Got a really unformed spones idea and I'm struggling to come up with like any consistent plot so have what's mostly an introduction to an au and not much else
Vulcans have very recently reformed. Surak is alive, elderly, and basically the Messiah. There are def Vulcans still clinging to the old way and some off shoot cults but the majority of the culture is making a dedicated effort to go logical
Humans and I dunno maybe denobulans and andorians are the main pre-starfleet diplomats. They've put together a team to meet these new peaceful Vulcans and talk diplomacy. Cos even tho Vulcans were violent they were never dumb and they've always been an enemy species who like war. Now they're a maybe ex enemy who likes peace??? Internal politics are wild
The main diplomats meeting like Sarek and Surak are Jim and Uhura. McCoy is along as a xenobiologist cos their crew is small but there's a lot of species so you need a multi skilled doctor.
Jim and uhura spend most of their time in with the Vulcans. McCoy can't get out for the morning meetings (which he's required to attend) fast enough. Spock is like important cos he's Sarek's son but not high up enough himself yet to be in the meetings so he's chilling at the door to attend someone (and get the goss). He joins McCoy post morning meeting every day to get an update on whats being discussed
McCoy indulges this guy cos he's curious, even more so when he realises Spock's half human. Their morning dates turn into all day affairs as they go from polite exchange of info to full theological and ethical arguments
Cos Spock's and his culture are both new Spock is a little less sure of himself then canon Spock. He goes home and asks challenging questions when McCoy stymies him.
I think Spock grew up young and emotional and his fam.only went logical when he was a teen so he's not as good at the emotional restraint as canon Spock so he does lose his cool with McCoy. Early on he's angry/annoyed but later he lets slip some of how much he's enjoying this
McCoy's isn't going as hard as canon cos 1. This guy isn't as sure as canon Spock, they're kinda feeling out the flaws in the ethos together, and, 2. They're not old friends yet so ofc McCoy's not gonna be as rude
I also think, just cos it's me, that they get a crush and McCoy has this melt down chat with Jim where they're talking about something slightly different where McCoy alarmed that he wants to bone and alien and Jim thinks the issue is the male-bodied alien cos he's only known McCoy to like women so Jim's there like "bi is okay" and McCoy's like "what? I know. His dick has little grippy bits on it tho, freaks me out"
I think Spock and McCoy borderline heretical debates get back to Surak and Spock gets to meet the pope. He's surprised but how chill Surak is about letting emotion slip through (personal headcanon that Surak was wayyy more normal about emotions than modern trek Vulcans. "You must be calm and logical" hits different when you're talking to a bunch of gladiators fresh from a blood-heavy fight compared to, like, a room of accountants).
Spock and McCoy do bone, but in like a 'grind on each other and talk awkwardly about kissing' kinda way. It's really hot for them but not crazy intimate. When the diplomatic enterprise is leaving a few Vulcans come along and Jim pulls a few strings (asks like one person) to get Spock along. McCoy's alright with it but still kinda on his 'am I am alien fucker' trip
McCoy and Spock have a real weird conversation about sex and reproduction and kink and history of sexual culture and personal sexual history. They're kinda flirting but also using totally scientific language. McCoy's quite happy to manoeuvre Spock into position to illustrate how McCoy lost his virginity, but at the same time Spock's doing his third memory check on 'have I got the hormones in the human body right" so he's listing like endorphins and testosterone and so on, while sitting in McCoy's lap
I'm sure they fuck eventually
I just like the idea of culturally new Vulcans.