Date: 25 Jun 2012 01:58 Title: Aftermath
Nice detail with the chess game--always amusing to watch! One thing I love about all of these men is how quickly in the midst of their personal pain they turn their thoughts to "Am I fit for duty?" They always put others first, and in this case, that's where Bones finds his redemption. I also liked how Bones can both analyze and experience at the same time--almost Spocklike in his ability to know he's suffering from survivor's guilt, yet still to feel the pain of it. That speaks volumes about McCoy's wisdom--doctors tend to focus so much on others that they are oblivious to themselves. I enjoyed this time with the doctor!
Author's Response:
Thank you kindly! I've really been putting the poor man through his paces of late, but I wanted to find those things that made him the crabby yet compassionate man we've come to know and love. ;)
Date: 10 Dec 2011 06:21 Title: Aftermath
Wow, there were some chilling moments in this one. The descriptions of drowning and the little boy and his father were particularly frightening.
You've done a wonderful job of illustrating the relationships of the big three. The caring balanced by the professionalism. A lovely piece of writing.
Thanks for sharing. I'm looking forward to reading more of your work.
Nutty
(you are seriously drawing me back into ST fandom :) )
Author's Response:
Thanks, Nutty. Like I said, a bit darker than what I usually do, but I've always suspected there's more to McCoy's backstory than just his divorce that contributed to the gruff, curmudgeonly, sometimes cynical personality we have come to know and love.
And at this point in their lives, none of them can get by without a little help from their friends, so it only seemed fitting that Kirk and Spock, each in their own way, could help to pull McCoy through this trying time. ;-)
Date: 09 Dec 2011 17:11 Title: Aftermath
I think Survivors' Guilt is, all too often, dismissed or ignored or glossed over in Trek. I think the only time I've really seen a lot of it is Tripp Tucker talking about his sister.
But this is different, because it's not just that there were deaths - and Leonard was rather young to have to process all of that - but also that he almost had the exact same thing happen to him. I'm sure that, as a doctor, he had an abstract idea of what happens when a person drowns, He knew how the vital organs would shut down, etc. What he was unprepared for was the sheer terror of it all. No wonder drowning is such a common nightmare for people. It's very primal, that fear of being unable to breathe.
Ha, I'd love to introduce him to my survivor character (except their eras don't match) - both characters process their grief by facing a piece of the fear head-on, and doing something about it.
I think Leonard McCoy will be all right.
Author's Response:
I agree, jespah - there were so many instances in TOS alone where I'm sure folks were dealing with the emotional repercussions of 'why him/her and not me?' Granted, these things couldn't be explored in great detail in a one-hour TV episode. Thank goodness for fan fiction - we get to do all those things that weren't possible within the parameters of a serialized show.
As for Leonard's being all right, his friends will make sure that's the case - no matter what. ;-)
Your survivor sounds like an interesting character study as well - point me in the right direction and I'll be sure to check it out. :D
Date: 09 Dec 2011 16:16 Title: Aftermath
Ok, so I have of recent raved about your way of being able to write Spock and Kirk, their frustrating ability to deflect and to read one another. Here it seems, I have to now step up and again remind myself and yourself how great you are at not forgetting that when it comes to Kirk and Spock there's the third wheel that is McCoy.
Of course, they are something of a tricycle, working together, better and stronger and more able to understand the other party or come to understanding of the third party by way of the second party and in turn face up to something in themselves. It's the complexity of those undercurrents, the lines between duty, friendship, concern and the want to protect and help one another because they know one or the other helps the three of them in turn, even though they tend to think ... ugh ... not sure how to put it all in words ... but basically the whole three of them are something of a package.
Yes, they parcel up into pairs nicely. But, as a triad they enhance, help, support one another even more. It is McCoy who fixed Kirk and Spock up in Learning Curves. Here, even though it is Kirk who is acting to help McCoy, Spock can clearly read the need to excuse himself to give them privacy but of course manufactures a scene between him and McCoy to give even further cause to depart, an exchange of words to brighten McCoy's mood as well as (I wager, given his logical, scientific mind) to gauge McCoy's recovery from his poor spell, using their verbal gymnastics as a test to check whether McCoy is up for the argument. As for Spock's talk that he preferred or enjoyed the peace and quiet on the bridge without McCoy's interruptions - yeah right. I ain't buying it! LOL.
Then we have Kirk and McCoy, and I think it might actually be harder to write their friendship/relationship. There's no gimic to hide it behind - word sparring/green goblin diatribes - or human/Vulcan brother bond. I dunno, maybe you can better answer whether you find that to be the case. All I do know is that you write them very well and yet still it is all framed within the context of the three of them and indeed the larger crew but especially between the three of them.
Great stuff LBD. Interesting as well being fascinating for how you weave this into canon, with nods to certain things as well as into your evolving personal canon with these characters. Truly another rich piece to add to your wonderful tapestry.
Author's Response:
Speechless; completely and utterly speechless...
All I can manage is profound thanks for being able to readily grasp my perspective on their relationships exactly!! If I can make even one person see them as I do, then I've accomplished something indeed.
Date: 09 Dec 2011 08:07 Title: Aftermath
As I've said before your writing strikes me as reminiscent of Diane Carey and Vonda N. McIntyre and this story is no exception. It bears your individual style of course whilst bringing the characters to life. If only we saw this much of Bones in the series. I tend to focus on Kirk when I write and thus good to see someone opening a side of McCoy we rarely see. My thumbs up to you.
Author's Response:
*bows* Gosh, I'm floored by the compliment, although I don't see myself attaining anything near their success and/or skill.
We saw very little backstory to any of the characters on the small screen. I like to find these little 'incidents' that help us to better understand what makes the members of this crew tick. ;-)