friends’ daughter which means his mother-in-law made out with him,” Beckett replies, rolling her eyes. “His wife and her parents are pretty much the same age. He gets assassinated by his wife who was trained by a cultist group to take him down. How is that not a soap opera?”

Brad shrugs. “It just seems to be more action based.”

“Give it time, you’ll get it.”

Silence as they watch the main characters get chased by dinosaurs. Brad, surprisingly, does not offer up why it’s unrealistic--(she can totally hear him lecturing on about how dinosaurs actually had feathers, Beckett, and that one was definitely bipedal why is it on all fours?)-- instead tapping his fingers against the mattress and occasionally spacing out.

Whatever. Beckett’s perfectly comfortable reclining on the other side of the bed and ignoring him.

“It’s not me, right?” she blurts out. “I didn’t like, push you too much and now you want nothing to do with me?”

Way to sound insecure, Mariner.

Brad startles in surprise. “What? No!” He sits up. “Why would-”

“I don’t know, it’s just weird! And we’re not weird like this--we watch shit all the time together and make fun of it and it’s not socially awkward!”

“I’m not trying to be socially awkward! I just-”

“Well you are -”

“I thought you were mad at me ?” He tries, looking askance.

Beckett blinks across the bed at him. “You thought-- what --that I was mad at you for not being up for-”

“If you make that pun, I swear to god-”

“Not a pun, I’m being literal-you thought -”

“Beck-”

“You thought I was upset that you aren’t in the mood for-for my weird need to-to-” She can’t even finish it.

“Ughrhrh.” Brad covers his eyes with his hands. “It sounds bad when you say it out loud.”

“Yeah no shit, Bradward.” She huffs loudly, turning back to the episode only to find that it’s over.

“Sorry,” he says at last, still into his hands. “I’m having a weird night.”

Aaaand now Beckett feels like shit. Because of course she was making everything about her when there were other people emotionally involved. God she needed to talk to her therapist.

“You wanna talk about it?” she asks, nervously tapping her foot at the air.

Brad drops his hands, staring at her flatly. “Do you really want to hear my weird TMI relationship hangups?”

Oh fuck, it’s gonna be that kind of talk.

“Uh, yes? I tell you my weird shit all the time-”

“ Unsolicited -”

“And you don’t give a shit. Why would I be upset about you telling me your weird shit? Is it a kink thing? I bet it’s a kink thing.”

“It’s not a-! Just-just let me talk!”

Beckett makes a phhhft- ing noise, but relents. She twiddles her thumbs for a moment, a mannerism she picked up from D’Vana over the years. Brad’s eyes zero in on the motion for a moment, as he nervously begins tapping his fingers against the mattress again and then stopping to clasp his hands tightly.

“You know how I don’t really. Date people?” he tries, wincing slightly.

“Yeah, sure.” She shrugs.

“Have you ever wondered why-”

“Because our friend group is so batshit fucking certifiable that any potential boyfriends or girlfriends get scared off. It’s why Amina and I were never gonna get back together.” Beckett doesn’t say duh , but it lingers in the air.

Brad rolls his eyes. “ Yes that, but also I don’t date people for the same reason it took D’Vana six years to figure out she and Sam were dating.”

Oh.

“Oh. Oh .” Beckett blinks for a moment, world realigning. “Wait, how did I not know that about you? I know everything about you.” Which is entirely the wrong response to your best friend sharing something that personal, but Brad doesn’t seem to pick up on it so Beckett thinks it’s okay. Hopefully.

“Apparently, not,” he replies, amused.

“But, you’re like. Okay hooking up every once in a while.” God, she hopes so. If she pressured her best friend into having drunk sex with her-

“Yeah, I’m in the mood every once in a while. Like, once a year kind of once in a while,” Brad says casually, alleviating her worries. “Just not right now.”

“Oh okay, cool.” A pause. “Thank you for telling me.”

He rolls his eyes again like she knows she’s going over every social media post and session with her therapist concerning how to handle your best friend coming out to you in her head and settles down next to her. “Whatever. What’s happening?” he asks, turning back to the padd.

Beckett apparently has episodes out of order because the main characters are hijacking the 1969 Earth space missions. “An alien race that controls humans through post-hypnotic suggestions is giving them the technology to land on their own moon.”

Brad huffs, amused. “Naturally.”

_____

Everything kind of goes back to normal after that.

Well, as normal as things get on the Cerritos .

Beckett takes her conversation with Brad to mean that he’s not interested in le sex with her (at the moment anyway) and backing off is in their best interests.

Whatever, she didn’t really know what she was going on about anyway. It’s not as if she was using not remembering their one-night stand as an excuse to hook up with Brad because she’s suffering from unacknowledged requited feelings.

(She’s not. She’s not . Goddamnit.)

The ship seems to give a collective sigh of relief, now that Beckett and Brad aren’t doing...whatever it was they were. Beckett is back to annoying the shit out of her best friend and Brad is back to pretending like he hates everything she stands for. It’s a comfortable equilibrium that Beckett’s glad to be back to.

Even if she still ponders all of the what ifs .

_____

If Beckett’s life is a movie--which is a metaphor she hasn’t used yet, but now’s probably the best time to start because the drama of hooking up with her best friend is totally some awkward comedy shit--then the Halloween party Sam and Jen throw is the punch line. Or the climax--whatever, no pun intended.

Beckett didn’t even know Halloween was like still a Thing until she and her friend group came across a Halloween themed shop during shore leave.

“Isn’t it July?” Beckett had pondered. “I’m pretty sure this holiday is supposed to be in October?”

“It’s one of those “Holiday in July” shops,” Brad said, rolling his eyes at D’Vana who’d donned a witches hat on and was cackling appropriately. “They were totally a thing when I was a kid.”

Sam pulled out his comm. “You know how Jen wanted to throw a party for the end of our assignment in the Neutral Zone? I think I know what theme we should go with.”

Beckett had laughed, delighted at the idea of them throwing a Halloween Bash on the Cerritos , but hadn’t taken it seriously until she walked into her favorite bar on the ship, which was now decked out in the most ridiculous decorations she’s ever seen.

“This is amazing,” Beckett says.

D’Vana grins. “Right? I think I’m going to marry Jen.”

“If I don’t get there first,” Sam retorts, darting off in Jen’s direction. D’Vana shouts after him, breaking out into a run. Beckett shakes her head and heads off to find a corner to enjoy her alcohol in peace.

She finds one, and gets through one red, plastic cup of cheap beer before Brad is at her shoulder.

“So, we’re done being weird, right?” Brad confirms. Surprised that he actually has the backbone to bring The Incident up, Beckett shrugs, eyes still on a dancing D’Vana. She’s somehow roped to humans into a weird-threeway dance that is honestly making Beckett wish she had a recorder device on her.

“Yeah, we’re good,” she says. “Sorry for. You know.”

“It’s cool,” Brad replies, giving her a thumbs up. “I mean, it was bound to happen eventually?”

This gives Beckett pause. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, someone in our friend group was eventually going to hook up and make everything awkward,” Brad rubs the back of his neck, laughing, well, awkwardly . “Sucks that it was us but,” he shrugs in a what can you do way.

Beckett nods back, almost absentmindedly. “Yeah. I mean. Yeah,” she finishes off, lamely and god this is awkward. “Could have been worse,” she finally settles on.

“Could’ve been me and D’Vana,” Brad agrees, nose wrinkling at the thought. She’s pretty sure he had a crush when they first met, but it mellowed out over the years. Especially after D’Vana made it clear to a handsy ensign that she was only interested in girls .

(And being in a co-dependent/queerplatonic relationship with one Samantha Rutherford, but that was beside the point.)

Still, something about the suggestion of the two hooking up leaves a sour pit in Beckett’s stomach.

“It’s too bad though,” she blurts out, “that it happened like the way it did.”

Brad pauses, brow furrowed.

“I mean,” she bulldozes on when he doesn’t say anything. “If I’d have had a choice on how it would have happened...I would have done things differently.”

“Oh?” Brad angles his body toward hers. She leans back against the wall, trying to calm her racing heart.

“Yeah.” Her voice sounds far away.

“How would you have done things?”

“I-” She fists her palms and then forces herself to relax them. “Well, for starters I wouldn’t have been drunk .”

“Ah.” Brad winces, probably remembering the terrible hangovers they had the next day. “Yeah that probably wasn’t the best -”

“And it would have meant something.”

There. She said it.

It’s what her mom’s been hinting at for years now, what D’Vana had been getting at and Jen and Sam and even Brad himself; the one truth that Beckett had been shoving to the back of her mind, since even before that shared night with Brad.

Brad Boimler is her best friend and she’s in love with him.

The pause goes on for too long. Beckett doesn’t dare look at him, doesn’t dare breathe. She keeps her eyes firmly on D’Vana, who’s been joined by a slightly tipsy Sam. They dance around each other, ridiculous and fond.

“It did mean something.”

Beckett whips her head around, meeting Brad’s gaze disbelievingly. He swallows, adam’s apple bobbing.

“Of course it meant something,” he says. “It was with you.”

Beckett likes to think that she’s smarter than the average person. And if not smarter, witty enough to pass as smarter. She has an automated response for every situation, a retort for every comment, a comeback for every line. There isn’t much that phases her-at least not until she woke up in a hotel room, naked, with her best friend at her side. And just like then, Beckett finds herself speechless.

“Oh,” she says, dumbly, as if she just hadn’t shown her own hand less than a minute ago.

“Mmm,” Brad agrees, looking stressed out. He doesn’t take it back though. He doesn’t do much of anything, actually, beyond staring at her intensely. Then, “Oh god, I made it weird again.”

“No, no,” Beckett holds her hands up placatingly as Brad begins to freak out. “ I made it weird first, you don’t have to-”

“Well I made it weirder!”

“No,” Beckett grabs his collar, shaking him slightly, “-no you didn’t -”

“ Then why are you freaking out? ” He throws his hands up in the air, almost dislodging her grip on his shirt. She tightens it, bringing him down to her eye level.

“I’m not freaking out you’re freaking out -”

“Then why are you the one all up in my personal spa-”

“I’m not-”

“ Jesus Christ , WILL YOU TWO JUST KISS!” D’Vana shouts over the booming bass of Spooky Scary Skeletons Communist Remix.

Beckett freezes , as does Boimler. She’s suddenly aware that the two of them are standing, nose to nose, practically shouting at each other--even though the loud music drowns out what they’re saying to the people around them (thank god).

Beckett slowly lets go of Boimler’s shirt.

“Uhm.” She blinks up at him, every part of her completely aware that she left the ball in his court last time they had an opportunity to do anything.

Brad looks like he’s wrestling with himself--not an uncommon emotion when it comes to the uptight little dude--eyes darting from both of her eyes to her lips, to over her shoulder where D’Vana is probably being a little creep. Then, all of the tension bleeds out of his body, all at once and a determined look lights up in his eyes.

“ Fuck it,” he says, cupping her face and kissing her.

_____

The walk from the bar to Beckett’s room has never seemed longer, but maybe it has something to do with the fact that they can’t keep their hands off each other.

Even with the buzz of alcohol in her system, Beckett feels entirely present for once in her life. She pushes Brad back against her door, pressing kisses into his lips and the length of his jawline. He gives a little huff when she nips at his skin, pushing her off enough to get a good look at her.

“Are you sure about this?”

“Never been surer,” she replies, already having a go at his buttons. She gets down to the final one, pleased to note that this time they aren’t interrupted. “Are you sure?” she blinks up at him. “You’re in the mood, right?”

“Yes, Beck, I’m in the mood.” Brad rolls her eyes. It looks fond. “Are you in the mood?”

“So so in the mood,” she agrees.

“Great, now that we’ve covered the consent end of this-”

Beckett interrupts, diving back in for more kisses, much to his bemusement.

A few minutes later finds the two of them on her bed, sans their clothes. Beckett wants to feel very very smug about the fact that it’s been a while since that first, mistaken one night stand and Brad still has bruises in places unmentionable, but she’s kind of in the same boat.

“Holy shit, watch it ,” she swats at his face as he kind of nips at a dark bruise on her thigh.

“Oh I am .”

“Stop, that’s not sexy,” she kicks his shoulder, scowling when he snorts.

“Uh-huh.”

“No, no it’s not .”

“Yeah, okay, I stopped doing it .” Brad stares up at her unblinkingly for a moment.

Beckett stares back, arms folded-which feels weird because she’s super naked right now, but she’s already started doing it and Beckett fucking commits to shit-scowl firmly in place. Their little stare off only lasts for a minute longer before Beckett groans, “ Ugh , do it again.”

Brad does not, in fact, do it again because he's laughing too hard at her.

Beckett raises an eyebrow, flipping them over. Brad does not look like he minds, though, blinking up at her with equal amounts bemusement and what Beckett is assuming is appreciation. Whatever, it’s not as if Beckett doesn’t know that she’s smoking hot. It’s nice to see that Brad can acknowledge it though.

“Sooo,” he says, hands on her hips, steadying her as she grabs a scrunchy off the nightstand to pull her wayward hair out of her eyes. “How do you want to do this?”

Beckett takes a moment to make herself comfortable in his lap. “How did we do this last time?”

Brad’s face turns red. “Uhm, I’m not sure if-”

Beckett grins, leaning in. “How’d we do it last time, Brad?”

“ Beckett ,” he whines. She flicks his nose, but then leans in to give him a quick peck. “That’s cheating,” he tells her.

She shrugs, unrepentant. “Well you have all the time in the world to make an honest woman out of m-”

“ Stoooop ,” Brad covers his eyes with his hands. “I hate you. Maybe we should ’ve been drunk for this.”

“I have tequila under the bed.”

“Why do you-nevermind.” Brad sits up, jostling her slightly. “I really shouldn’t be surprised anymore.”

“Too much talking, more kissing,” Beckett says, pressing a couple of featherlight kisses on his lips. She gets her way--as always--and there’s very little talking after that.

(That’s a lie, of course, because it’s BeckettandBrad, meaning that there’s a lot shit-talk and laughing and an embarrassing amount of awkward moments where Brad elbows her in the eye or Beckett makes a noise that’s distinctly not sexy, but honestly? Neither of them would have it any other way.)

_____

The next day goes like this:

Beckett shows up to her shift 40 minutes late, a string of freshly made hickeys on her neck and a shit-eating grin on her face. Freeman takes one look at her and reassigns her off the Bridge for the day, muttering something incomprehensible about grandbabies that Beckett’s forcibly not thinking too hard about.

She finds D’Vana just outside of medbay, who looks utterly delighted by Beckett’s disheveled appearance.

“So, everything’s fine between you two?” D’Vana is grinning a little evilly.

Beckett throws an arm over her shoulder, delighted as always over their height difference. “Oh so fine, mi amore.”

D’Vana shoves her off, but looks just as pleased as Beckett feels. “Thank god,” she says. “I couldn’t take much more of your sad, sad faces. It was embarrassing.”

This gives Beckett pause. “Hey, we weren’t that bad,” she protests.

“Oh, you definitely were,” D’Vana promises. “There’s only so many times Sam and I can lock you two in a storage closet before our quaple isn’t worth it anymore. We were like a minute away from throwing you out of the polycule.”

“I- polycule? Since when -”

“Oh Beckett,” D’Vana sighs. “I have some bad news for you.”

“Did you know that we were in a platonic quaple with Sam and D’Vana?” Beckett shrieks, practically flying out of the turbolift.

Brad stares at her. “...yes?”

No one tells Beckett anything.

#marinler #my fic #beckett mariner #brad boimler #d'vana tendi #sam rutherford #the warp core four #star trek lower decks #stld fanfic #star trek lower decks fanfic #star trek lower decks fanfiction

[antzonian]

Tendi’s first Christmas.

I tried my best at getting their personalities right, hope you enjoy, it’s my first Lower Decks fic!

Stardate... erm... well it’s December 24th on Earth. On board the USS Cerritos, Tendi, Boimler, Mariner and Rutherford get their assignments, Boimler looks at his PADD and sees that he has decorating duty in the Conference room. Boimler: Huh, I get to decorate the Conference room today. Mariner: And I get to store cargo... ugh so boring! Rutherford: I’m repairing stuff in the Repair-Bay. Tendi: And I’m going to help Dr. T’ana with cleaning the Medical Utensils! Good luck with your assignments! Tendi runs off to the Sick-Bay. Rutherford: Okie Dokie! Boimler: will do! Mariner: see ya lates!

Later on, When her assignment was done, Tendi notices colored Tinsel decorating the corridor, her eyes lit up at the sight. Tendi: Woah, what is this stuff!? I’ve got to ask my friends about this! Tendi runs into the Repair-Bay waving her arms excitedly.

Tendi: Guys Guys! I just saw the most amazing thing! It was all shiny and colorful and its the most wondrous thing I’ve ever saw! Rutherford slides out from under one of the machines he’s repairing with Boimler handing him the tools, Mariner, with her feet on the desk holding a Hyperspanner turns her head smiling.

Mariner: Was it hanging in the corridors? Tendi: YES! Mariner: That’s Tinsel, baby girl! Tendi: ooh, what’s it for? I like how it shines! Rutherford: It’s decoration for the Earth Holiday, Christmas. Tendi: And what’s Christmas about? Boimler: well originally it was about a demigod and still is to some people, but the main thing is that family and friends come together. Mariner: And we get to have huge parties with Presents and drinking and there’s games, it’s awesome! Tendi: wow! I’m liking this Holiday already! Its way better than the Holidays back on Orion. Mariner: Boring shit, right? Tendi: Yeah, The main one has us silently stand around a painted Rock for an hour. Boimler: That is pretty boring, I’ll admit. Mariner: says Mr. Boring himself. Boimler: I am not!

Tendi turns to Rutherford wondering why he hasn’t said anything as Mariner messes around with Boimler giving him a noogie. Tendi: Are you okay Rutherford? You’re quiet today. Rutherford: I’m fine Just a little focussed on repairing this Replicator. Mariner checks her PADD Mariner: Hey, the Conference room is empty, let’s sneak in and have a little fun! Rutherford: Oh Tendi, you haven’t seen the Tree yet. Tendi: There’s a Tree in the Conference Room? Rutherford: Yeah, we have it up every Christmas. Boimler: We aren’t sneaking into the Conference Room, we’ll get into trouble! Mariner: aww c’mon Boimler, Race ya! Mariner starts running, everyone chases after her except for Boimler who follows after them while grumbling to himself.

Mariner races her friends into the Conference Room, luckily no-one else were there, Boimler catches up to them. Boimler: We shouldn’t be here, we’re gonna get in trouble for this! Tendi gazes at the decorated Tree standing at the end of the room. Tendi: wow, it’s so pretty! Rutherford: I knew you’d like it. Boimler: you guys do know there’s one being put up in the Mess Hall right?

Mariner points at the Mistletoe hanging from the ceiling while looking at both Rutherford and Tendi who’re under it. Mariner: Hey guys look! Mistletoe! you two should kiss. Boimler: They don’t have to if they don’t want to, let’s leave now before we get... Mariner: Kiss, KISS!! Boimler: Don’t force them Mariner! Mariner: shut up Boimler. Tendi looks up at Rutherford nervously, he looks at her back blushing. Tendi: should we? I thought it was just for decoration. Rutherford: well.... it is Tradition to kiss under the Mistletoe so... Mariner: Do it! Boimler rolls his eyes at Mariner, Rutherford bends down to reach her lips and both of them kiss, they blush afterwards, then Mariner pushes Rutherford out the way. Mariner: okay, my turn! Mariner bends Tendi over, gives her a big kiss which almost made her lose balance, Marner finishes and Tendi starts giggling. Tendi: Oh Mariner! Boimler: Mariner, That was Rude! First you force them to kiss, then you push Rutherford out the way to snog Tendi! Mariner turns to Rutherford. Mariner: Yeah... sorry Bro. Rutherford: It’s fine.

Just then, Captain Freeman comes into the room. Cpt. Freeman: What are you four doing in here?! Why aren’t you at your posts? Boimler: AGH SORRY CAP’N! I’LL BE THERE RIGHT AWAY! Boimler runs to where he supposed to be in panic. Mariner: ah, typical Boimler.. Tendi and Rutherford follow him while apologizing too. Cpt. Freeman: Mariner? Mariner: what? I was just showing them the decorations, you don’t have to be a bossy jerk mom. Cpt. Freeman: If you don’t straighten up young lady, you won’t be joining in this year’s Christmas party! Now get back to your post Ensign! Mariner: alright, alright! seesh! Mariner walks out of the room sticking her togue out blowing a silent raspberry for her mother who only saw the back of her head.

The Day arrives and Tendi is the first one up, excited for her first Christmas on the Cerritos. Tendi: It’s Christmas! Happy Christmas Rutherford! Rutherford: Merry Christmas Tendi! Tendi: Merry Christmas Boimler and Mariner! Boimler: Seasons greetings Tendi. Mariner: aww yeah! We’re gonna have a great time! Tendi bounces up and down like a kid waiting to open presents. Tendi: what do we do first? aaah I can’t wait to spend my first Christmas with you guys!

Boimler looks out the window, outside the Cerritos is Docked at a Starbase. Boimler: Well first, we need to get dressed, don’t want to walk around in our Underwear, Then go have Breakfast, since it is the most important meal of the day. Mariner: And since we have no assignments, we’ll go have fun in the Holodeck! Rutherford: We could have a snowball fight in the Andoria Snowfield program. Tendi: Snowball fight? We fight on Christmas? Mariner: Don’t worry T. it’s harmless fun! You’ll enjoy it. Boimler: Well I’m out, maybe I’ll help the Commanders wrap gifts in the cargo bay while you’re in the Holodeck. Mariner talks under her breath. Mariner: What a Wuss. Boimler: I heard that.

After Breakfast, Rutherford, Tendi and Mariner, all dressed up in warm gear are ready to have fun enter the Holodeck, Rutherford starts the Program. Rutherford: Computer, Load Andoria Snowfield. Computer: Loading. A Snowfield on Andoria appears around the trio, complete with ringed gas-giant that it orbits. Mariner starts rolling up a Snowball in front of Tendi who watches. Mariner: This is how we Snowball fight Tendi, Hey Rutherford, THINK FAST! Mariner throws the Snowball at Rutherford who ducks out of the way. Rutherford: Ha ha! Tendi gets the idea of how a Snowball fight works. Tendi: ooh, I get it now, can I try? Mariner gestures to Tendi to build a Snowball, Rutherford Smiles, She picks up the Snowball and turns to Mariner. Tendi: Here Mariner, watch out! Mariner lets herself get hit, laughing as the snow hits her arm. Mariner: aaah shit, ya got me! hahaha! Tendi: Heheh, this is fun! The trio continue having their snowball fight until they’re all covered in snow. Mariner: ah that was great! C’mon, drinks are on me! Tendi giggles as they leave the Holodeck, the Snow disappears as they enter the corridor.

later at the Bar, Tendi, Mariner and Rutherford sit together drinking their festive themed Synthehol drinks, Boimler walks in. Mariner: oh hey Boims, how was your boring stint on the Bridge? Boimler: a disaster, While trying to wrap the gifts the Tape dispenser malfunctioned and the Tape got everywhere, Dr. T’ana wouldn’t stop swearing at us. Tendi: oh, is everyone alright? Boimler: Yeah, Shax got the Dispenser working after hitting it really hard. Rutherford: And what of the dispensed Tape? Boimler: I had to take it all to the recycler. Tendi sees a bit of tape stuck on Boimler’s back, she takes it off. Tendi: Sooo what’s next for today? Boimler: I think we watch some classic Christmas films from the 20th to early 21st century. Mariner: oh show her Home Alone! That one’s hilarious! Boimler: Naw, I think maybe one of the thousands of Christmas Carol adaptations. Both Mariner and Boimler argue over which movie Tendi should watch, Tendi looks at them in thought, Rutherford turns to ask her. Rutherford: Which one would you chose Tendi? Tendi: I think  I’ll go with the Christmas Carol one, it does have Christmas in the title. Both Boimler and Mariner stop arguing upon hearing Tendi’s decission. Boimler: Booyah! She chose my suggestion! in you’re face Mariner! Mariner frowns as Boimler points at her while doing a little dance. Mariner: Okay, You don’t have to rub it in...

a few hours later after watching an adaptation of A Christmas Carol, (you choose which) Tendi walks out of the Viewing room with a smile on her face. Rutherford: So Tendi, did you like it? Tendi: No I didn’t.... I LOVED IT! Tendi waves her arms above her head, telling Rutherford her favourite parts. Boimler: And you said that she wouldn’t like it, I guess you owe me a drink! Mariner grumbles to herself. Mariner: FINE. Tendi: I feel sorry for Tiny Tim and his family, I’m glad that Scrooge had a change of heart and gave them the best Christmas they can ask for! Rutherford: Okie Dokie! Glad you’ve enjoyed it!

Mariner: oh hey, who’s up for some Karaoke? Mariner gets onto the stage followed by the others, Jingle Bells appears on the screen, she starts singing but ignores the lyrics. Mariner: Jingle bells BOIMBLER SMELLS! Boimler: HEY! Mariner: The Tribbles had multiplied! Boimler: Sing it properly! Rutherford: I had fun in a Snowball fight! Boimler: you too Rutherford!? Tendi: In a one Hor-say open sle-ay! Boimler: come on! Tendi almost sang the right lyrics! Mariner: Oh lighten up Boims! it’s Christmas! Boimler: oh.... alright. Boimler gets on stage and joins in the Karaoke.

#star trek lower decks #lower decks #ensign tendi #ensign rutherford #ensign boimler #ensign mariner #Captain Carol Freeman #D'vana Tendi #samanthan rutherford #brad boimler #beckett mariner

[jonny-r217]

I’ve been listening to the scores for Star Trek Discovery s1-3 and Picard during my commutes the last couple days and it got me thinking about “modern” Star Trek.

Disclaimer- I’ve been watching Trek since before I could speak and will continue to watch ALL iterations until my dying day. While I generally enjoy Discovery, Picard, and Lower Decks, I don’t love them in their totality, which I think stems mostly from pacing. (Also I’ve done at least one complete viewing of each series, some rewatches, but going mostly from memory for my thoughts here.)

Three thoughts-

1- Lower Decks: I don’t actually like the show.

I love Mariner. Boimler, Tendi, & Rutherford are adorable, but I just don’t like the pacing. It’s hyperactive and over saturated with jokes and Easter eggs to the point where I can’t enjoy an episode without multiple pauses or rewinds - on the first viewing. It’s a little frustrating since the show is so obviously made with care and love for Trekkies by Trekkies. I just wish there was a breath or two more to really let us take it all in. Also who knew that high octane screwball comedy Star Trek would work so well?

2- Picard was a near masterpiece.

There are some places to trim the fat, namely with the Romulans/Zhat Vash, the admonition, and the AI Federation; but it is such a fantastic study in grief and letting go/moving on with the broken pieces we have. (See also the rest of the cast and their arcs.)

Personally I didn’t care for the Romulan infiltration of StarFleet. They could have left it simply as the Tal Shi’ar were responsible for the Mars attack as retribution for a failed Nova rescue, but it was the Federation alone that caused the synth ban. It adds gravitas to the dichotomy of being a good man with no light behind you that Picard faces, while also being a nice look at how the UFP isn’t always living up to the ideals it strives for. Commodore Oh and Narik and his sister could have been erased and the show would have been relatively unchanged and stronger for it. Leave the artifact as a section 31/federation black site, keep Laris & Jabahn, Elnor & the Qoat Mialt unchanged.

Also unless Discovery or Picard intent to revisit the cuter AI tentacle monster it’s best to just say “that was weird” and move on and ignore it.

Finally, Discovery. It too suffers pacing issues, but also some diversity as well.

Pacing, I know I know it’s supposed to be the action adventure, but give us a little time to see what happens when the dust settles each season. Let us sit with the crew. I know it’s Michael’s story, but it’s been three years and we barely know her crew mates/subordinates. If filler episodes are a thing of the past, give us a short trek or two.

Diversity, the crew is both the most diverse in history and simultaneously the least. Yes we started 10 years pre-TOS and there’s intentional parallels to TOS’ crew dynamics, but with Saru not really being around and Linus a glorified guest star, it’s a completely human crew in a galaxy where humans are not the only sentiments. Trek and it’s species are supposed to be mirrors. Without the aliens, it feels lacking. Particularly because of what I feel is a missed opportunity with Grey and Adira. Their story presently doesn’t connect to me, and I think it’s partly because it’s yet another human, even if a Trill & Symbiont are involved. How much richer would Adira’s story have been being a joined, yet blocked, Trill? What about how it plays into their place in Trill society which we know frowns on maintaining a relationship with the loves of previous hosts when in this case they are one and the same? Or what of Adira being a young alien trapped on a Post-Burn Earth? You could still have had all the trans education and working to have Grey be seen again and Hugh and Paul adopting them both, while making it a little bit more richer narratively. Maybe it was because of backstage ideas not wanting to hide trans/NB actors behind alien prosthetics and make up, but it feels a missed opportunity.

#personal #star trek #star trek picard #star trek discovery #star trek lower decks

[thespaceace124]

Tv shows I watched this year, my favorite character from each, and why I like each character.

Since my past few posts about Fandom/TV shows have been kinda negative/ criticism, to end off the year, I wanted to make a few posts about things that I like in media. So today we’ll be taking a look at all the shows I watched/finished this year and my favorite characters from each.

Space Force: Captain Angela Ali. Its been a hot minute since I watched Space force, but iirc she’s just… done like 99% of the time with all of her superiors, but in the ten episodes we get, we see some fun little character moments from her. Like in the war games episode where she has to grapple with being an amazing book student, but has a hard time applying some of the stuff she learned at the military academy in a “combat” situation and has to sort of learn and take the lead from one of her “underlings” who is better in that sort of situation. Also, the bonding moments she has with Chan, like when they’re on the road trip, and when she asks him for help learning some science stuff so she can be more useful on missions and stuff. (again, its been a while since I’ve watched this one so my memory of it is a little foggy)

Stargate SG-1: Colonel Jack O’Neill. I like the tope he falls into of the very surface level sort of gruff military man, doesn’t like talking about his feelings, makes smart ass remarks, asks people who talk to much to get to the point, he’s a very fun character, and adds a lot of fun lightheartedness to the show and is generally enjoyable to have on screen. Also tends to get the most character development, at least regarding his past and sort of why the way that he is. (I would say Teal’c gets the second most), also the reason I got into stargate, as my dad showed me a compilation of him being a smart ass and I was like “oh ho ho, I gotta see more of this guy”

Doctor Who (specifically seasons 11 and 12): The Doctor. I like this version of the Doctor, I like that she a little more lighthearted chaotic as opposed to the previous Doctor, who I would describe as dark chaotic, (at least in s11) and just very fun to be around and watch on screen. Also, I think that the rest of the fam is a little bit underdeveloped? Like, we got a lot of fun stuff for Ryan and Graham in the premier with them being a part of a family unit and then at the end of the season we got a nice little scene of them bonding and Ryan calling him grandad and then in s12 there’s like none of that??? And with Yaz we get that she’s kinda got the usual female companion backstory (not a big fan of her job, not happy living with her family, wants *More* out of life) and then we learn that she got bullied as a kid, and at one point she tried to run away, but a kindhearted cop and her sister??? Managed to keep her in Sheffield. So, I feel a little bit like the doctor is my favorite as a default just because we already know the doctors story, so we’ve just pasted a new personality onto a familiar character.

Deep Space Nine (started 2019): Major Kira Nerys. Straight up the reason this character is my favorite is because my dad said I remind him of her and that makes me feel nice. Also, Nana Visitor is very pretty. Also I like that she takes 0 shit from anyone, including Sisko, but we also get to see her learn and grow  from “I will always voice my disagreement no matter what” to “There is a time and a place to object” and also a little bit of learning that sometimes you have to work with people who’ve hurt you and sometimes that sucks. Anyway, she’s a grade A badass and I love her.

Voyager (started 2019): Captain Kathryn Janeway. Like my reasons for Kira, I think Janeway is a badass, and that Kate Mulgrew is very pretty. But also, I think Janeway is a badass in a different way than Kira is, simply because their characters are in very different situations. But I think Janeway is portrayed to be handling things extremely well, and doing what needs be done, obviously that wasn’t super looked at as they did want to keep the tone of voyager relatively light, but anyway, I like Janeway because she’s someone to look up to, to want to incorporate traits of into your own behavior.

Picard: Rafaella “Raffi” Musiker. I like Raffi because she is one of the most consistent characters in Picard. See imo Picard suffers from having too much on its plate, and also it drops/ abandons too many characters. With a show that has only 10 episodes, especially in a first season, you can’t do that. So, with Raffi being in the majority of the episodes, with consistent characterization that makes sense, and working as someone who can actually keep Picard in check? That’s the best character in the show. Also, I think of actors not seen in Star Trek before, she’s one of the better ones and that makes her better.

Lower Decks: Ensign Beckett Mariner. I love a chaotic smartass. Also, for as much as I love LD being a relatively slice of life comedy, I love that Mariner got a ton of characterization in the last few episodes, especially exploring her relationship with her mom, and people who knew her at the academy. She’s super fun, I love how she’s almost always dunking on Boimler, but also really cares for him and doesn’t want to see him hurt. Again, she’s just super fun to see on screen, I love that she doesn’t really like authority figures, and is content to figure herself out while being a relatively low-ranking officer. I like Mariner because she is both sure of herself, but not totally sure what she wants to do with her career, which is something that Star Trek has never explored before, and I think its super interesting.

Discovery: Commander Michael Burnham. I think a trend with a lot of the characters on this list is that I personally find them cool and/or pretty, and once again that also applies to Michael here, but also, I like her because Michael as a concept is fascinating. Like the idea of being a child who goes through a trauma and then is immediately whisked away to a place where she can’t actually process it? And then as a result grows up emotionally constipated and only in her 30s, is sort of finally able to shed that and actually learn how to be healthy with her emotions? Absolutely fascinating, I love that. I also love that we can kind of see that her upbringing and the suppression of emotions as a child still effects the choices that she’s made to this day. Its super cool, and I think one of the best parts of discovery.

Ratched: Nurse Mildred Ratched. I don’t have anything really important to say here, I just tend to like the main characters of tv shows because by default they get the most development/ back story or whatever, and honestly this is one of those shows that I enjoyed enough to watch all ten episodes, and then never picked it up again, so. Ehhh

Dexter: Dexter Morgan. I like Dexter Morgan because he’s a man who has always been told he doesn’t have emotions, but as the show goes on you can totally see that he does have emotions, he just doesn’t know how to handle them, and that they don’t present themselves in the same way that “normal” people’s do. Like, I fully believe that Dexter did actually love Rita, Harry jr., Deb, and Hannah. But I also believe he didn’t fully know how to cope with those emotions, because instead of getting his son help Harry Morgan decided to turn his son into a killing machine, which was a Choice.

Hannibal: Will Graham. I liked watching him kinda fall into Hannibal’s co-dependency trap. Character regression baybee. But like, that’s what happens, I’m pretty sure at one point they both admit that they aren’t healthy for each other, but they also cant live w/o each other. Which is not a dynamic I personally had seen delved into in media before I watched this show. I just think he’s neat.

ATLA: Toph Beifong. I like Toph because I think she provides a nice foil to Aang, whilst also not going too far into the opposite direction. She’s decisive, she knows for the most part what she wants from this adventure, and mostly how to go about getting it, while also discovering a new family along the way. I also just like the way that she can and will throw a boulder at you if she thinks you deserve it.

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina: Sabrina Spellman. Again, sort of falling into the “I tend to like the main character by default folder” It’s also been a hot minute since I watched this show, so I’m just gonna say that I like Sabrina because she is always the one getting her own self into trouble by being Different. And while I’m not saying that it is always good to conform and do what is expected of you, all of the issues in the show are caused by Sabrina (for the most part). Season one is all about shit falling apart if she doesn’t sign the book, season two is her shaking things up at the witch academy and also not wanting to be the princess of hell (understandable, but again, still her fault) and the whole plot of season 3 is the fallout of her imprisoning the devil and then also being too cocky with the guy made of clay. She’s far too cocky, and I think that’s super funny in regards to how it gets her into situations she’s not really prepared for.

The Coroner (BBC): Beth Kennedy. I watched this show with my stepmom, and in this show, Beth tends to be the one who lightens the mood a lot, so she’s my favorite character b/c of that.

#attention bajoran workers #space force #captain ali #stargate sg1 #stargate #colonel o'neill #doctor who #thirteenth doctor #star trek deep space nine #Deep Space 9 #st ds9 #Kira Nyres #major kira #star trek voyager #captain janeway #star trek picard #raffi #star trek lower decks #ensign mariner #beckett mariner #star trek discovery #michael burnham #ratched #nurse ratched #dexter #dexter morgan #hannibal #will graham #atla #avatar: tla

[fardell24b]

5th January 2024 Writings

5th

Excerpt from: The Enterprise Wasn’t There

“No one has seen anything unusual.”

Kirk could see that he was holding something back. “You have found something, just not unusual?”

“Yes, sir,” Sulu reported. “A visiting child is wandering the countryside, but we’re unsure whether that has anything to do with the energy reading.”

Words: 46

Excerpt from: On An Alien Beach

“Yes. Surfing came to Trill late last century,” Barnes answered. “Our oceans may be purple, but they work the same as Earth’s.”

“Sounds good,” Boimler said.

“So, surfing,” Mariner said as she came up to them.

Words: 36

Excerpt from: Spider Quinn

She swung down in front of one of them. “Hello!”

“SpiderGirl! I didn’t do anything!” a blonde girl said.

“Then why did you run?”

“There have been rumors going around school about you.”

“Really?” SpiderGirl asked. She could think of one source right off the bat.

“Yes,” the girl answered, looking away. “That you’re taking out your frustrations on the people of Lawndale.”

“Well. I’m not,” SpiderGirl retorted. “If I’m frustrated, it’s that people are getting murdered and the police are unable to do anything about it.”

“Oh. But I’m sure that they are doing something. Whether it’s enough is another thing.”

“I’m sure they aren’t.”

“I guess,” the girl said.

“Right. Be safe,” SpiderGirl said as she shot a webline.

“Wait!”

“What? I have to keep patrolling.”

“Could you take me somewhere?” the girl asked.

“Why?” SpiderGirl asked with curiosity.

“I’m running a little late,” the girl admitted.

“Sure. But where?”

“A friend’s place. It’s not far.”

“Hang on to me then,” SpiderGirl directed.

The girl nodded and threw her hands around the superhero.

SpiderGirl found it different than when she had done it with Brittany Taylor two weeks earlier and not not just because it was in the daytime. The girl was silent, whereas Brittany had chatted with her a little.

“Here we are,” SpiderGirl said, when they had reached their destination, a relatively small house in one of Lawndale’s older subdivisions four blocks away.

“Thanks,” the girl said,

“You’re welcome,” SpiderGirl said. “But what is your name?”

“I guess I know you’re SpiderGirl,” the girl murmered.

“Yes,” SpiderGirl said impatiently.

“You can call me Feli,” the girl said with a smile. “It’s short for Felicia.”

“Thanks,” SpiderGirl said in a cheerful tone, before swinging away.

‘Weird,’ SpiderGirl commented as she headed back towards the downtown, keeping an eye on the streets below on the way.

It was just after sunset when SpiderGirl arrived back at the red brick house in Glen Oaks Lane. She saw that her mother and sister were home. She still wasn’t sure what to make of that girl.

Lawndale Sun-Herald

Wednesday, December 16, 1999

Editorial

Is Lawndale High Performing Well?

Quinn arrived at school early. She wanted to be ready to help those three students. Even though she had not slept much and had spent most of the night patrolling and had rescued two women from muggers just after sunrise. That and the thought of that girl was still filling her mind at times.

Words: 411

Total: 493

#beckett mariner #bradward boimler #daria #fanfic #hikaru sulu #james t. kirk #january writings #lower decks #quinn morgendorffer #star trek #the original series

[wildishmazz]

Lower Decks, 1.04

Episode 4, Moist Vessel

Ew, moist.

00:00 SD 57538.9 00:24 Kinda looks like Starbug. 00:50 Durango! 01:10 Is he familiar? He kinda sounds familiar. They haven’t done a guest star title card yet, have they? Are they going to? 03:00 Oh, so this time the open wasn’t unrelated to the continuing action? 03:55 I got it… what if he was on OUR side? Nice that Ransom doesn’t roll his eyes or mutter “Uh, yeah, that’s exactly what I just said.” 04:40 Like a Q! Or the Traveller! Or Ian Andrew Troi! 05:00 Was that still scene an homage to TAS? 05:55 Oh, Tendi, I actually did not expect that from you… 07:00 Ooh, what species is she? 07:15 in your face, Ransom. And interestingly, none of these extras look familiar. They’ve got a whole different cast for this part of the ship! 07:25 it sounds so EPCOT. 08:11 “In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun. You find the fun, and snap - the job’s a game!” 08:20 “People really use it for that?” Oh, Captain, you’re so strangely innocent about multiple things… 09:15 okay, so the poker scene probably wasn’t a flashback? 10:55 Nope, it was not. She basically has ADHD, doesn’t she? Boredom is torture. 11:50 Was that “o’Connor” or “Okona”? I think there was a rhotic R there. 13:10 Ey, Moriarty. Who, in character, was actually Irene Adler. 13:52 She’s right, it is called being a dick. Buuuut calling the captain a dick enough times might get her demoted… 14:45 Ooh, I read something like this, only the goo was red. 16:15 Oooooh he’s going to ascend into a noncorporeal spiritual being and rescue them all, isn’t he? 18:55 Good thinking, Tendi. 19:20 “I did this for you.” you didn’t do anything. 19:50 You can’t have “Hit it!” that’s Pike’s. 20:15 oh, okay, so he is ascending but not in time to save the ship. 22:40 SensORs… who are they mocking with that, Tuvok? 24:00 Not. A. Bully.

24:33 Calling Lieutenant Barclay and Lt. Cmdr. Laforge, your holographic girlfriend burn has arrived. Interesting, Boimler’s girlfriend is one of the transporter twins from Mariner’s theory board - are we about to see that next week?

#August 27th 2020 #Star Trek: Lower Decks #Star Trek: Lower Decks spoilers #Star Trek spoilers #I wrote this #27th #August #2020

[fardell24b]

4th January 2024 Writings

4th

Excerpt from: On An Alien Beach

“Are you sure you haven’t done anything like this before?” she asked.

“No,” Tendi admitted. “Not even on a holodeck!”

As illogical as it seemed. Tendi had a point. Even with the dramatic improvements over the past two decades, Holodeck experiences were still a pale imitation of the real thing. “Of course.”

Mariner then came up to her. “Want to go for a swim?” she asked.

“That’s an illogical request,” T’Lyn responded.

“Why?” Mariner asked.

“You would recall that Vulcan is a desert world.”

“Oh.”

“The Vulcan fleet also doesn’t train its officers for aquatic duties,” T’Lyn added.

“Sorry, I didn’t know.”

“Apology accepted.”

“But maybe it’s not too late to learn?” Mariner asked.

“Maybe not, but socializing on the beach is what I came down to do.”

“Sure.”

Boimler had overhead T’Lyn and Mariner’s conversation. It was too bad. He wanted T’Lyn to join in, if only to help tone down Mariner’s competitiveness. ‘Oh boy!’

T’Lyn sat near where Tendi was building her sandcastle. It was already quite large.

A few more officers came along. “Barnes?” Boimler asked.

“Hi, Boimler,” Barnes said. “I thought I would join you lot.”

“Really?” Boimler asked with a smile.

Barnes nodded.

“Can you swim?” Boimler asked quietly, hoping that T’Lyn wouldn’t hear. (Though one always underestimated Vulcan hearing.)

“Of course,” Barnes answered at a similar volume. “Trill has similar coastal regions to Earth. I even brought my surfboard.”

“Surfboard?” Boimler asked.

“Yes. Surfing came to Trill late last century,” Barnes answered.

Words: 248

Excerpt from: Spider Quinn

“Such as?”

“Um…”

Quinn could tell Stacy wasn’t really sure, that she couldn’t put her finger on it, so she let it be. “Don’t worry. I’m sure I’ll find out quickly.”

Stacy relaxed.

It wasn’t long before they arrived at the Pizza place.

Tori greeted them as they entered as she had been busy through the school day. “What did Ms. Li want?” she asked.

Quinn filled her in on about the three misfits.

“Oh, Anna. I heard that she’s into New Age stuff,” Tori said.

“That could be weird, but that’s what my parents were into, when they were younger,” Quinn said, her voice trailing off.

“Really?” Tori asked.

“They were hippies in college,” Quinn answered quietly.

“Sorry for bringing that up,” Tori said, as they came up to the counter.

“You couldn’t have known,” Quinn said. “What about the other two?”

“Ben gets freaked out by anything, not just insects. Animals and birds, some plants too,” Tori said.

“I see,” Stacy said.

“But Gerald, I haven’t heard much about him,” Tori said.

“That’s fine,” Quinn said.

As they waited for their pies, Quinn noticed Daria sitting by herself at a nearby booth, reading a book. ‘Isn’t Jane usually here with her?’ she wondered. She went over. “Daria?”

“Quinn?” Daria asked, with slight concern on the face. “Did the Principal have bad news?”

“She didn’t,” Quinn answered.

“So, what did she call you in for?”

“Join us and I’ll tell you?”

“Quinn?”

“I know you’re lonely, and that Jane isn’t here.”

“Sure.”

Tori saw Daria sit across from her. “Hi, Daria.”

“Hi,” she said.

“Tori.”

“Right. So, Quinn?”

Quinn then filled in her sister about the Principal and the three misfits.

“I see. I have heard about Anna, but not the other two,” Daria said.

“Right,” Quinn said. “Why isn’t Jane here?”

“She’s working on some art with her mother. Something she rarely gets to do.”

“Mrs. Lane is rarely home,” Tori said.

“Oh.”

The quartet talk for a while as they eat their pizzas, although Daria is the quietest.

What they didn’t realise was that Sandi was also at the Pizza place. She was also wondering why the Principal had called her into her office. “What is going on?” she wondered to herself. She had also seen Daria sit with the other three. ‘Of course she acknowledges that weird girl is her sister,’ she thought. She ate her Pizza in silence before stalking out of the store.

Quinn left the Pizza place ahead of the other three and changed to SpiderGirl behind some bushes. She then swung away from the strip mall the Pizza place was towards Dega Street, where she was sure criminals were hanging out.

Stacy saw SpiderGirl swinging away as she left the Pizza place. “Oh!” she commented. “Where is she going?”

SpiderGirl saw some people scatter as she swung into Dega Street from Second Street.

Words: 481

Total: 729

#beckett mariner #bradward boimler #d’vana tendi #daria #daria morgendorffer #fanfic #january writings #lower decks #quinn morgendorffer #sandi griffin #stacy rowe #star trek #t’lyn

[discotreque]

LwD 2.1: Strange Energies

WE’RE BACK, BABEYYYYY

Are my thoughts organized? Nope! Are they articulate? Not even a little bit! Am I going to dump them on Tumblr anyway?

Spoilers below, obvs.

Ughhhh, this show is so pretty. I never hated the character designs, but I don't really love them, either—they're cute and expressive enough, they get the job done—they're fine. I'm neutral.

The backgrounds, though? The special effects? The colour palettes in general? Stunning. Exquisite. I want to lick them. (I was a little kid in the late 80’s, so I feel the same way about eye-searingly vivid neon colours as 70’s kids do about oranges and browns, and 90’s kids feel about colourful translucent plastic.)

Anyway, ummmm... Mariner sexy 😳

(And—just when I thought I'd reached Peak Lesbian watching Mariner grapple around with Cardassian interrogator Missi Pyle 🥵—my #1 background bae Jennifer the Andorian stopped by! Captain, I'm picking up an enemies-to-frenemies-to-lovers 'ship on long-range sensors...)

That whole cold open was genius, though. Our lead character fights her way through a Cardassian prison, steals a (Miranda-class 😍) starship, and blasts her way to freedom—primarily as a backdrop for the obligatory season-premiere exposition bringing the audience up to speed—while also making some excellent goofs about Star Trek tropes. (I got my first big belly laugh from poor holo-Boimler: "Oh my god, Mariner, you gotta get me out of here! They keep showing me lights!")

Not to be a huge screenwriting nerd, but it was just so efficient 😙👌

Second big belly laugh: "Look, I know we're not supposed to have interpersonal conflict..."

I ended up really empathizing with Monstrous Rainbow God Ransom towards the end of the episode: the teeth-grinding fake-niceness between Mariner and "cool mom" Captain Freeman was deeply uncomfortable for me right from the start.

We finally got the last name of the captain's husband/Mariner's dad... and it's "Freeman" too? Then where the hell did "Mariner" come from? Was her birth name "Beckett Mariner Freeman"? Anyway, he's voiced by the great Phil LaMarr, so I hope this storyline they seem to be kicking off about Captain Freeman's ambition means he's going to be around more.

Speaking of actors, I already miss Shaxs, but I'm thrilled they're keeping Fred Tatasciore around—he voiced the Cardassian guards in the opening sequence! And this was beyond a doubt Dawnn Lewis's best episode to date, what a legend.

Ransom turning Dr. T'Ana's hypospray into an ice cream cone, and her frustrated "dammit!" instantly followed by a lick of the ice cream—because why waste it?—was another perfectly understated moment of hilarity.

The best dialogue of the episode might have been "Tendi, please! I just want to go swimming with girls!" / "Then give me your brain!!!" (Tendi in full Chaotic Neutral mad-scientist mode is terrifying, btw—and does she have a crush on Rutherford or not? I'm genuinely invested.)

As soon as I saw Ransom's giant head float up into space, I started hoping he'd bite the ship's saucer section like a cookie—and he totally did. 🏆

I wouldn't say I need an uncensored version of this show, but boy would I ever love to hear Eugene Cardero's unbleeped delivery of "Fuck pears!"

And finally, I feel like Jonathan Frakes didn't have to do much acting for this line:

That was a VERY good premiere. I don’t know if we needed the immediate renegotiation of Freeman and Mariner's arrangement, but it seems like it's going to be a big part of the season story, so I don't blame them for wanting to get it firmly established—and most of their audience probably hasn't been joyfully re- and re-watching Season 1 over the hiatus like I have, either.

Look, I freely admit that my sense of humour hasn't evolved since I was 13, and I understand that slapstick comedy isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I also think "what if Gary Mitchell got kicked in the balls repeatedly and then got a boulder dropped on him?" is an objectively fucking hilarious premise for a joke, and you can't change my mind about that.

I love this show. I woke up in a pretty shitty mood this morning, but now I can't stop grinning. Let the Star Trek renaissance begin!

Next week: I've got no clue. Crave (the Canadian streaming service that owns the distribution rights to Star Trek here—which means that Paramount+ in Canada has no Star Trek TV content whatsoever, lmao) didn't have a preview for 2.02, and neither did the uhhhhh extremely legal copy I downloaded to make screenshots from—so I guess we'll find out!

#star trek #star trek lower decks #lower decks #lower decks spoilers #lwd spoilers #amy's episode notes