Soft boi. The purest. But he's also wonderfully protective and overall a great example of non-toxic masculinity. I really, really wish we had gotten more character development, and I especially wish that the little character development he did have wasn't so poorly researched and at times disrespectful.
Loads of potential, and I love him dearly anyway.
All the people I ship romantically with this character
Is it cheating if I only say Janeway? I'm not doing it on purpose, I swear! It's just that we only truly meet him when he meets her, pretty much, and they make a pretty wonderful team from the start (not to mention, I'm pretty sure he falls for her immediately, right?)
My non-romantic OTP for this character
So. Many!
B'elanna, duh, very much canon and they were Maquis together before being on Voyager, I absolutely adore their dynamic and how they pretty much evolve to a sibling-like relationship.
On that note, I love how he and Tom make up and actually develop mutual respect, same with Tuvok .
Harry? Chakotay's pretty much his Voyager dad and I love that (let's be real, he's just everybody's Voyager dad).
I even think he makes a pretty good team with Seven although I do not ship them romantically and I still have lots of feelings about that. But i feel like they challenged each other's view of the world, and it could have been an interesting dynamic had they truly interacted for longer than two episodes and without the couple end goal.
My unpopular opinion about this character
Probably the aforementioned possible friendship with Seven? Or even the fact that I do indeed find him very interesting and he's actually my favourite First Officer?
I'm not sure what Chakotay opinions are popular, I just saw a few people outside the J/C fandom don't rank him very high among the favourites, but I think he's a pretty refreshing character!
One thing I wish had happened with this character in canon
Besides Janeway x Chakotay?
I honestly, honestly wish the writers had done better research into his culture, and given him well thought-out storylines. He had so, so much potential, and a wonderful personality, and I feel like he was left in the background a lot.
When @mia-cooper posted her fic questions, I read them over a few times and thought, “Yikes. That’s a lot to think through.”
But, I did.
1. Best fic(s) you read all year, and why?
The runawaymetaphor oeuvre is sharp-edged satin. I’ve also read most of missparker’s works multiple times (start from the early stuff and work your way forward). And, of course, MiaCooper, the one who is asking the questions though she has so many answers.
Oh, and I didn’t want to mention individual stories for fear of missing an important one, but old fics deserve love and Deeds Done in Darkness is probably old enough to get drunk off its own excellence.
2. Best fic(s) you published all year, and why?
I don’t know. I love them in different ways. I’ve deleted a few I decided I didn’t like and am tempted to delete others, but I haven’t yet.
3. Favourite opening line(s) in a fic you published in 2019:
(Gah. Next question.)
4. Favourite closing line(s):
Telling them would ruin both stories, but my favorites are from The Halo Effect and Feels like Flying: A Modern AU of Threshold.
5. The fic that was best received, and your favourite comment(s) on it:
By hits and kudos, my top fic was Bad Ensign, a credit to the wonderful writers who expanded the Bad Ensign universe. So, my favorite comment includes the fics that made the original better, and begins, “OMG! I am studying for a huge certification exam next week and this fic (the whole series really) made my week and really gave me the motivation to study so I could reward myself with reading the fics.”
By bookmarks, my top fics were a tie between The Halo Effect and The Dismissed Protocol.
I can’t choose a favorite comment on The Halo Effect. The story was so unexpectedly well-received that I wept numerous times reading the kind things people said (though much love to PoorQueequeg, who writes beautifully raw comments that I devour, and to @arcadia1995, who will try new things and tell me what she thinks).
My favorite comment on The Dismissed Protocol was: “I really enjoyed this story. It’s very intelligently written and well characterized. Crusher and Janeway together are a fabulous pair and you framed the ethical issues very well. I am still torn as to how I feel about the protocol but that’s because you framed the Dismissed Protocol in a very evenhanded way and that’s hard to do with such an emotional and private issue. Well done.”
Also, when @caladeniablue started her comment on Shepherded Through the Looking Glass with, “This is a Tom-worthy ride of a story,” I nearly cried.
6. The fic you wish had gotten more love:
I knew when I wrote War Torn that it wouldn’t be incredibly popular. A Kathryn Janeway and Miles O’Brien buddy story during the Cardassian War? But, such is life and tying together a lot of loose canon (get it?) was rewarding, as was bringing to life the man I believe Captain Benjamin Maxwell to be.
7. How many fandoms you wrote for in 2019, and which inspired you most:
I really only wrote for Star Trek Voyager, but pulled in other Trek shows to get characters I wanted (Beverly Crusher, Miles O’Brien, etc). Voyager inspires me because we think we know these characters but we don’t. We have only seen them in a unique situation and their lives were different before and after their seven years in the Delta Quadrant. So, who are they really? It’s hard to say.
8. Your favourite pairing(s) to write for:
Ummmm. I enjoy Janeway/Paris. I’m the only one who has written Janeway/Barclay (and my favorite comments on those tend toward “well, that was a ship I didn’t know I needed” and, “huh, whaddya know, I ship it”). Janeway/Johnson makes me sad, but it’s important. It was a fun one-shot to write Gretchen Janeway/Owen Paris and, surprisingly, there were no other fics for them on AO3. (Also something I did not expect -- my A Long Journey’s Night was one of only three Kathryn Janeway & Kathryn Janeway stories in the archive.) But, in my heart of hearts, I believe what would be most likely is Janeway/OC, which is why I tucked that into the otherwise Janeway/Chakotay-heavy Section 31 story, Secrets, Secrets are No Fun.
9. What you’re writing now/next:
I’m working on another Janeway/Paris but I would like to shift into something else.
10. Writing goals for 2020 (word count? new fandoms/pairings? anything?):
Post the names of all the files in your WIP folder, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous. Send me an ask with the title that most intrigues you, or interests you and I’ll post a little snippet of it or tell you something about it!!
well, like M, i don't have a WIP folder; i have fandom folders, and within those, pairing folders, and within those, project folders, and within those, finished/unfinished folders. and yes, they're color-coded, because what are we, animals? (thanks, pidge!) also, i have... a lot... of WIPs. so. let's compromise: i'm also one of those people who keeps the "more active" WIPs open in tabs, so why don't i list those instead, and we'll just go from that? it should be plenty, trust me.... (i'll also include the fandom, because otherwise the titles are going to be pretty meaningless).
1. Reincarnation AU - (The Hobbit)
2. Smut Practice - (GoT)
3. better man - (GoT)
4. Bear for me the Lion - (GoT)
5. Holsom fic - (Check, Please)
6. Debts and Duty - (GoT)
7. I Wait For You Like A Lonely House - (The Hobbit)
8. I Don't Care Much - (Pinto/Star Trek RPF)
9. Et Tu, Dante? - (ST: Voyager)
10. HP AU - (VLD)
11. Sterek Secret Santa - (Teen Wolf, obvs, and also I can't tell you anything about this one!!)
12. SoL 17 - (VLD)
13. When You Are Ashes (remember this) - (VLD)
14. Remix fic - (ST:AOS)
15. Spark - (Pinto/Star Trek RPF)
16. Opera AU - (VLD)
17. Sherlocked - (Sherlock [obvs])
18. Derek Does Dickens - (Teen Wolf)
i’m tagging @semperama, @mia-cooper, @lysapadin, and anyone else who has lists of things they want to work on!!!
Thanks for the kiss prompt! Awhile ago you gave me the option to choose my own adventure fir a prompt response, so since I don't know which other ships you've been asked about I'm returning the favour. Can I please have a kiss for 17, 22 and 38 to the ship/s of your choice? ❤️
Thanks so much! There are three of them and they got longish, so they are under the cut. But here are some quick summaries for everyone scrolling through their dash. :)
17. … to distract. Gaspard distracts a grumpy, pregnant Afsaneh.
22. … in a rush of adrenaline. Kat and Pippa make a narrow escape from danger.
38. … because they’re running out of time. Owen and Kathryn take advantage of their limited time before they return to Earth.
17. … to distract.
Afsaneh groaned, flipping over from her right hip to her left hip for what felt like the hundredth time that night. She pulled the sheets back over her shoulders and tried to get comfortable.
She wasn’t successful.
Giving up, she sat up and thought idly about walking around for a bit, but that didn’t sound much more appealing. All she wanted was a good night of sleep. No sore joints. No waking up seven times to pee. No one kicking her in the spleen. It didn’t seem like too much to ask.
Next to her, Gaspard stirred.
“Sorry,” she whispered. “Didn’t mean to wake you.”
“It’s okay.” He pushed sandy hair back off his forehead and rubbed his eyes. “How are you feeling? Do you need an analgesic?”
“I’m fine,” she sighed. “No pain. Just really missing sleeping on my back right now.”
Gaspard reached for her and she laid back down, facing him. He kissed her gently on the nose and his hands caressed her belly, and she smiled despite herself. “How’s our little one?” Gaspard asked. “Is he awake too?”
Afsaneh shook her head. “I don’t think so.” She placed her hands over Gaspard’s and they both stared down at her belly for a long, quiet moment.
“It’s hard to believe that in just one more month, we’ll have a baby,” he whispered in awe.
Afsaneh smiled. “I’m just glad that in another month, I won’t be the only one he keeps up at night.”
Gaspard chuckled softly and leaned in close, curling around Afsaneh and burying his face in her neck. He kissed her collarbone. “So misery loves company, huh?”
Afsaneh chuckled, “Mmm, pretty much,” then she gasped in surprise. “I guess he is awake.” She took Gaspard’s hand and pressed it to her belly where she’d felt the kick. They didn’t feel anything at first, then it was back, a flutter in Afsaneh’s abdomen, a soft pressure against Gaspard’s hand.
He grinned. “He’s strong, like his Momma.”
22. … in a rush of adrenaline.
“Just hold on!“
Katrina thought her heart was going to beat out of her chest. Lieutenant Commander Philippa Georgiou was at the helm of the small shuttle, navigating through the asteroid field as quickly as she could. An ion storm was moving towards them fast. Usually, it wouldn’t have been a problem to outrun, but the dense asteroid field was slowing them down considerably.
“Bear with me, Commander, we’re nearly there… “
Then Philippa threw the ship into a roll and Katrina felt her stomach revolting. Just because the inertial dampers kept the gravitational forces from completely crushing them, didn’t mean it could do anything to prevent the sight of the asteroids and starfield spinning wildly in front of her from making her nauseous.
Katrina swallowed and tried to breathe evenly. She rechecked the progress of the ion storm. Fuck. “We’ve got thirty seconds max before it catches–” Before she could finish, Philippa whooped and Katrina looked around, realizing suddenly that the field in front of them was completely clear. “Get us out of here!” she cried.
It only took a second before the shuttle jumped to warp, but it felt infinite, up until the moment it was over. The starfield elongated until the pinpoints turned into lines streaking past the viewscreen and Katrina finally let herself breathe.
“Fuck, Pippa. Fuck,” Katrina muttered.
Philippa laughed giddily as she unbuckled herself from the seat. “Why am I laughing, Kat? We could have died.”
Katrina was still catching her breath. “It’s a stress response. You will probably start feeling more normal soon.” She unbuckled herself as well, slowly standing on shaky legs. Then Philippa was rushing towards her. The other woman pulled her into a tight hug and it took all the balance and strength Katrina had to keep the two of them from toppling over.
“We’re alive,” Philippa whispered into Katrina’s neck. “You’re alive,” she added as she pulled back. She laughed again, hands finding Katrina’s face. They stared at each other for a long moment, then Katrina felt something shift between them.
“Pippa… “ she whispered.
Then Philippa’s lips were on hers and they didn’t break apart until both were completely breathless.
38. … because they’re running out of time.
The Al-Batani was due to arrive over Earth in eight hours.
Owen Paris awoke at his usual time, leaving Kathryn in bed while he took a shower. When he tried to think about what returning to Earth meant, he would get overwhelmed, so he’d stopped thinking about it. He was going to get ready for his day, make sure his ship got where it was going safely, and the rest would have to wait.
He was rolling his neck, hands pressed against the wall, enjoying the pressure of the sonic pulses against his shoulders, when the door to the sonic shower opened. He spun around, to find Kathryn in the doorway.
“You’re getting a call on your terminal.”
Owen blinked. “Who is it from?”
“I didn’t look. I just thought you should know.”
In his heart, Owen knew it was probably his wife. And he didn’t want to answer it. Guilt burned in his belly. You are in the middle of a shower, you never would have answered it anyway, he told himself, and it made him feel slightly better. It made the decision easier. “I’ll return it later.”
Kathryn stepped into the shower. “Can I join you?”
Owen swallowed. She stood naked in front of him, hair tousled, cheeks a little flushed from sleep. He knew his body was already responding to her, and when Kathryn’s gaze flicked down, he knew she did too. She grinned up at him and looped her hands around his neck.
“I’ve got a little time before my shift,” she told him, pushing her body against his, and trapping his half-hard cock between them. Owen groaned and pulled her up into his arms. She wrapped her legs around him and gasped as he shoved her against the wall of the shower.
A little time.
Owen kissed her hungrily, and Kathryn whimpered.
The Al-Batani was due to arrive over Earth in seven hours and fifty-two minutes.
Send me a ship and a number, and I’ll write you a kiss.
Janeway/Lorca. Because I need your thoughts on this please.
(source)
They would take over the universe. And/or burn it down.
The word is “driven”. They are both driven. To push boundaries. To make their own rules. To protect their people. To defeat their enemy. To blow stuff up.
A tornado and volcano. Pure destructive power. But when the storm is over, imagine what they would build together.
Lorca collects people just like Janeway. He would think he collected her, to do his whacky science, and she would explain how wrong he is, and he would be confused to discover how pleased he is to be collected by her. And then she would do his whacky science because she loves whacky science, and she wanted to all along, just on her own terms.
They’re equals. In so many ways beyond rank.
I am equal parts upset and relieved it can’t happen in canon. I am thrilled to already know people writing fic!!
Ooooh that’s a hard one. probably the beginning of “turn and turn and turn again”. So much so it was hard for me to decide where to cut it off. Rereading it led to a moment of “I’ll never write this good again.”
“She still dreams of New Earth.
The sky is always blue in her dreams, the breeze always blowing. The earth is rich and cool beneath her fingers, beneath her feet, and the colors are always the jeweled tones of memory in amber. She tastes water, and trees, and hears the lilt of birdsong in the foliage, the symphony of a thousand insects when day wanes toward evening.
Sometimes she even hears and sees again the black-and-white primate she had nearly befriended.
But worse—worse are the dreams of him, when she feels again his hand in hers, feels again the warmth of his breath on her lips, the gentle caress of his fingers on her bare skin. She feels again the stolidity of his body within hers, feels again the cadence of their passion, feels again the rush of emotion that she had not felt in too many years try to choke and drown her.”
12. favorite character to write about this year
Kathryn Janeway, without a doubt.
17. fics you’ll continue next year
Solis Febris for sure and certain. Falling Stars too. And, weirdly enough, Darkness In the Forest, which is a Lord of the Rings/Silmarillion fanfic I wrote back in high school but never finished (though I intend to rewrite what I already had written).
19. any new fics to start next year
There’s an epic featuring Kathryn, probably Chakotay, and Naomi Wildman that I want to write at some point. I’d also like to start working on my post-Endgame series, which features a lot of J/C and a lot of healing of all of the crew. There’s also a Borg fic I have in mind that will definitely at least border on horror, which I really want to work on at some point, hopefully this year. On a smaller scale, I also want to finish writing the Star Wars prompts I was given at the end of last year.
