#Fal-Tor-Pan

[trek-tracks]

You participate in one Fal-tor-pan and suddenly you get the "best son-in-law" mug at breakfast

[schn-tgai-saavik]

Spock remembers McCoy, Saavik and Jim after the Fal-Tor-Pan

When you first think of the man you shared a soul and body with, followed by your daughter, and then your t'hy'la-

Originally posted by star_trek_comics on Instagram link here

From Star Trek: The Mirror Universe Saga-originally published by DC Comics in Star Trek issues #9-15 (Dec 1984- June 1985)

[bravery-test]

"Fal-Tor-Pan, the Refusion"

20"x16", oil on canvas. Painted using the techniques of Bob Ross.

"Climb the steps of Mount Seleya... Take me home."

[celestialvoyeur]

💛💙SPIRK FIC REC💙💛

This TOS fic takes place after a The Search for Spock.

Following the fal-tor-pan, Spock is still struggling to recover his memories. The disastrous maiden voyage of the USS Enterprise-A causes him to realize that he’s forgotten something important about his place in Kirk’s life.

This is quite a gentle one, with deep love and tenderness. A lovely story with which to close out the year 🥰🖖

[uncheckedaggression]

Please don't break my heart like this - I'm fragile 😭

Has anybody ever thought about the absolute heartache associated with Spock canonically not remembering a lot of his life prior to his death as per the conversation in The Voyage Home "Not lie, just... exaggerate. You've done it before, can't you remember?" "The hell I can't".

The moment is played for laughs, but Spock genuinely cannot remember. He can sense a familiarity with his crew - Kirk and McCoy in particular - and by the end of The Voyage Home has rediscovered a new friendship and familiarity with them.

But all the memories they made beforehand? They're just not there.

How many times did Kirk or McCoy start reminiscing about something that happened during their five year mission, only to be met with a blank, but polite, stare from Spock. When McCoy almost dies of cold on Rura Penthe, does he recall Sarpeidon (All Our Yesterdays), and how gently Spock cared for him then. Even in the midst of everything he was going through, did he wonder if Spock even remembered that shared experience? When Kirk finally tells Spock that he had to sacrifice his own son to get him back, does he think back at how Spock had tried to comfort him when he lost his brother and sister-in-law. Did he realize that every time he's suffered a loss (with the exception of the loss of Spock himself), Spock has been at his side to provide comfort. Did he wonder if Spock even remembers that, or if he even realizes that to Kirk recovery from grief requires his calming presence?

How many times over the rest of the years spent together did they still feel a sense of grief over what they lost, made all the more potent by the ever-present bittersweet reminder in their lives in the form of the newborn Spock. The same comforting, logical, frustrating, loyal, impossible, dependable presence... just with fifteen years of camaraderie lost.

Yes, they have Spock back. And they will take whatever version of Spock the universe has blessed them with without complaint. Even if Spock had walked away after the Fal-tor-pan and never remembered them they would have counted themselves blessed by the knowledge that even if he doesn't know them... at least he's alive. And they got so much more than that. But for the rest of their lives, they are fighting a deep sense of grief at the time that was lost, the memories that were lost, the shared experiences that are now only shared between two... not three.

[thegroundhogdidit]

bones is the only person who's able to make spock laugh (with his completely deadpan southern twang) and jim is insanely jealous of him for it

[a-most-beloved-fool]

WIP Title Game

rules: make a new post with the names of all the files in your WIP folder, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous. let people send you an ask with the title that most intrigues them, and then post a little snippet or tell them something about it! and then tag as many people as you have WIPs

thanks for the tag @illegalpaladin! <3

(this is where we learn that fool is SHIT at a) naming things and also b) having a reasonable number of wips. in my defense! the adhd does not let me focus and i can only actually progress on things if i constantly switch between them. it's um. a bad system.)

No one can read Spock (except Kirk)

Everyone can read Spock (except Kirk) (and no one can read Kirk)

Odo hates mirrors

dogs in unlikely places

trans Bashir longwip

sanctuary (<- oh look a real name! for once!)

dragon garak

kolinahrus-interruptus

wherein they're both smitten

Garak has a terrible time

it takes two three

the obligatory amok-time-remix fic

post-canon pseudo-fake-relationship

another one.

and tbh i'm leaving out some that have less than 500 words or so in them so far, but there are others floating around, too. the situation is dire. oops. these are the ones that i can convievably give excerpts from.

tagging @maeselc @walkingstackofbooks @mazarinememories and anyone else because i like being nosy but feel guilty about tagging people <3 if you have fics you want to talk about PLEASE just pretend i tagged you because i promise i want to listen

[doctornota]

what form of love do you embody?

LOVE AS DEVOTION.

[ devotion: love, loyalty, or enthusiasm for a person, activity, or cause ] when ruth said to naomi "where you go, i will go, and where you stay, i will stay. your people will be my people, and your God my God" and when hozier sang "i'll be the dreadful need from the devotee that drove [orpheus] underground" and when deathcab for cutie sang "if there's no one beside you when your soul embarks, i will follow you into the dark"

[flibbertygigget]

McCoy-Centric Fic Rec List

Long as hell and split into slightly nonsensical sections because I have too many bookmarks :/

Episode/Movie-Centric Codas/AUs

Lots of "Mirror, Mirror"/"The Empath"/Post-TSFS stuff in here for Obvious Reasons.

Fal-Tor-Pan or: How to Accidentally Get Married on Vulcan by mymetalphantom - 5.7k, Spones. Lighter than the usual Post-Fal-tor-pan fic, very silly premise and excellent execution.

Oh, sinners, let's go down by raven (singlecrow) - 4.7k, Gen. The best Post-Fal-tor-pan angst I've ever read, bar none. Angst with a bittersweet, ambiguously hopeful ending.

Seven Times by SwissArmyKnife - 2k, Gen. Seven times McCoy got telepathically violated and it's all canon 😭

For This Space Would Be Hollow If You Were Gone by releni - 4k, Pre-Slash Spones. FTWIH has SUCH great angst potential, and this fic takes full advantage of that.

The Cause is Sufficient by Cirth - 2.5k, Spones. They're talking about the whole katra deal! They're talking about the whole martyr complex! They're kissing!

bad luck and broken soul by Rev (apathetic_revenant) - 12k, Gen. There are SO MANY Post-"Mirror, Mirror" fics, but this one is hands down one of my favorites.

Memories Are Made of This by GenuineSnoof - 6.5k, Gen. Another post-"Mirror, Mirror" fic, I really like how creative the reveal part is in this one.

Evasive Action by kcscribbler - 2k, Gen. "Space Seed" episode coda with some wonderful hurt-and-kinda-grumpy-about-it McCoy.

Incubation by SwissArmyKnife - 9k, Gen. Post-"The City on the Edge of Forever", featuring McCoy working through illness and really going through it and Spock being worried and protective.

something bright, traveling fast by inkatesbush - 7.5k, Spones. Mostly a Spock character study post-Fal-tor-pan, but when McCoy gets there his parts are really, really good.

Plotty/Case Fic (mostly McCoy Getting Hurt And Being Awesome)

I won't say these genuinely resemble actual ST episode plots but they're plot-centric ig.

40 Miles From The Sun by slash4femme - 10k, Spones. Didn't know whether to put this here or in the shipfic section, but it's mostly the BEST rape recovery fic in the fandom and only very slowly Spones. Excellent fic.

The Dogs Days Are Most Certainly NOT Over by ThatSassyCaptain - 35k, Gen. Pure episode-style casefic and a great one. Get adopted, idiot 😆

Rate of Exchange by scioscribe - 9k, Gen. Bulletproof premise of "get captured by Mysterious Bad Guys, get forced to hurt each other, get out and have Feelings about it". Perfect.

all in by milostollbooth - 13.5k, Spones. Spock gets to be in charge of the Enterprise and things Get Complicated. Like 50% casefic and 50% developing Spones.

A Hippocratic Proof by stillwaters01 - 5k, Gen. Less plotty, more of a friendship fic. McCoy doubts his abilities and Spock goes about reassuring him in the most logical way possible 🥰

it ends or it doesn't by Muir_Wolf - 28.5k, McSpirk. Bones being a martyr! Time loop shenanigans! The complicated process of getting together when you're also under an insane amount of pressure! I love them your honor.

Mudd in Your Eye by Avirra - 61k, Gen. Ok, it's an alternate take on "Space Seed", but it does its own thing so effectively that i'm putting it under plotty fic. Really big fan of how competent Bones is and his relationships with the various OCs in this one.

Shipping-Centric (mostly Spones)

Some McSpirk as well ig. There's some overlap with the previous two categories, but these are more shipping than plot.

Surgeon's Mate by belmanoir - 4.5k, Spones. It's the most-kudos'd Spones fic for a reason, and that reason is an EXCELLENT Spock POV with impeccable characterization.

Holocene by greenbloodedcomputer - 4.5k, Spones. Old Married Spones on Vulcan dealing with the in-laws :)

Traditions of Intimacy by swimmingwolf59 - 8.5k, Spones. Spock and McCoy sharing meals and slowly getting closer to each other. Just fantastic.

First Impressions by swimmingwolf59 - 16.5k, Spones. Y'all KNOW I love Sarek and McCoy being awkward buddies, and this fic has an emphasis on the AWKWARD. Love it!

Two Thirds of a Whole by sleepymccoy - 18.5k, Spones. Alternate universe Spock is such a sweetie and Prime Universe Spock is UNHINGED near the end, this whole premise is excellent and the Spones is immaculate.

Courtship Rituals by fangirlandiknowit - 30k, McSpirk. I love love love fake relationship shenanigans that become way too real partway through.

wish i was a better liar by Muir_Wolf - 17.5k, McSpirk with an emphasis on the McKirk. Uhhh, "The Enemy Within" dubcon threesome. Also Spock's there and being protective. Also it's HOT.

Symbiosis by weekend_conspiracy_theorist - 6.5k, Spones. Diplomatic function fake relationship! That very, very quickly becomes less fake lol, Spock's kind of a mess emotionally in this one.

i've seen time tell tales by Rusoe - 1.5k, Spones. Old Married Spones my beloved. Domestic fluff with a hint of angst.

Off-Beat/Stuff I Can't Fit Anywhere Else

For all your confused-by-how-the-author-got-there fanfic needs.

Bones - A Biography by Spock Grayson by AlyssiaInWonderland - 4k, McKirk and Spones. Early First Contact AU where Vulcan first interacts with Earth during WWI. The premise is excellent and the whole vibe of it is heartbreaking, I honestly wish this were longer because I want to live in this universe for like 100k words.

Nothing Unreal Exists by eigenvectrix - 16k, Gen. EXCELLENT fic. Transfem Spock, lots of examination of Vulcan culture, McCoy being both competent as a doctor and generally trying his best during difficult conversations as a friend. 10/10, it made me give up on the trans Spock fic I was kicking around in my head because tbh I could never live up to this.

AOS

I don't even like the characterization in the AOS movies, but these fics are great :)

Lessons by madwriter223 - 1.5k, Spones. Honestly, I always forget this is an AOS fic. Love Spock being so methodical in his romantic intentions/techniques.

Honorable Enemies by Zauzat - 24k, Spones. McCoy being sad, war being hell, Spock being surprisingly emotionally astute in his own way. Gets plotty in the last third. What more do you need from a fic?

Now the Sons Look For Their Fathers/ But Their Fathers Are All Gone by Straight_Outta_Hobbiton - 30.5k, Gen. McCoy taking care of Vulcan kids post-Star Trek (2009). Has great versions of Sybok and T'Pring for the Kelvinverse.

Fortunate Son by mardia - 50.7k, McKirk. I'm usually not a fan of putting anyone except Kirk on Tarsus, but it sometimes works with AOS since we don't get anything on that whatsoever. This is easily the best "McCoy on Tarsus" fic out there!

The Tribunal of Lieutenant Commander Leonard H. McCoy, MD PhD by stealthestars - 3.5k, slight McSpirk. I love fics where everyone's being all official while internally freaking out ♥️

This Must Be The Place by therev - 38k, Spones. A really sweet, existential look at the absolute mindfuck of finding out just what alternate universe you was getting up to and slowly realizing you want something somewhat like that as well.

Shameless Self-Recs

Just a couple of my fics that I'm personally very fond of. Because I'm shameless lmao.

some people crash to earth three times (and then learn from their mistakes) - 8k, Gen. Dropping TOS characters into a shortly post-First Contact scenario for shits and giggles. I loved writing street medic McCoy and his teenage bullshit.

the wind counts lost goodbyes - 2.8k, Gen. Look, give me an opportunity to write some Vulcan culture and angst and I'm bound to go all in. MCD warning.

sing for the damage we've done (and the worse things that we'll do) (2k, Gen) and i speak in smoke signals (and you answer in code) (6k, Gen) - Uhhh, the inherent limitations of the Prime Directive, Federation politics, McCoy being ride or die for his patients, Spock being ride or die for his friends.

strike another match (let's start anew) (3k, Spones) and hearing a voice i'd known (a couple of lightyears ago) (4.7k, Gen) - These are both post-Fal-tor-pan AUs where it, like, Goes Wrong in different ways. I love doing a little fal-tor-pan AU, mostly because I don't think it was given nearly enough focus in canon.

[discoonthegrass]

Watched The Search for Spock for the first time the other day, and wow this movie is such a tragic love story I’m in awe:

Kirk reflects in his personal log that he feels very uneasy, like a home without the children except even more empty (basically implying that even his “spouse” is gone)

Jim feels that he’s left the noblest part of himself (Spock is a part of him apparently) on the new planet

Sarek automatically assuming that Kirk holds Spock’s katra (why would he assume that if they were just friends)

“Your son meant more to me than you could know. I would’ve given my life if it could’ve saved his.”

Sarek essentially forcing Kirk to relive the worst possible moment of his life, and Kirk tearing up all over again

Jim saying he has a responsibility to Spock’s eternal soul “as surely as if it was his own” (if this isn’t admitting they’re soulmates idk what is)

Jim directly being told that if he goes through with this, he will never sit in the captain’s chair again which has always been shown as the most important thing to him, yet he completely ignores that and goes to warp speed because now nothing matters more than getting Spock’s soul to its resting place

Even in the middle of an intense confrontation with the Klingons, Jim’s face still betrays his hope and joy after he hears about the “Vulcan scientist [he’s] acquainted with”

Jim BLOWS UP the Enterprise instead of surrendering to the Klingons because he can’t give up on saving Spock now, and barely even mourns since he’s already lost someone more important

Jim demanding that Spock get beamed up and the Klingon captain refusing because he can tell how much Jim wants it/cares for Spock

Jim immediately rushing to Spock’s unconscious body and shielding it with his own, draping Spock’s body over himself in a protective “white knight” stance

Unlike everyone else, Jim is restless during the fal-tor-pan, wanting to be with Spock but being prevented from doing so and resorting to pacing instead

Jim not even asking about how Bones is faring but immediately wondering about Spock

“I had to do [it]. If I hadn’t tried, the cost would’ve been my soul.”

Sarek even points out that Jim paid with his ship and his son, but Jim genuinely feels it was worth it

Spock, having just been revived, is supposed to leave to get healed but is compelled to turn back — he cannot recognize any of them (not even McCoy who he literally cohabitated in the same body with) except Jim

Spock asking why Jim came back for him, and Jim responding “because the needs of the one outweigh the needs of the many” (the reverse of the Vulcan philosophy—he’s saying it was illogical but he needed Spock back and Spock too needed him)

Spock parroting the “I have been and always shall be your friend” line, then finally identifying him as “Jim”

Jim’s face melts into the biggest smile ever seen on his face, even as he’s tearing up from joy

Suffice to say, I love this movie and will be considering it a romance with a side of action from now on.

[voidederred]

thinking about the outward affection and fondness that bones shows for spock post fal-tor-pan……….

[electronickingdomfox]

This is crazy. Does it mean that after the katra ceremony, Spock (and perhaps McCoy too) were regarded as semi-mythical figures in Vulcan?? Like some sort of Surak reincarnation?? Crazy.

But this makes Sarek's insistence that Spock must have stored his katra somewhere, and the trip to Genesis afterwards, even more difficult to understand. Everything points out to to the fal-tor-pan being an extremely rare ceremony (in fact, the film says so clearly). So why were they so certain of what they had to do? It's like hoping for someone to resurrect at the third day like Jesus, just because. ����

I guess the film's inconsistencies are due to the katra transfer being just included at late stages of the script, but still...

Source: Memory Alpha. Article on "Surak".

[nature-girly]

Bone experienced far too much mental/psychological trauma.

He got brainwashed three times.

The Return of the Archons

Catspaw

The Final Frontier. 

He also experienced a lot of non-consensual mind melds. 

Mirror, Mirror: You know the scene. No explanation is necessary. 

The Return of the Archons: Bones was brainwashed and more or less unconscious and Spock did a meld to determine what had happened.

Spectre of the Gun: This meld wasn't forced but he didn't exactly have a choice. He looks really uncomfortable in that scene. 

The Wrath of Khan/The Search For Spock: Spock did a nerve pinch and then did a meld to put his Katra in Bones without his consent. He experienced a lot of negative side effects (that's an understatement) and it was highly likely that he wouldn't survive the fal-tor-pan. 

The Final Frontier: Sybok forces Bones to relive his father's death and confront his guilt over killing him. This happens in front of Kirk and Spock who didn't know this which adds to the violation. It's a horrific scene. 

The Undiscovered Country: While it didn't directly happen to him, he has to watch Spock do a non-consensual mind meld on Valeris. This probably reminded him of what Mirror Universe Spock did to him.

I hope that Bones got some therapy while they were staying on Vulcan after The Search for Spock because he really needed it. 

[computed-dear]

When Kirk says „Gender is a universal constant“ I just want time travelling post fal-tor-pan Spock to appear and yell „The hell it isn't!“

They really flew thousands of lightyears to gender that cloud

[purple-iris]

Do you guys think that after his call with young Spock about Khan during Into Darkness Spock Prime began frantically organizing a fal-tor-pan ritual, contacting McCoy to ask them both to come to New Vulcan and that they can reunite Spock's katra with his body, only for Bones to frown and say that Spock is fine, because it's not Spock who went into the warp core but Jim?

Do you think his heart sunk in his chest, terror flooding his mind at the idea of Jim, even the younger version that wasn't truly his, taking his place in the warp core, even as McCoy told him he was taking care of Kirk, and that hopefully he would be fine and wake from his coma?

[lenievi]

My fave spones fics

It's spones day!, so I decided to finally publish this extremely subjective short list I wrote years ago (hence no new fics). If a link doesn't work, put it through a wayback machine.

---

TOS McCoy/Spock romance, friendship, anything in between

A Man of Integrity by Jane Carnall. M. 18k. A mirror ‘verse story. Spock didn’t mind meld with McCoy, but kept him for long enough that the rest left without him. Will McCoy get back home? Written in 1989. (ao3)

Blue Under the Colourless Sky by vail-kagami (LJ). T. 4k. This. was. so. good. And melancholic. And bittersweet. And saying more would spoil it. (death is discussed)

Catharsis by babel. E. 40k+ still WIP. This is all I ever wanted from a McCoy/Spock fic. Follows season 1 of TOS. What if Spock and McCoy had an arrangement.

Coming Through in Waves by Cirth. T. 6k. “Spock dislikes doctors.” This was just lovely. A great character study from Spock’s POV. Includes room sharing and bathroom sharing. 

Deepening of the Spirit by lynndyre. G. 1k. A short fic set after the last film. Sweet and warm, finally getting together after all those years.

Distances series by berlynn_wohl. G-E. 54k. The first story is pre-slash and can be read as a standalone mission fic. A nice series spanning years. Written in 2007.

Down The Long Corridors Of Air by Thistlerose. T. 7k. This is another fic that demonstrates quite well what I like in the pairing. “A circle has no end. Spock and McCoy over the years.” Spoilers up to ST VII. Written in 2009.

Further Study Needed by J. Rosemary Moss. G. 2k. Cute pre-canon fic. McCoy tries to teach Spock how to flirt. Pre-slash. Written in 2008.

My Little Town by Phoenix. M. 8k. Post-movies. McCoy’s mother dies, and McCoy goes back to Earth to sell the old house. Spock accompanies him. A bit sad, melancholic story where the two of them finally stop avoiding what’s between them.

something bright, traveling fast by lupinely. G. 7k. “After fal-tor-pan, Spock considers existence.“ Movie-era, really lovely.

Spock of Baker Street by K. V. Wylie. M. 18k. Crossover with Doctor Who. The Guardian of Forever “kidnaps” Spock and McCoy, and throws them into late 19th century Britain. They meet a guy named Arthur, and live at Baker Street. And investigate a murder. Established relationship.

Teshuvah by K. V. Wylie. PG. 20k. A reincarnation AU - i.e. McCoy gets to relive his life again.

The Secrets of Pine Cones by K. V. Wylie. PG. 9k. Movie-era. Married Mc/S. McCoy is observing Ramadan, and this year, after many years spend together, Spock stays at home and keeps him company for the first time. A very lovely fic, written from Spock’s POV.

Through A Glass, Darkly by Jane Carnall. M. 67k. mirror ‘verse. pon farr. mind bond. Written in 1988. (on ao3: prime spones part and the mirror spones 3-parter)

AOS McCoy/Spock

This Must Be The Place by therev. M. 38k. Spock learns that Spock Prime and his Leonard McCoy were in a relationship, and... This was one of the first mc/s fics I read, and it’s still among my favourites. It also showed me that aos!mccoy/spock could work. The mood is a bit melancholic (and perhaps a bit slice-of-life-ish), it’s set post-Beyond, and it has Joanna.

---

also older spones fics recs (i.e. written before the reboot)