sakura_no_miko | Archived fic rec - Mutual Profusion of Good Feeling

Rating: PG-13

Pairing: humorously attempted Pike/Kirk

Warnings: discussion of sex and coercion

Other notes: aliens (failed to) make them do it, alternate universe, kink meme fill, clever solutions to difficult problems, surprisingly cute,

Length: 6k

Summary: Jim is a brat, Pike is resigned yet wily, and the aliens have a flair for mood lighting.

Ah, I wish I’d thought of this for the “undermining the tropes of fanfic” segment. I came across it by accident. I was looking for some obscure Star Trek pairing, and my Kirk/Pike tag came up. I didn’t even remember having any Kirk/Pike fic. It’s not my pairing of choice, even though I adore both of them.

I should read more Pike fic. It’s amazing that he made such an impression on me in TOS simply from The Menagerie. Like, I am glad we got Kirk, but I love AUs dealing with TOS Pike (and the incredibly lovely Number One), as well as AUs where Pike is somehow involved with the XI crew. This author posits a universe where Pike remains captain, with Spock and Jim as his second and third-in-commands, and I could definitely stand for more of that.

Anyway, this is a clever little take on the “aliens make them do it.” First, it’s undermined because, really, Jim is totally down with doing it, and Pike hints that he might be as well. And yet, Pike finds a way out that makes complete sense and manages to be more emotionally fulfilling than even alien-induced sex. This is just a really sweet pick-me-up fic.

Also, can I admit how much I adore it when an author describes something totally mundane, but twists the words up just enough that you don’t get what you’re reading for a moment, and then suddenly you do, and it’s so stupid and clever you can’t help but laugh?

“It’s not much more sophisticated than thermotropic novelty jewelry from the 20th century.”

They’re basically in a giant mood ring(/jewelry). I don’t know why that made me laugh, but it did.

(Looking for more fic recs?)
Originally posted to tumblr on 11/27/12