Mareel (![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png)
mareel.livejournal.com) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
ship_manifesto2004-12-19 04:28 am
mareel.livejournal.com) wrote in ship_manifesto2004-12-19 04:28 am
Entry tags:
Anchor and Lodestar: Jonathan Archer and Malcolm Reed (Star Trek: Enterprise)
Title: Anchor and Lodestar: Jonathan Archer and Malcolm Reed
Characters: Jonathan Archer/Malcolm Reed (Star Trek: Enterprise)
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
mareel
Spoilers: All of seasons 1,2,3 and the start of 4 (through Storm Front, Part 2 and minor for "The Forge")
Email: Mareel@livejournal.com
Notes: My thanks tokipli and kayjayuu who helped in so many ways, including beta reading this essay, but that doesn't begin to cover the discussions I've had with each of them. And my appreciation to all those who have explored the A/R relationship in any form... fiction, videos, art, role-play or just appreciative reading.
A word about this essay. This is a highly personal view. I'm not going to try to point out every significant moment shared between the two of them in nearly three and a half years of canon. I am going to try to give a flavor of that, and will recommend some music videos and screencaps that show the relationship better than my words ever could. I also want to trace some of the recurring themes associated with this relationship through the canon seasons and into the Archer/Reed fanfiction.
____________________________________________________
Anchor and Lodestar: Jonathan Archer and Malcolm Reed
A ship for all seasons...
The relationship between Captain Jonathan Archer and his Tactical Officer, Lieutenant Malcolm Reed, is both the simplest and most complex of relationships. They love and trust one another. It is also the one that has grown and deepened the most over the course of three plus seasons of canon. At the start of the series, Reed is an intriguing enigma to Archer, Malcolm’s reserve contrasting strongly with Jon's more informal, less military, command style. That style itself is initially a source of irritation to Reed, born into a long-time Royal Navy family and raised by his Admiral father to respect military traditions and the chain of command. There is conflict and disagreement between them, particularly with regard to both the security of the ship and the Captain's personal safety. But we learn almost immediately that Malcolm is very protective of Jon and takes his responsibilities to protect the ship and her captain very seriously, to the point of seemingly endangering himself to do so.
Their relationship is built on trust and shared experience, a growing realization that they need one another... and a healthy measure of quiet attraction that is evident on both sides. It's fascinating to watch how Jon grows to rely on Malcolm's steady presence at Tactical. Before he makes any decision he looks to Malcolm, meets his eyes... and the silent communication seems to reassure them both.
from "Stratagem"
The actors themselves have commented on the development of the relationship between the two characters they portray. In Issue 151 of "The StarTrek Communicator, " Scott Bakula replied to an interviewer's question about whose relationship with Archer had changed the most over the first seasons:
I think probably Reed. I am not exactly sure why -- I can't pinpoint it. It is one of those undefined kind of things. I said to Dominic[Keating] a couple of weeks ago that I felt he had done a lot of really great, solid work this year and, without having a show that really defines his character, he has just kind of become a very solid contributing part of the show -- somehow that translates to our relationship. I can't tell you why.
____________________________________________________
Season 1 -- Finding their Way
There are strong indications, even in Season One, that this relationship has the potential for being more than professional. There is the mutual protectiveness, the increasingly frequent moments of eye contact, the small touches... Jon is very tactile; he communicates through a touch on the hand or arm or shoulder, especially with Malcolm, who is much more reserved, but who never draws away. For his part, Malcolm communicates with his smile and his eyes... Jonathan seems to bask in that smile and the looks exchanged between the two of them are at times intense enough to border on intimate.
From the start, Malcolm clearly wants to make a good impression on Jon by demonstrating his professional competence and value to the ship and to her captain. He's creative and resourceful, and he develops, modifies or invents any number of improvements and additions to Enterprise's defensive and offensive capabilities... which proved to be very much needed from the earliest days of their mission. He sees Archer as a bit naive, which is a fair assessment, but clearly admires him for his drive to explore and for his own fierce devotion to his crew. No one will be left behind... there will always be a rescue mission... that's something Malcolm learns early on about Jonathan Archer. Malcolm might consider himself as expendable, but Jon most definitely does not... his rescue in “Terra Nova” is but the first example of this, and possibly Malcolm’s first realization that Jon is very much a man of his word, someone who keeps his promises.
from "Terra Nova"
Jon wants very much to get to know his reserved tactical officer. In "Silent Enemy" he recruits Hoshi to help try to figure out what his favorite foods are, so that he can surprise him on his birthday. When he does, Malcolm is completely stunned and delighted that anyone would do such a thing for him. This experience was valuable for Jon in terms of trying to understand Malcolm... learning about the distant relationship he has with his parents, the evidence that he wasn't someone used to having choices offered him, and that beneath the reserve, there was a joyous man touched by the thoughtfulness and friendship offered with the cake. He'd apparently never 'belonged' anywhere, but was learning that there were relationships on Enterprise worth developing.
from "Silent Enemy"
They both nearly lose each other in "Shuttlepod One" where Malcolm finds what he believes to be evidence of the destruction of Enterprise. As they make one last pass over the wreakage, Trip murmurs "See you around, Cap'n." Malcolm is silent, but he swallows hard and the stricken look on his face, the desolation in his eyes when he believes Archer is dead colors the rest of the events of this episode. (It should be noted that this episode has been interpreted in different lights... the view presented here focuses on how it fits into a developing A/R relationship.)
from "Shuttlepod One"
Malcolm is still working through the stages of grief for that loss when he and Trip learn that their own lives are probably going to be short as well. His own fatalism in that episode could well have been influenced by his grief. Jon had his own moments of fear when they found Malcolm and Trip nearly frozen to death in the crippled shuttlepod. Jon is by his side in sickbay when he wakes up, a luminous smile lighting Malcolm's face and eyes at seeing Jon there alive... and at finding himself alive as well. Jon reaches out to touch him... as ever... his hand resting on his heart as Mal lies on the biobed.
from "Shuttlepod One"
Season 2 -- Stronger Together
In Season Two we see an interesting development and deepening in their relationship. In “Minefield,” Jon insisted on being the one to take an EV suit and go out to rescue Malcolm when he is pinned to the hull by an armed mine. In that scene we saw something very rare: Malcolm not only smiles at seeing Jon there, but actually laughs and jokes with him about the painkiller he’s administering. He's actually much more relaxed and open with Jon in this situation than he was during the interrupted 'breakfast with the Captain' scene that opens this episode, which resembles nothing so much as a very awkward first date. Out on the hull, Jon insists on making conversation as Malcolm talks him through an attempt to defuse the mine, the younger man clearly uncomfortable with the personal turn of the conversation, but opening himself up as we never heard him do with anyone else, revealing details of his past, his family, his own deepest fears.
from "Minefield"
Most importantly, Jon convinces Malcolm that he is never going to abandon him, not even when Malcolm disconnects his air hose in hopes that his suicide would relieve Jon of the burden of having to decide to cut him loose to save the ship and crew. He seems genuinely surprised by both Jon's anger at his attempt and by his fierce determination to save him... and something seems to shift in him during those moments. Jon must sense this intuitively, trusting that he won't attempt suicide again, because he leaves Malcolm alone on the hull and goes back inside the ship for necessary supplies. And something in Malcolm both yields and asserts itself as Jon cradles him against his own body in the cargo bay as they await medical care. They exchange a look that launched many A/R fics... open gratitude, and more, on Malcolm's face, despite being in pain... relief and utter joy on Jonathan's at having him alive to hold safe.
...
...
from "Minefield"
Later in the season, in “The Communicator,” we see them alone together again, first working together, then in another life and death setting. Malcolm is full of guilt for having lost a piece of technology on a less advanced world, expecting Jon will be angry or reprimand him. Jon surprises him by his acceptance of the situation as simply an accident and accompanies him on the search for the lost item.
We see them communicating with one another with a glance as they face and fight a group of hostile natives in a barroom. Their subsequent capture, torture and imprisonment, with a death sentence, provides another intimate setting for sharing their thoughts on death, bravery, the right thing to do... Again, the looks exchanged between them are intense and the personal space barriers are breached... Jon reaches out to touch him, to reassure as best he can. Malcolm is clearly fighting his own fear, and Jon's unwavering support and understanding make and leave a deep impression on the younger man. He seems to draw strength from their relationship, Jon serving once more as an anchor, a safe place for Malcolm to express his own concerns and fears.
from "The Communicator"
As they are led to the gallows, Jon’s voice cracks noticeably as he makes a plea for Malcolm's life to the guards... “he's my tactical officer... he can tell you whatever you want to know... You don't need to kill him.” Malcolm looks up at Jon with his heart in his eyes, murmuring only "Captain... " The plea was useless and Jon's eyes never leave Malcolm as the ropes are tightened around each of their necks... it's clear that Jon's last thoughts were for not for his own life, but only sorrow for Malcolm's death. Fortunately there was a rescue by other crewmembers, but this was another critical point in their relationship. Jon couldn't save him this time, but it didn't change Malcolm's devotion.
...
from "The Communicator"
By the end of the season, in "Judgment," it was Malcolm who mounted a rescue for Jon, who was being held in a Klingon penal colony at Rura Penthe (familiar to ST movie fans). Life there was brutal and probably short for most prisoners, but Malcolm and T'Pol arranged a rescue attempt, and when Malcolm saw Jon there and pushed back his hood to reveal his face, the smiles lighting both their faces seemed likely to melt the ice cave around them. The look that passed between the two of them was much more than one of gratitude or relief. It was pure joy at seeing one another safe and well, and could well be read as either a declaration or an affirmation of a relationship beyond duty or friendship.
...
from "Judgment"
This seemed to mark the beginning of another shift in their relationship toward one of mutual support, which would evolve more along those lines under the stress and pressure of the Xindi mission in Season Three.
Season 3 -- For Better and Worse
The mission to the Delphic Expanse to prevent an all-out Xindi attack on Earth is one that would stress any relationship, and indeed it tests this one. What emerges between them has the feel of a role reversal or at least of a very equal partnership on a personal level. The distinction between the man and the Captain, however, becomes sharply delineated. There are times when the Tactical Officer has serious concerns with the choices made by the Captain, but there is no question that Malcolm was there for Jon, no matter what.
Malcolm has to swallow pride and bite his tongue on more than one occasion when the stress gets the better of the Captain's judgment, but they always seem to fall back into their supportive relationship. Jon looks to Malcolm for support, if not approval, of his actions and Malcolm always gives that support, painful as it can be (notably in “Anomaly” and “Damage”). He insisted on personally leading a rescue mission to the mining colony in “The Xindi” despite having just been subjected to an undeserved public tongue-lashing delivered by the Captain out of his own frustration.
from "The Xindi"
This includes supporting two suicide missions undertaken by the Captain, for both of which Malcolm would have been the logical choice: the attempted destruction of the incomplete weapon on “Azati Prime” and the ultimate destruction of the weapon in “Zero Hour.” Despite Jon's assurances to Malcolm personally that the latter was not a suicide mission, it was clear in the eyes of both men that they believed it really was. Malcolm knew by that point how futile it was to argue with Jon about personal risk, despite Jon's own previous arguments to Malcolm on the subject. I believe that not only could the Captain not order one of his crew to their deaths on these missions, but that he specifically would not sacrifice Malcolm. That personal cost would have been too high. He needed to save Earth, “do whatever it takes,” but he chose to pay that price himself. The last conversations and looks between the two men are telling. There is pain and regret in both pairs of eyes.
...
from "Zero Hour"
"Unspoken" composite from "Zero Hour" (by mareel)
Jon looked to Malcolm for more than support; he relied upon Malcolm's background and experience. Jon felt very isolated regarding what he was supposed to do on the mission... with respect to both the process he was going to have to undertake -- military vs. exploring -- and the end result, i.e. destroying a weapon and perhaps having to kill a lot of Xindi. Malcolm was the one person among the senior officers who had experience with both. It was very natural that Jon would look to and be close with Malcolm over that... not only as a function of the mission, but also as a personal choice. He already trusted Malcolm completely, and now he was almost the only person he COULD be close to, with whom he could breach that isolation. And he didn't permit himself to break the isolation completely, even with Malcolm. We did see him use Malcolm as a sounding board sometimes, but not often enough. It's possible that Jon was afraid he would be dissuaded from some of his own choices if he examined them too closely. Sometimes all Malcolm could do was to be there for him, deeply concerned but with limited ways in which he could help.
from "Azati Prime"
But even in the midst of all of the Captain's moral dilemma and solitary decision-making, there were moments when Jon and Malcolm reappeared... touching hands or locking eyes... over a pair of binoculars in The Shipment... and seemingly alone in a crowd of other crew members as Jon explained his plans in "Azati Prime." The two of them seem to have eyes for each other alone, and much is left unsaid in words but surely communicated. And Malcolm aided him as best he could, including playing devil’s advocate for a hard line position in “The Shipment” when Jon first began voicing his own doubts about the necessity for the destruction of the Xindi.
...
from "The Shipment"
From an A/R viewpoint, Season 3 can be seen as the trial by fire of a long-term committed relationship. It would survive, intact and deeper, or it would collapse. There is no evidence of the latter and more than enough hints at the former. For example, it was a logical choice for Archer to select his chief of security as the first person to rescue from imprisonment in his own quarters (“Chosen Realm”), but the look on both their faces, and the way Jon reached out to touch Malcolm to reassure him that he was indeed still alive, went far beyond the tactical situation.
from "Chosen Realm"
There were days when it's almost certain Malcolm couldn't manage to actually like the person Jon seemed to be becoming, but his love and support were constant, up until the moment he returned to the ship, his eyes haunted, having to tell Trip and T'Pol that "the Captain didn't make it." Malcolm's isolation at that point was palpable. Hoshi and Trip consoled each other. T'Pol fussed over Porthos. Malcolm seemed to retreat into himself, silently carrying a full complement of guilt and grief, not emerging until he heard Jon's voice over the comm in Storm Front.
...
from "Zero Hour" and "Storm Front, Part 1"
Season 4 -- Home at Last
The situation in Season 3 being what it was, it’s not until the end of the Xindi arc that we again see the level of pure joy evidenced during the rescue in “Judgment.” It appears again toward the end of “Storm Front" (Part 1) when Malcolm hears Jon’s voice, and again when Jon steps onto the bridge, very much alive despite the assumption that he didn't make it off the Xindi weapon before it exploded. Hoshi rushes to embrace him, but his eyes go immediately to Malcolm and his first impulse is to reach out to touch him, a hand on his shoulder and his heart in his eyes... he murmurs 'not home yet' but it seems they will be soon.
...
from "Storm Front, Part I"
____________________________________________________
from "Anomaly"
Why Jon and Malcolm?
This pairing attracted me from the start. I see the two of them as a couple with strong potential for a long-term committed relationship that develops out of friendship and trust. They care deeply for one another and strive to work past the obstacles that might caution both against getting involved in a relationship like this. They learned to work together smoothly in a professional capacity, and we've seen numerous instances of small interactions that speak of a close rapport between them. In "Anomaly" Jon wordlessly assists Malcolm with getting into his EV suit before donning his own... in the "The Forge" we see the two of them casually sharing a water bottle after a basketball game in the cargo bay, passing it back and forth, again without any need for words.
Not all of the fic for this pairing is happy; sometimes they don't quite overcome all of the hurdles. But sometimes they choose to come back together years in the future to try again, finally realizing what they've had and lost. I see them as needing one another very much, as completing each other. Their physical relationship is important to them both, but doesn't define them. The defining words I'd choose would be constancy, trust, love, and hope.
There are some themes that recur very frequently both in canon and in A/R fanfiction. They interlace with canon and expand upon it, and begin to explain why I find this pairing to be so compelling.
One of the first hurdles this pair has to get past are the issues related to the rank disparity and the traditional military anti-fraternization regulations. We don’t know explicitly that these are either in place or that they would be appropriate for long-term deep space missions, but Jon has to come to terms with the issue. Pushing past those issues for Malcolm involves choosing a relationship that defies the military customs and traditions that were so much a part of his own military family upbringing. Even if it were permissible, would it be ‘appropriate’ to have a relationship with one’s commanding officer.
Jon has to deal with the isolation that is inherent to his position as captain, especially after his friendship with Trip is damaged (“Cogenitor” and Trip’s withdrawal into himself after the death of his sister in “The Expanse”). He’s a man who has focused very heavily on his career, at the expense of personal relationships and romances in his past, including having a marriage proposal turned down (“Twilight”). He may very well have given up on ever having a home, a partner, a family. He has the stars after all; he’s living his dream... even if it means settling for a friend and a dog.
Malcolm’s natural deep reserve has, by his own admission, kept him from forming or even expecting to form strong relationships. When he’s facing his death (“Shuttlepod One”) he writes a number of farewell letters to various women, all of which are carbon copies of one another, with the obvious implication that the relationships were similarly unremarkable. Neither Jon nor Malcolm has any existing romantic ties to anyone on Earth at the time of the mission.
Family issues are important. Jon is an only child, but his father’s importance to Starfleet is well known and it is generally considered that, while he had a good relationship with his father, there was certainly pressure (even if unspoken or self-imposed) for Jon to carry on that mission, to travel to the stars.
Malcolm has one sister, who is the only family member to whom he is close. For whatever reasons, he has never been close to his parents, and he clearly sees himself as a disappointment to his father by not following the family career path into the Royal Navy. Stuart Reed has been portrayed in fanon in various ways ranging from simply being a reserved British military man all the way to being an abusive father. He is frequently portrayed as being homophobic or presumed to be so, while Mary Reed is generally seen as a meek, dutiful Navy wife. It is generally considered that Malcolm’s parents (or at least his father) would strenuously disapprove of his relationship with Jon.
For all of those reasons, this is not a casual relationship or a one-night stand. There is too much at risk for them both, personally and professionally. They are inexorably drawn together, but take things very slowly, letting the relationship develop over time, with love growing from friendship and trust. Both are playing for keeps here.
These two trust one another with their lives over and over again. Both of them face life and death situations all too often, alone or together. Jon trusts Malcolm with his ship, his crew, and his own life. Malcolm returns that trust in full measure, trusting the man even when he cannot agree with the Captain... loving the man when he might not even LIKE the captain at times and certainly disapproves of some of his decisions.
This is amply seen in Season 3 canon. The whole arc is a season-long portrait of a long-term relationship tested under fire... and surviving with the love intact at its core. Both are in pain at the time of the return to Earth, Jon weighted down by the knowledge of his own actions... despite their necessity... and Malcolm carrying guilt for both his own actions and for those he was unable to prevent Jon from shouldering, including that final suicide mission. Their ability to draw distinctions between the Captain/Lieutenant and Jon/Malcolm is what enabled them to survive that mission as partners. There isn’t much fiction that has them beginning a relationship in Season 3. It’s an ongoing committed relationship that provides a safe haven for them both, enabling them to keep love alive throughout or despite it all. One that provides, beyond all else... hope.
Jonathan Archer and Malcolm Reed need one another. Malcolm seems to blossom in the relationship, opening up to Jon, supported by Jon’s love and trust. He gains in self-confidence, Jon being his anchor in a world that had never offered him that kind of love and constancy in relationships. For his part, Jon is deeply touched by winning Malcolm’s trust and by hearing Malcolm use his given name rather than ‘Captain’ or ‘sir.’ And Malcolm is his lodestar, in many ways. He serves as Jon’s moral compass in the Expanse, and Jon looks to him on the bridge at every major decision point... not for approval or permission, but for support, for affirmation.
They are very much equal partners in their relationship. They may have started as the captain and the lieutenant, but they became Jonathan and Malcolm, each bringing so much to the relationship, each completing the other. They know one another’s weaknesses and flaws, and sometimes compensate, sometimes simply accept them. Jon knows he sometimes talks too much; Malcolm knows it means he’s nervous or insecure... or is being an incurable romantic. Malcolm withdraws when he’s hurting; Jon tries to draw him out, provides an ear if he needs one, or a target for his anger to bounce off against harmlessly. But in the end, Jon is simply always there for him... holding him safe.
And for all of Jonathan’s verbal eloquence, the way they communicate best is in a glance, a smile, a touch... beyond words.
____________________________________________________
Fanfic Recommendations
This pairing has attracted some wonderful writers of fanfiction, dating from almost the beginning of the series. Interestingly, many of the stories from that early period hold up very well in terms of their premises for the relationship, for why these two were drawn to each other and why they stayed together. My personal favorite A/R authors are among those represented in the fic recommendations below. Some are still writing Enterprise and A/R; others have moved on to other fandoms. Their fic can be found on the archives listed below and or on their own websites.
It was hard to pick just a few stories, but these are some of my personal favorites, listed alphabetically. I tried to find a set of stories that cut across all four years (to date) of Enterprise, but other than that, they are simply stories that touched my heart and cut to the core of the Archer/Reed relationship. I have included some of my own stories, those mentioned by fellow A/R fans as being among their favorites.
All that I Need/ With All My Heart -- the "Give and Take" series by Alia -- a deepening relationship, a realization
Becoming Water -- by KylieLee -- exquisite images of one way to drown
Beneath the Uniform -- by Kipli -- Malcolm finds the courage to separate the Captain from the man in his own mind and heart
Byrne/Imperceptibly Stript Back -- by MJ -- an early double viewpoint on the same events
Chasing After the Rain/Thin Ice and the others in the ‘Little Earthquakes’ series (still ongoing) -- by TheMoonmoth -- the long slow building of realization on both their part
Dear Sir -- by Mareel -- Malcolm tries to make peace with his father
Force of Nature -- by Mareel -- one of my own drabbles, trying to capture and contrast Malcolm's past and his future
Golden Slumbers/Here Comes the Sun -- by Shi Shi -- the culmination of the trust-building period... and a simply beautiful description of a sleeping Malcolm, seen through Jonathan’s eyes
Held Tenderly -- by Pretzelduck -- unbelieving that they could really want each other... it's an incredible slow dance around each other
Husks -- by Juli -- Set in Season 3... it's about changing relationships... burning off the superficial... for better and for worse
Ithaca -- by TarynEve -- finding their way back... the story that prompted me to write... it touches me every time I reread it
Meant to Be Together -- by Beverly -- finding their way to one another... in any era
One -- by KayJay -- Jon on the occasion of his birthday
Refuge series -- by Mareel -- follows an A/R committed relationship through the events of Season 3
The Mission -- by Weebob -- Warning: Deathfic. Excruciating to read, but I can’t look away.
The Reed Facade (Facades and Distractions series) -- by Pretzelduck -- the longing and courtship... trust and need... possibly the first A/R I ever read, and I was caught up completely
Wanting/Having -- by Kylie Lee -- not all A/R fics end happily but these views of the events of Minefield and The Communicator are so compelling
Without Change -- by Mareel -- I don't know what to say about this, except that it's the story my own Jon and Malcolm muses needed to tell
Worship -- by Kipli -- these two are both beautiful men, and Malcolm expresses his appreciation for his lover's body here...
And I have to mention the humor... Animal Fair (by ShiShi) is a priceless look at Malcolm as a small black cat when the whole bridge crew, except Jon, is turned into sentient animals.
No list of recommendations could be complete without mentioning that some of the most sustained and intensive portrayals of the A/R relationship can be found in the two role-playing games referenced below. The RPG format takes a bit of getting used to, compared to narrative fiction, but its immediacy and sustained emotional content are compelling. For the record, I do participate in one of these RPG's (Jonathan in![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
ent_musing) but have been an avid reader of the other one treksoap since its inception in 08/03.
Besides my own, there have certainly been other takes on the A/R relationship in fanfiction, including various alternative power dynamics and sexual role-playing. A number of these fics are found in the archives, although some are available only in zines.
____________________________________________________
Music Videos
Because so much of the canon A/R is conveyed in visual subtext -- in the way these two men interact, the way they work together as a seamless team, support each other... the relationship is well conveyed in the music video format. Probably the two definitive A/R vids are by Linsey, and are set to Dido's White Flag (2 versions) and Westlife's Unbreakable. But the other vids listed are each, in their own way, an important portrayal of the relationship.
Edited to Add (3/27/05): Two more excellent videos have been produced, both incorporating Season 3 themes and clips -- I'll Stand By You by Linsey and How Far We Are by The Moonmoth. In addition, the links have been updated, as the EntSTCommunity site is no longer archiving videos produced before 2005. They may now be downloaded from a dedicated Archer/Reed site.
Music Videos Archived at ArcherReed.net
I'll Stand By You by Linsey
How Far We Are by The Moonmoth
White Flag by Linsey
White Flag (Redux) by Linsey
Hero by Linsey
Unbreakable by Linsey
Drowning by Charlie
Rescue You by Kalita Kasar
Green Eyes by Charlie
RPG (Role Playing Games with strong Archer/Reed elements)
treksoap
ent_musing
Fanfiction Archives
Reed's Armory over 160 Archer/Reed stories, indexed by pairing in this archive of all things Malcolm
Archer's Enterprise over 200 Archer/Reed stories indexed by pairing in this Enterprise slash archive.
Warp 5 over 400 Archer/Reed stories included in this large general ENT archive with author/title index
Groups
ArcherReed LJ Community
Archer/Reed A dedicated A/R website with videos, art, fiction, and links
Reed's Archery Range A Yahoo group focussed on the Archer/Reed relationship. Slash fiction, art, discussion
Reed's Armory A Yahoo group for fiction and discussion of any Reed related fiction. A/R is strongly represented, but all Reed pairing and general fiction are also welcome.
Characters: Jonathan Archer/Malcolm Reed (Star Trek: Enterprise)
Author:
mareelSpoilers: All of seasons 1,2,3 and the start of 4 (through Storm Front, Part 2 and minor for "The Forge")
Email: Mareel@livejournal.com
Notes: My thanks to
kipli and kayjayuu who helped in so many ways, including beta reading this essay, but that doesn't begin to cover the discussions I've had with each of them. And my appreciation to all those who have explored the A/R relationship in any form... fiction, videos, art, role-play or just appreciative reading. A word about this essay. This is a highly personal view. I'm not going to try to point out every significant moment shared between the two of them in nearly three and a half years of canon. I am going to try to give a flavor of that, and will recommend some music videos and screencaps that show the relationship better than my words ever could. I also want to trace some of the recurring themes associated with this relationship through the canon seasons and into the Archer/Reed fanfiction.
A ship for all seasons...
The relationship between Captain Jonathan Archer and his Tactical Officer, Lieutenant Malcolm Reed, is both the simplest and most complex of relationships. They love and trust one another. It is also the one that has grown and deepened the most over the course of three plus seasons of canon. At the start of the series, Reed is an intriguing enigma to Archer, Malcolm’s reserve contrasting strongly with Jon's more informal, less military, command style. That style itself is initially a source of irritation to Reed, born into a long-time Royal Navy family and raised by his Admiral father to respect military traditions and the chain of command. There is conflict and disagreement between them, particularly with regard to both the security of the ship and the Captain's personal safety. But we learn almost immediately that Malcolm is very protective of Jon and takes his responsibilities to protect the ship and her captain very seriously, to the point of seemingly endangering himself to do so.
Their relationship is built on trust and shared experience, a growing realization that they need one another... and a healthy measure of quiet attraction that is evident on both sides. It's fascinating to watch how Jon grows to rely on Malcolm's steady presence at Tactical. Before he makes any decision he looks to Malcolm, meets his eyes... and the silent communication seems to reassure them both.
The actors themselves have commented on the development of the relationship between the two characters they portray. In Issue 151 of "The StarTrek Communicator, " Scott Bakula replied to an interviewer's question about whose relationship with Archer had changed the most over the first seasons:
I think probably Reed. I am not exactly sure why -- I can't pinpoint it. It is one of those undefined kind of things. I said to Dominic[Keating] a couple of weeks ago that I felt he had done a lot of really great, solid work this year and, without having a show that really defines his character, he has just kind of become a very solid contributing part of the show -- somehow that translates to our relationship. I can't tell you why.
Season 1 -- Finding their Way
There are strong indications, even in Season One, that this relationship has the potential for being more than professional. There is the mutual protectiveness, the increasingly frequent moments of eye contact, the small touches... Jon is very tactile; he communicates through a touch on the hand or arm or shoulder, especially with Malcolm, who is much more reserved, but who never draws away. For his part, Malcolm communicates with his smile and his eyes... Jonathan seems to bask in that smile and the looks exchanged between the two of them are at times intense enough to border on intimate.
From the start, Malcolm clearly wants to make a good impression on Jon by demonstrating his professional competence and value to the ship and to her captain. He's creative and resourceful, and he develops, modifies or invents any number of improvements and additions to Enterprise's defensive and offensive capabilities... which proved to be very much needed from the earliest days of their mission. He sees Archer as a bit naive, which is a fair assessment, but clearly admires him for his drive to explore and for his own fierce devotion to his crew. No one will be left behind... there will always be a rescue mission... that's something Malcolm learns early on about Jonathan Archer. Malcolm might consider himself as expendable, but Jon most definitely does not... his rescue in “Terra Nova” is but the first example of this, and possibly Malcolm’s first realization that Jon is very much a man of his word, someone who keeps his promises.
Jon wants very much to get to know his reserved tactical officer. In "Silent Enemy" he recruits Hoshi to help try to figure out what his favorite foods are, so that he can surprise him on his birthday. When he does, Malcolm is completely stunned and delighted that anyone would do such a thing for him. This experience was valuable for Jon in terms of trying to understand Malcolm... learning about the distant relationship he has with his parents, the evidence that he wasn't someone used to having choices offered him, and that beneath the reserve, there was a joyous man touched by the thoughtfulness and friendship offered with the cake. He'd apparently never 'belonged' anywhere, but was learning that there were relationships on Enterprise worth developing.
They both nearly lose each other in "Shuttlepod One" where Malcolm finds what he believes to be evidence of the destruction of Enterprise. As they make one last pass over the wreakage, Trip murmurs "See you around, Cap'n." Malcolm is silent, but he swallows hard and the stricken look on his face, the desolation in his eyes when he believes Archer is dead colors the rest of the events of this episode. (It should be noted that this episode has been interpreted in different lights... the view presented here focuses on how it fits into a developing A/R relationship.)
Malcolm is still working through the stages of grief for that loss when he and Trip learn that their own lives are probably going to be short as well. His own fatalism in that episode could well have been influenced by his grief. Jon had his own moments of fear when they found Malcolm and Trip nearly frozen to death in the crippled shuttlepod. Jon is by his side in sickbay when he wakes up, a luminous smile lighting Malcolm's face and eyes at seeing Jon there alive... and at finding himself alive as well. Jon reaches out to touch him... as ever... his hand resting on his heart as Mal lies on the biobed.
Season 2 -- Stronger Together
In Season Two we see an interesting development and deepening in their relationship. In “Minefield,” Jon insisted on being the one to take an EV suit and go out to rescue Malcolm when he is pinned to the hull by an armed mine. In that scene we saw something very rare: Malcolm not only smiles at seeing Jon there, but actually laughs and jokes with him about the painkiller he’s administering. He's actually much more relaxed and open with Jon in this situation than he was during the interrupted 'breakfast with the Captain' scene that opens this episode, which resembles nothing so much as a very awkward first date. Out on the hull, Jon insists on making conversation as Malcolm talks him through an attempt to defuse the mine, the younger man clearly uncomfortable with the personal turn of the conversation, but opening himself up as we never heard him do with anyone else, revealing details of his past, his family, his own deepest fears.
Most importantly, Jon convinces Malcolm that he is never going to abandon him, not even when Malcolm disconnects his air hose in hopes that his suicide would relieve Jon of the burden of having to decide to cut him loose to save the ship and crew. He seems genuinely surprised by both Jon's anger at his attempt and by his fierce determination to save him... and something seems to shift in him during those moments. Jon must sense this intuitively, trusting that he won't attempt suicide again, because he leaves Malcolm alone on the hull and goes back inside the ship for necessary supplies. And something in Malcolm both yields and asserts itself as Jon cradles him against his own body in the cargo bay as they await medical care. They exchange a look that launched many A/R fics... open gratitude, and more, on Malcolm's face, despite being in pain... relief and utter joy on Jonathan's at having him alive to hold safe.
......Later in the season, in “The Communicator,” we see them alone together again, first working together, then in another life and death setting. Malcolm is full of guilt for having lost a piece of technology on a less advanced world, expecting Jon will be angry or reprimand him. Jon surprises him by his acceptance of the situation as simply an accident and accompanies him on the search for the lost item.
We see them communicating with one another with a glance as they face and fight a group of hostile natives in a barroom. Their subsequent capture, torture and imprisonment, with a death sentence, provides another intimate setting for sharing their thoughts on death, bravery, the right thing to do... Again, the looks exchanged between them are intense and the personal space barriers are breached... Jon reaches out to touch him, to reassure as best he can. Malcolm is clearly fighting his own fear, and Jon's unwavering support and understanding make and leave a deep impression on the younger man. He seems to draw strength from their relationship, Jon serving once more as an anchor, a safe place for Malcolm to express his own concerns and fears.
As they are led to the gallows, Jon’s voice cracks noticeably as he makes a plea for Malcolm's life to the guards... “he's my tactical officer... he can tell you whatever you want to know... You don't need to kill him.” Malcolm looks up at Jon with his heart in his eyes, murmuring only "Captain... " The plea was useless and Jon's eyes never leave Malcolm as the ropes are tightened around each of their necks... it's clear that Jon's last thoughts were for not for his own life, but only sorrow for Malcolm's death. Fortunately there was a rescue by other crewmembers, but this was another critical point in their relationship. Jon couldn't save him this time, but it didn't change Malcolm's devotion.
...By the end of the season, in "Judgment," it was Malcolm who mounted a rescue for Jon, who was being held in a Klingon penal colony at Rura Penthe (familiar to ST movie fans). Life there was brutal and probably short for most prisoners, but Malcolm and T'Pol arranged a rescue attempt, and when Malcolm saw Jon there and pushed back his hood to reveal his face, the smiles lighting both their faces seemed likely to melt the ice cave around them. The look that passed between the two of them was much more than one of gratitude or relief. It was pure joy at seeing one another safe and well, and could well be read as either a declaration or an affirmation of a relationship beyond duty or friendship.
...This seemed to mark the beginning of another shift in their relationship toward one of mutual support, which would evolve more along those lines under the stress and pressure of the Xindi mission in Season Three.
Season 3 -- For Better and Worse
The mission to the Delphic Expanse to prevent an all-out Xindi attack on Earth is one that would stress any relationship, and indeed it tests this one. What emerges between them has the feel of a role reversal or at least of a very equal partnership on a personal level. The distinction between the man and the Captain, however, becomes sharply delineated. There are times when the Tactical Officer has serious concerns with the choices made by the Captain, but there is no question that Malcolm was there for Jon, no matter what.
Malcolm has to swallow pride and bite his tongue on more than one occasion when the stress gets the better of the Captain's judgment, but they always seem to fall back into their supportive relationship. Jon looks to Malcolm for support, if not approval, of his actions and Malcolm always gives that support, painful as it can be (notably in “Anomaly” and “Damage”). He insisted on personally leading a rescue mission to the mining colony in “The Xindi” despite having just been subjected to an undeserved public tongue-lashing delivered by the Captain out of his own frustration.
This includes supporting two suicide missions undertaken by the Captain, for both of which Malcolm would have been the logical choice: the attempted destruction of the incomplete weapon on “Azati Prime” and the ultimate destruction of the weapon in “Zero Hour.” Despite Jon's assurances to Malcolm personally that the latter was not a suicide mission, it was clear in the eyes of both men that they believed it really was. Malcolm knew by that point how futile it was to argue with Jon about personal risk, despite Jon's own previous arguments to Malcolm on the subject. I believe that not only could the Captain not order one of his crew to their deaths on these missions, but that he specifically would not sacrifice Malcolm. That personal cost would have been too high. He needed to save Earth, “do whatever it takes,” but he chose to pay that price himself. The last conversations and looks between the two men are telling. There is pain and regret in both pairs of eyes.
...Jon looked to Malcolm for more than support; he relied upon Malcolm's background and experience. Jon felt very isolated regarding what he was supposed to do on the mission... with respect to both the process he was going to have to undertake -- military vs. exploring -- and the end result, i.e. destroying a weapon and perhaps having to kill a lot of Xindi. Malcolm was the one person among the senior officers who had experience with both. It was very natural that Jon would look to and be close with Malcolm over that... not only as a function of the mission, but also as a personal choice. He already trusted Malcolm completely, and now he was almost the only person he COULD be close to, with whom he could breach that isolation. And he didn't permit himself to break the isolation completely, even with Malcolm. We did see him use Malcolm as a sounding board sometimes, but not often enough. It's possible that Jon was afraid he would be dissuaded from some of his own choices if he examined them too closely. Sometimes all Malcolm could do was to be there for him, deeply concerned but with limited ways in which he could help.
But even in the midst of all of the Captain's moral dilemma and solitary decision-making, there were moments when Jon and Malcolm reappeared... touching hands or locking eyes... over a pair of binoculars in The Shipment... and seemingly alone in a crowd of other crew members as Jon explained his plans in "Azati Prime." The two of them seem to have eyes for each other alone, and much is left unsaid in words but surely communicated. And Malcolm aided him as best he could, including playing devil’s advocate for a hard line position in “The Shipment” when Jon first began voicing his own doubts about the necessity for the destruction of the Xindi.
...From an A/R viewpoint, Season 3 can be seen as the trial by fire of a long-term committed relationship. It would survive, intact and deeper, or it would collapse. There is no evidence of the latter and more than enough hints at the former. For example, it was a logical choice for Archer to select his chief of security as the first person to rescue from imprisonment in his own quarters (“Chosen Realm”), but the look on both their faces, and the way Jon reached out to touch Malcolm to reassure him that he was indeed still alive, went far beyond the tactical situation.
There were days when it's almost certain Malcolm couldn't manage to actually like the person Jon seemed to be becoming, but his love and support were constant, up until the moment he returned to the ship, his eyes haunted, having to tell Trip and T'Pol that "the Captain didn't make it." Malcolm's isolation at that point was palpable. Hoshi and Trip consoled each other. T'Pol fussed over Porthos. Malcolm seemed to retreat into himself, silently carrying a full complement of guilt and grief, not emerging until he heard Jon's voice over the comm in Storm Front.
...Season 4 -- Home at Last
The situation in Season 3 being what it was, it’s not until the end of the Xindi arc that we again see the level of pure joy evidenced during the rescue in “Judgment.” It appears again toward the end of “Storm Front" (Part 1) when Malcolm hears Jon’s voice, and again when Jon steps onto the bridge, very much alive despite the assumption that he didn't make it off the Xindi weapon before it exploded. Hoshi rushes to embrace him, but his eyes go immediately to Malcolm and his first impulse is to reach out to touch him, a hand on his shoulder and his heart in his eyes... he murmurs 'not home yet' but it seems they will be soon.
...Why Jon and Malcolm?
This pairing attracted me from the start. I see the two of them as a couple with strong potential for a long-term committed relationship that develops out of friendship and trust. They care deeply for one another and strive to work past the obstacles that might caution both against getting involved in a relationship like this. They learned to work together smoothly in a professional capacity, and we've seen numerous instances of small interactions that speak of a close rapport between them. In "Anomaly" Jon wordlessly assists Malcolm with getting into his EV suit before donning his own... in the "The Forge" we see the two of them casually sharing a water bottle after a basketball game in the cargo bay, passing it back and forth, again without any need for words.
Not all of the fic for this pairing is happy; sometimes they don't quite overcome all of the hurdles. But sometimes they choose to come back together years in the future to try again, finally realizing what they've had and lost. I see them as needing one another very much, as completing each other. Their physical relationship is important to them both, but doesn't define them. The defining words I'd choose would be constancy, trust, love, and hope.
There are some themes that recur very frequently both in canon and in A/R fanfiction. They interlace with canon and expand upon it, and begin to explain why I find this pairing to be so compelling.
One of the first hurdles this pair has to get past are the issues related to the rank disparity and the traditional military anti-fraternization regulations. We don’t know explicitly that these are either in place or that they would be appropriate for long-term deep space missions, but Jon has to come to terms with the issue. Pushing past those issues for Malcolm involves choosing a relationship that defies the military customs and traditions that were so much a part of his own military family upbringing. Even if it were permissible, would it be ‘appropriate’ to have a relationship with one’s commanding officer.
Jon has to deal with the isolation that is inherent to his position as captain, especially after his friendship with Trip is damaged (“Cogenitor” and Trip’s withdrawal into himself after the death of his sister in “The Expanse”). He’s a man who has focused very heavily on his career, at the expense of personal relationships and romances in his past, including having a marriage proposal turned down (“Twilight”). He may very well have given up on ever having a home, a partner, a family. He has the stars after all; he’s living his dream... even if it means settling for a friend and a dog.
Malcolm’s natural deep reserve has, by his own admission, kept him from forming or even expecting to form strong relationships. When he’s facing his death (“Shuttlepod One”) he writes a number of farewell letters to various women, all of which are carbon copies of one another, with the obvious implication that the relationships were similarly unremarkable. Neither Jon nor Malcolm has any existing romantic ties to anyone on Earth at the time of the mission.
Family issues are important. Jon is an only child, but his father’s importance to Starfleet is well known and it is generally considered that, while he had a good relationship with his father, there was certainly pressure (even if unspoken or self-imposed) for Jon to carry on that mission, to travel to the stars.
Malcolm has one sister, who is the only family member to whom he is close. For whatever reasons, he has never been close to his parents, and he clearly sees himself as a disappointment to his father by not following the family career path into the Royal Navy. Stuart Reed has been portrayed in fanon in various ways ranging from simply being a reserved British military man all the way to being an abusive father. He is frequently portrayed as being homophobic or presumed to be so, while Mary Reed is generally seen as a meek, dutiful Navy wife. It is generally considered that Malcolm’s parents (or at least his father) would strenuously disapprove of his relationship with Jon.
For all of those reasons, this is not a casual relationship or a one-night stand. There is too much at risk for them both, personally and professionally. They are inexorably drawn together, but take things very slowly, letting the relationship develop over time, with love growing from friendship and trust. Both are playing for keeps here.
These two trust one another with their lives over and over again. Both of them face life and death situations all too often, alone or together. Jon trusts Malcolm with his ship, his crew, and his own life. Malcolm returns that trust in full measure, trusting the man even when he cannot agree with the Captain... loving the man when he might not even LIKE the captain at times and certainly disapproves of some of his decisions.
This is amply seen in Season 3 canon. The whole arc is a season-long portrait of a long-term relationship tested under fire... and surviving with the love intact at its core. Both are in pain at the time of the return to Earth, Jon weighted down by the knowledge of his own actions... despite their necessity... and Malcolm carrying guilt for both his own actions and for those he was unable to prevent Jon from shouldering, including that final suicide mission. Their ability to draw distinctions between the Captain/Lieutenant and Jon/Malcolm is what enabled them to survive that mission as partners. There isn’t much fiction that has them beginning a relationship in Season 3. It’s an ongoing committed relationship that provides a safe haven for them both, enabling them to keep love alive throughout or despite it all. One that provides, beyond all else... hope.
Jonathan Archer and Malcolm Reed need one another. Malcolm seems to blossom in the relationship, opening up to Jon, supported by Jon’s love and trust. He gains in self-confidence, Jon being his anchor in a world that had never offered him that kind of love and constancy in relationships. For his part, Jon is deeply touched by winning Malcolm’s trust and by hearing Malcolm use his given name rather than ‘Captain’ or ‘sir.’ And Malcolm is his lodestar, in many ways. He serves as Jon’s moral compass in the Expanse, and Jon looks to him on the bridge at every major decision point... not for approval or permission, but for support, for affirmation.
They are very much equal partners in their relationship. They may have started as the captain and the lieutenant, but they became Jonathan and Malcolm, each bringing so much to the relationship, each completing the other. They know one another’s weaknesses and flaws, and sometimes compensate, sometimes simply accept them. Jon knows he sometimes talks too much; Malcolm knows it means he’s nervous or insecure... or is being an incurable romantic. Malcolm withdraws when he’s hurting; Jon tries to draw him out, provides an ear if he needs one, or a target for his anger to bounce off against harmlessly. But in the end, Jon is simply always there for him... holding him safe.
And for all of Jonathan’s verbal eloquence, the way they communicate best is in a glance, a smile, a touch... beyond words.
Fanfic Recommendations
This pairing has attracted some wonderful writers of fanfiction, dating from almost the beginning of the series. Interestingly, many of the stories from that early period hold up very well in terms of their premises for the relationship, for why these two were drawn to each other and why they stayed together. My personal favorite A/R authors are among those represented in the fic recommendations below. Some are still writing Enterprise and A/R; others have moved on to other fandoms. Their fic can be found on the archives listed below and or on their own websites.
It was hard to pick just a few stories, but these are some of my personal favorites, listed alphabetically. I tried to find a set of stories that cut across all four years (to date) of Enterprise, but other than that, they are simply stories that touched my heart and cut to the core of the Archer/Reed relationship. I have included some of my own stories, those mentioned by fellow A/R fans as being among their favorites.
All that I Need/ With All My Heart -- the "Give and Take" series by Alia -- a deepening relationship, a realization
Becoming Water -- by KylieLee -- exquisite images of one way to drown
Beneath the Uniform -- by Kipli -- Malcolm finds the courage to separate the Captain from the man in his own mind and heart
Byrne/Imperceptibly Stript Back -- by MJ -- an early double viewpoint on the same events
Chasing After the Rain/Thin Ice and the others in the ‘Little Earthquakes’ series (still ongoing) -- by TheMoonmoth -- the long slow building of realization on both their part
Dear Sir -- by Mareel -- Malcolm tries to make peace with his father
Force of Nature -- by Mareel -- one of my own drabbles, trying to capture and contrast Malcolm's past and his future
Golden Slumbers/Here Comes the Sun -- by Shi Shi -- the culmination of the trust-building period... and a simply beautiful description of a sleeping Malcolm, seen through Jonathan’s eyes
Held Tenderly -- by Pretzelduck -- unbelieving that they could really want each other... it's an incredible slow dance around each other
Husks -- by Juli -- Set in Season 3... it's about changing relationships... burning off the superficial... for better and for worse
Ithaca -- by TarynEve -- finding their way back... the story that prompted me to write... it touches me every time I reread it
Meant to Be Together -- by Beverly -- finding their way to one another... in any era
One -- by KayJay -- Jon on the occasion of his birthday
Refuge series -- by Mareel -- follows an A/R committed relationship through the events of Season 3
The Mission -- by Weebob -- Warning: Deathfic. Excruciating to read, but I can’t look away.
The Reed Facade (Facades and Distractions series) -- by Pretzelduck -- the longing and courtship... trust and need... possibly the first A/R I ever read, and I was caught up completely
Wanting/Having -- by Kylie Lee -- not all A/R fics end happily but these views of the events of Minefield and The Communicator are so compelling
Without Change -- by Mareel -- I don't know what to say about this, except that it's the story my own Jon and Malcolm muses needed to tell
Worship -- by Kipli -- these two are both beautiful men, and Malcolm expresses his appreciation for his lover's body here...
And I have to mention the humor... Animal Fair (by ShiShi) is a priceless look at Malcolm as a small black cat when the whole bridge crew, except Jon, is turned into sentient animals.
No list of recommendations could be complete without mentioning that some of the most sustained and intensive portrayals of the A/R relationship can be found in the two role-playing games referenced below. The RPG format takes a bit of getting used to, compared to narrative fiction, but its immediacy and sustained emotional content are compelling. For the record, I do participate in one of these RPG's (Jonathan in
ent_musing) but have been an avid reader of the other one treksoap since its inception in 08/03. Besides my own, there have certainly been other takes on the A/R relationship in fanfiction, including various alternative power dynamics and sexual role-playing. A number of these fics are found in the archives, although some are available only in zines.
Music Videos
Because so much of the canon A/R is conveyed in visual subtext -- in the way these two men interact, the way they work together as a seamless team, support each other... the relationship is well conveyed in the music video format. Probably the two definitive A/R vids are by Linsey, and are set to Dido's White Flag (2 versions) and Westlife's Unbreakable. But the other vids listed are each, in their own way, an important portrayal of the relationship.
Edited to Add (3/27/05): Two more excellent videos have been produced, both incorporating Season 3 themes and clips -- I'll Stand By You by Linsey and How Far We Are by The Moonmoth. In addition, the links have been updated, as the EntSTCommunity site is no longer archiving videos produced before 2005. They may now be downloaded from a dedicated Archer/Reed site.
Music Videos Archived at ArcherReed.net
I'll Stand By You by Linsey
How Far We Are by The Moonmoth
White Flag by Linsey
White Flag (Redux) by Linsey
Hero by Linsey
Unbreakable by Linsey
Drowning by Charlie
Rescue You by Kalita Kasar
Green Eyes by Charlie
RPG (Role Playing Games with strong Archer/Reed elements)
treksoapent_musingFanfiction Archives
Reed's Armory over 160 Archer/Reed stories, indexed by pairing in this archive of all things Malcolm
Archer's Enterprise over 200 Archer/Reed stories indexed by pairing in this Enterprise slash archive.
Warp 5 over 400 Archer/Reed stories included in this large general ENT archive with author/title index
Groups
ArcherReed LJ Community
Archer/Reed A dedicated A/R website with videos, art, fiction, and links
Reed's Archery Range A Yahoo group focussed on the Archer/Reed relationship. Slash fiction, art, discussion
Reed's Armory A Yahoo group for fiction and discussion of any Reed related fiction. A/R is strongly represented, but all Reed pairing and general fiction are also welcome.
no subject
no subject
And, because I have no modesty, if you like angst, read my 'Little Earthquakes' series (also listed above, as 'Chasing After the Rain/Thin Ice') charting the relationship from the very beginning... altho it isn't finished yet...
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
I'm also very pleased (and somewhat astounded) to see some fic I've yet to read in the recs section ::rubs hands together in glee::
*hugs* Moony x
no subject
*hugs*
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
Have you watched the deleted scene from 'Shuttlepod One' on the "Enterprise" DVDs? That scene, in my opinion, holds some nice subtext for both of the pairings I mentioned above-- in one conversation, no less. *g* Drunk!Malcolm and Drunk!Trip are fondly remembering their Captain and friend as they pass the bourbon back and forth. Frankly, I found that conversation a lot more interesting than the discussion that was left in, about T'Pol having a nice bum. In a way, the conversation they left in sounded more like Malcolm was trying to prove his heterosexuality to Trip (and/or the audience). *shrugs*
no subject
I don't even remember how I stumbled onto Archer's Enterprise. I wound up running across an Archer/Reed/Tucker threesome series by BeverlyCrusher, and somehow, Jon and Malcolm captured my heart and my imagination. What I do remember is stumbling across all these well-written fics, most of them written by one of a few authors on the site. One of them, of course, was you. So how fitting is it that you also wrote the Shipper's Manifesto for this pairing?
I've always been a sucker for the reserved and uptight falling for the open and tactile, and this is, essentially, the ultimate example of that combination. The way Jon draws Malcolm out, and the way Malcolm steadies Jon, hit any number of my personal kinks, not just sexual but emotional. I've been a Trek fan since Chris Pine burst onto the screen in theaters near me, after which I went back and discovered TOS (and absolutely fell in love), and then, slowly, I discovered Voyager and DS9 and Next Generation. But Enterprise has always held a special fascination for me, because the idea of finally hearing the story of how the Federation became what we saw in Kirk's era, and eventually in Picard's, is unbearably exciting. Now, after reading this, I have even more of an excuse to marathon the show over Christmas.
Thanks for letting me ramble, and more importantly, thanks for writing an incredible tribute to the pairing.
(Also I want to ravish Scott Bakula and Dominic Keating is quite possibly too hot for his own good.)
no subject
And thank you for the kind comments on my fic for them. I hope you will enjoy your Christmas-time Enterprise marathon. Sounds like a great thing to do!
(and you're absolutely right about both Scott and DK!)