Do you have any more ideas for your no-Surak au? I LOVE the idea of emotional miasma
YES I forgot I DO have so many ideas I want to talk about
Starting in a similar cultural evolutionary lens; Since emotional-illness on Vulcan spreads primarily as an airborne disease, cultures on Vulcan would have developed a whole slew of illness management and suppression strategies similar to our human disease-control.
When personally ill, a Vulcan could wear protective clothing that is lined in a copper alloy (or something similarly conductive, like, the wealthy may use silver) to avoid contaminating others. On a larger scale, like during times of great community distress, many of them would be wearing these clothes in order to prevent being afflicted with the worse, overlaying emotions of everyone else.
I imagined these would look a lot like our different forms of body coverings, with whatever southeast-Asian sci-fi flair you want to give it.
And similarly to us, there would be a ton of variation in the styles of "shields" for all the different social and cultural situations they'd be used in. Like classic "medical" or "hazmat" style shields (thank you Spock for being one of our lovely models), funeral veils, personalized protective wear; which varies between emphasizing fashion or modesty, shielding for "chronic" or "severe" illness, as well as styles for militant, government, and ceremonial use.
In the time period my AU focuses on (kind of based on the 1980s to now) the use and style of these shields would especially evolve and gain popularity in a street-fashion way. Which could be as tame as a mask resembling a shield but not actually being lined with copper, defeating the "purpose" of it. Versus fully lined masks that are used by progressive groups in a punk, anti-authoritarian way.
And of course, these masks would also be used to enact crime. Which is used by conservatist communities and authorities to criticize and discriminate the progressive movement.
Also, we can look at existing examples of Vulcan headwear and make some fun theories on how the article of clothing they're wearing evolved from something with an actual purpose. Like how humans kinda invented the modern t-shirt to be an undershirt, and now they've become this whole other thing that we wear casually and put designs all over.
The high, conical collars that Vulcans like to wear can also be related to shielding, or specifically, with amplification. High-ranking religious, political, or militant figures could wear a conical collar to indicate that their thoughts and emotions should be amplified, symbolizing their importance. These conical collars can also be put on children, either as an observational thing, or to symbolize their "expanding" mind.
Direction could also matter a little! Vulcans may wear covering just over the back of their head, leaving their front entirely open. This may be a way to show trust and openness to those they are facing and talking to, while showing distrust/protecting themselves from anyone who may be behind them. This has also led to some Vulcans thinking it's rude when someone is covering the front of their face when they aren't obviously sick. (like how masks and sunglasses and hats can be rude to some humans)
Speaking of conservatists, I think on the far end there'd be an "anti-shield" movement who believe; if a Vulcan is sick then they shouldn't step foot outside at all. Their ideal is that sick Vulcans deserve to stay home with a loving family who will take care of them and help to emotionally regulate. But progressives argue that no Vulcan can afford not to work and go out these days, and that many families aren't healthy or safe enough to actually care about looking out for one another.
In a relatable way, Capitalist and Militant interests are pushing a very pessimistic, individualist perspective on the common-person's life. And even my no-Surak AU Spock, while having a good measure of political and financial influence, fights a lot with the internalized belief that "it doesn't matter" and that he "can't actually enact change".
Something something, Spock venting to Kirk, "how can a grain of sand stand a chance against a mountainous boulder?" "through... community. You immerse yourself in the sands, and you work together to erode and chip away at that boulder." "But it won't be enough." "But it'll be different."
ok love u that's it for now, remind me later to talk about masculism in Vulcan fashion and culture, orrrr how emotional illness can behave in contact/droplet transmitted disease scenarios.... or internal vs external social dynamics... hell I've even thought about their sports
But also feel free to ask me for the plot abt this K/S no-surak au, it’s as equally thought out and complicated
snowghoul
origamiaround
amandla
tangentwithtanner
turnnoffyourmind
gummygunk
