shannyfish

Hi there! I am glad that you're enjoying my Arrow/Olicity fanfic :). I don't write for Arrow anymore, all of my stuff is posted on AO3 (if you're not already reading it there). I think I have 60+ stories over there just for Arrow/Olicity, including flash fiction challenge things! I don't PLAN to go back and write more, however, if my brain gets into a re-watch mode, I may go back and wrap up those fics where I accidentally left open. I think I left possibly stories within both "In Truth" and "Paths" series left open, which are two stories that I had really had a good time writing and planning out (and I likely still have notes on).

Right now my writing looks like: putting off further working on my original novel that I shouldn't be putting off, writing Star Trek Strange New Worlds fanfic when I can, and then writing for 2 characters on 2 ships of a Star Trek PBEM RPG. I'm also reading again, which is sort of odd. I used to read a lot forever ago, but I've been adding to my TBR stack but also actually reading as well. So that takes up time as well, but good for the creative part of my brain. RL tends to keep me more occupied than I like and a lot of just trying to get myself where I can have writing space and time.

Title: Untraveled Roads Pairing: Spock/Chapel Summary: A large party of ambassadors on board the Enterprise leads to a very interesting realization for Spock and Christine Chapel when it comes to what a possible future together may look like. ===========

"Copernicus!" 

"Copernicus, come back here!" another child yelled.

The park near Starfleet Academy was bustling with children and families.  A pair of dark haired bright eyed twins were chasing a full size Bernese Mountain Dog.  The twins were about five years old, both dressed in matching blue and black, and chasing their dog through the crowd, uncaring about all the people they were weaving through.  

"I am afraid that I do not quite understand how to do this still."

There was a smile in immediate response to that confession.  Amanda Grayson smiled at her son.  "Spock, you're doing a great job, you're great with the children, they're just…"

"Very human?" 

They moved towards the crowd in a calm manner.  "Yes, but also they're children, Spock," Amanda reminded.

He was dressed in his uniform, even though not on duty in that moment.  "But in public, they seem to respond to Christine differently."

"You're different people, so you parent differently," Amanda explained.  "Honestly, if the dog wasn't involved, they would have been right with us the whole time."  She shook her head.  "I will say that they're quite persuasive even at such a young age."

"They are."

"How does Christine call them back?" 

"Very loudly," Spock said, unsure how else to explain it to her.  He could see the twins not far away and it seemed like they'd caught up with their dog as well.  That brought him relief, but this certainly wasn't the outing that he'd expected to be out on with his mother.  

She pointed in the direction of the children, one had the leash and they were both giggling as they spoke to the large dog.  "Why don't you show me?"  She didn't miss the face that Spock made.  "I understand that it might be a way to parent that you never experienced growing up but that doesn't make it less valuable."

Growing up, his home was on Vulcan and he tried every day to be like those around him.  The only time he really felt like he was accepted as a child was when Michael lived with them and before she pushed him away.  When he and Christine made their commitment to be together and talked about having children that had been part of their discussion, how his upbringing being bullied constantly for not fitting in was not something he wanted for their children.  Of course, his children were only a quarter Vulcan, so they passed mostly for Human.  Their ears were just slightly pointed, that was the outward physical appearance.  Here on Earth, so close to Starfleet Headquarters and the Academy, the children had fit in just fine.  

However, what his mother was asking made him uncomfortable.  

The last couple weeks haven't gone as well for me creatively, but fear not! I've been still writing, it's just way slower than I had wanted. Real life is just rude and keeps throwing up obstacles.

I've also been working on getting my home writing area set up in hopes that I'll be able to be more productive on RP stuff, fanfic, and original fiction. Hoping that once things are set up, I might use this platform as a way to post writing goals (for all the types of writing) and sort of holding me accountable for it. Also, So Cal has decided that since we finally hit summer solstice that it would finally turn the heat up into summer mode to join the rest of the country lol. So trying to combat the heat/sun from trying to kill me as well.

There was a smile in immediate response to that confession.  Amanda Grayson smiled at her son.  "Spock, you're doing a great job, you're great with the children, they're just…"

"Very human?" 

They moved towards the crowd in a calm manner.  "Yes, but also they're children, Spock," Amanda reminded.

He was dressed in his uniform, even though not on duty in that moment.  "But in public, they seem to respond to Christine differently."

Title: Untraveled Roads Pairing: Spock/Chapel Summary: A large party of ambassadors on board the Enterprise leads to a very interesting realization for Spock and Christine Chapel when it comes to what a possible future together may look like. ===========

Spock hadn't expected to be sitting in his parents' temporary quarters on the Enterprise.  His father had remained neutral and mostly silent, which was not an unusual dynamic in the family.  In that moment, he found himself missing Michael.  However, he didn't vocalize it.  It was one thing to have such a discussion on Vulcan, but it wasn't something that could be done here.  

"I hope that this time around that we might make time to visit more and meet your friends here on the Enterprise," Amanda spoke up to Spock.  There was tea out and tea already poured for all.  

"I do not want to take you away from any diplomatic duties you might have while on board," Spock replied.

"Luckily, I am not the ambassador," Amanda commented.  "Though I will of course be at all of the social events on board."

"We all will," Sarek spoke up.  He looked from Amanda to Spock.  "Will we not?"

"We will," Spock agreed.  "Captain Pike has requested that the senior staff attend the social events as well, if possible.  We have already been given a list of which events require more formal dress."

It was all a bit awkward.  "Right, well, how about a tour?" Amanda asked Spock, getting to her feet.

"I will be unavailable to join at this time because I must prepare," Sarek told them.

Amanda smiled.  "Of course, it will give Spock and I time together."  Sarek's need to prep and have that quiet space was something that she'd expected and was ready to take advantage of.  "After all, it isn't everyday that we are on board the Enterprise."  The last time she was there was when she'd come to be a part of the V'Shal dinner between their family and T'Pring's family.  However, this was the first time that her husband, Sarek, was on board.  She had found herself missing her children and wanting to have that connection with Spock's life, which was harder when he was so far from Vulcan.  However, she was proud of him for how far he'd come and accomplished with Starfleet.  She also knew that he had a new found appreciation (or at least she thought he did) for his own human side.  

"No," she echoed almost sing-song.  "I just want to see where you work and live.  I want to meet your friends.  See what your life like is here."  

Spock blinked as he processed what his mother was saying.  "You were here before."

"You were very different then," Amanda reminded as she looked up to him.

Spock looked at his mother and then nodded.  "You are correct."

"And things weren't…normal for you then."

That was also correct.  "Things will not be exactly normal on the Enterprise with the diplomatic delegation," he reminded.  

"But it will be closer than the last time," Amanda stated.  "I think we spent the most time with the captain."

"He would rather that you not force him into helping with any more human lessons on this trip, I believe," Spock informed her.  That seemed to amuse his mother.  "What?"

Amanda was just beaming as they walked.  "Your captain isn't scared of me, is he?"

Title: Untraveled Roads Pairing: Spock/Chapel Summary: A large party of ambassadors on board the Enterprise leads to a very interesting realization for Spock and Christine Chapel when it comes to what a possible future together may look like. ===========

"The Enterprise will be hosting Federation ambassadors and transporting them to a summit," Pike explained.  "We'll pick up our guests at Starbase One and ferry them to Betazed for more Federation discussions.  Our job is simply transport and while they're in our care, we entertain."

"If that means you're cooking, I'll wear whatever uniform I need to impress the guests," Oretegas quipped.

"Exactly which ambassadors will we be hosting?" Chin-Riley questioned.  

"They aren't quite sure which ambassador from Earth they're sending yet," Pike said, raising his eyebrow slightly as he glanced over his PADD and leaned back in his chair.  "But along with whoever that ends up being, we'll have Tellarite Ambassador Crugriv Jurs and his attache along with Andorian Ambassador Itith Ch'riathrass and assistant and Vulcan Ambassador Sarek and his wife.  Pike looked in Spock's direction as he spoke his father's name.  

"So, the founding Federation members basically," Una stated.

"Seems that way."

"What exactly will be required during their stay?" Uhura spoke up.

Pike sighed.  "I don't think any of them are expecting anything, but Admiral April has expressed that we hold some dinners.  So, everyone will need to be on alert for invitations to those."  He tilted his head.  "I don't expect it to be too involved, but we'll have them for a few days and we need to all do our best to make them comfortable."

"Have you and Spock spoken yet or should I expect an especially awkward moment when his parents beam aboard?"

"Oh, changing the subject," Christine teased, but couldn't stop smiling.  

"I'll take that as a confirmation that it shouldn't be as awkward as I was preparing myself for."

Christine felt a bit frazzled at his comments and question.  "I just–I'm not good at these things–and–I–well–"

"I think you overthink it," Joseph told her.  "Christine, you and Spock have been happier when you're both not overthinking the relationship, whatever it is between you two, or whatever everyone else thinks.  You should both just…be free to live in the moment…I think that's something you both need to learn to do better."

So, I'm working on wrapping up the first chapter of SNW - "Untraveled Roads" and I'm wondering if it'll be reader friendly to have multiple chapters in different realities as long as it's clearly labeled? (Below are examples, but not exactly what it might be)

Example: Chapters 1-3 Prime Timeline Chapters 4-7 Alternate 1 Timeline Chapters 8-11 Alternate 2 Timeline

Okay so I posted earlier (here) and then after looking back to like August 2023 when I first vaguely mentioned me thinking of new story things, I realized I didn't actually give any story details. So, I give you the teaser (gifs + title + pairing + summary) below! Also please check out the post mentioned above if you haven't already for a poll about when I should start posting!

Hi Trek friends!

I think I had teased way back when about a new SNW Spock/Chapel story, but I was having issues with connecting some very important parts. Now I've had all my reference photos and the in between details sorted, but you know without being able to figure out the piece to connect it all, it didn't matter.

WELL, I think I figured that piece out.

My question is, should I wait to start posting chapters until I have more than one written or just post it as I go? Where there might be a longer wait if I post as I write it.