I feel like we seriously need to talk about these gifs: The oh so gentle way he reaches out and caresses her arm, as much emotional as physical steadying. The way they turn their faces towards each other in perfect unison. The way they react to jostling somehow by going towards each other (rather than in the same direction)… like their instinct is to come together for support no matter the circumstances.
Also they both just look really pretty here with their perfect hands and her romantically starting to fall out of its confines hair and their worried little faces and perfect profiles and sad eyebrow raises and glorious cheekbones and his oh so kissable lips.
This so perfect.
You can see that even with the whole crew around them they seek comfort and assurance in each other.
She doesn’t just take his arm – he lays his hand over hers. This is such an intimate gesture. (Also why did that woman have to walk in front of them right then?)
Now look at that. That’s not just relief, that’s “I need to touch you all over to make sure you’re really not dead” relief.
That’s “Let me truly look at you again before I leave you for two seconds in case you die on me again”
And finally, this is “I’ve seen half of my crew down, but Oh God, not him, please not him” angst.
These two are just so close and intimate with each other.
You called?
I feel like this needs to make the rounds again.
It’s more than worthy, don’t you think?
More than worthy.
This post can constantly be on my dash for all I care!
Wow. Such a connection! Live on my dash, kthx. Also that one GIF, #3…can we title it “The Caress”?
There is so much more here than just “captain and first officer.” In any of the gifs, really. Can you imagine Kira going into Sisko’s office with a peace rose, or Riker sobbing over Picard’s body? No. Because the Janeway/Chakotay dynamic is more than that and should have been acknowledged through the end of the series. *sigh* but I guess that’s why we have fanfic
This post is such pure, essential J/C.
They care so deeply for each other and their relationship is just so very special.
She touches him all the time:
But he’s also so concerned with her well being.
And then can I just ask how so far we missed this:
Cause they just hold hands. On the bridge. In front of everyone. Completely unapologetic.
Their love and support of each other is just so damn beautiful.
So, I’ve started writing a short Janeway Chakotay fic to warm me up for Big Story I have a mind to tell. It’s a work in progress of course, but I’m excited to start the journey.
@the960writers wow, thanks for your work running Fictober! The prompts are fabulous, and I’m really enjoying writing to them.
I’m pretty new to Voyager (or any) fandom myself, but I have the impression that for the most part it never went away; rather it’s been gradually shifting into more visible spaces. I think other Trek fans aren’t so aware of us because Voyager is often treated with disdain in mainstream/general Star Trek forums; it’s offputting. Just my impression – more seasoned fans could probably offer a different perspective.
Nope, you pretty much nailed it (says a fan of 20 years whose interest level has waxed and waned).
I stay away from any Voyager discussions outside of my cosy tumblr/discord bubble because the janeway hate is real and distressing.
As for a resurgence in Voyager fic, I can’t say why it seems to happen every few years, but I thank the newer fans for it, along with the comp/exchange/prompt generating fans. Their enthusiasm reignites mine.
So I just watched the Voyager episode Coda, and a few things struck me. All of it apart for the first few mintes was happening in Janeway’s head. So that means the alien soul stealer was manifesting what Janeway thought would happen.
She imagined B’leanna didn’t trust her at first, but ultimately became a better version of herself because of Janeway’s faith in her. How validating. Optimistic Harry remembering the happy moment they both scoffed fruit. A moment where she reached out and took pains to conect with him on a human level. So touching. She hoped he valued that.
But look at how she imagined Chakotay would react to her death (anguished sobbing -Katherine, Katherine, you can’t leave me!) She clearly knows exacty how deepy he feels for her and how devastated he would be at her loss.
Then to cap that, he walks right through the bridge to her ready room holding a freaking rose. A rose! That he picked from the hydroponics bay himself, and marched around the ship with. Yes this flower is for my platonic friend, my senior officer, the captain. What’s that you say, Katherine? Champagne and a moonlight boat ride? Sounds friendly and not romantic at all, since we have clearly defined our relationship parameters, okay, let’s go.
ah, yes, the beauty of coda. definitely one of the best shipper episodes. you can easily see how attached Kathryn Janeway is to all of her crew. the scene with Chakotay (bc it happens in her head) definitely shows how extra attached to him in particular she is. plus the ending is super cute
using @fictober18 prompts to try to get writing again. these will likely be unbetaed here on tumblr, but will be polished up before being moved to AO3. feel free to tell me your thoughts anyway if you’d care to read my rough drafts!
for Prompt #1: “Can you feel this?”
untitled for now – J/C, set during Shifting Parameters if you want an idea of the theme. 😉
“—feel it?”
The tugging on his arm dragged Chakotay towards consciousness. Still mostly asleep, he tried to ignore it, letting his mind begin to drift once more.
this is for @ejc74656 who prompted me with “why are you bleeding?”
–
Chakotay wiped the sweat quickly from his forehead before continuing his onslaught on the black punching bag before him. That. *punch* Damned. *punch* Woman. *punch* *punch* Thinks. *punch* She. *punch* Knows. *punch* Everything. *punch*
He had come to the workout room with the goal of releasing a little pent-up energy after one of the longest shifts of his life. Not only had Kathryn yet again refused to listen to any of his suggestions, but she had also managed to concoct another elaborate suicide mission behind his back. And he had almost let her get away with it. Chakotay took a deep breath and tore off his gloves. The more he thought about it, the angrier he felt. The empty workout room was just about the only place it was acceptable to release said anger.
–
Several hours later, his combadge chirped from the nearby bench where he’d abandoned it when he first came in. Chakotay strode over to the bench and sat down, finally exhausted. He sighed and reached over to retrieve the badge, “Chakotay here.”
“Chakotay,” came Kathryn’s even voice, “please report to my quarters.”
“I’m on my way.” Chakotay sighed again and stood up. What could she possibly want now? He quickly gathered his things and walked out of the room into the corridor, heading toward his quarters. She hadn’t sounded urgent, so he figured he could at least change his clothes on the way.
Not five minutes later, Chakotay stood in front of the Captain’s quarters wearing a fresh uniform. He pressed the chime and waited for her answering “come” before entering.
“You wanted to see me, Captain?”
“Please, have a seat.” Kathryn gestured toward the space on the couch next to her. He sat. “I want to apologize.”
Well, this was new.
“I should have listened to you. What I said was wrong.” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, “I just have such a hard time remembering that I don’t have to do this on my own. I feel so protective of the crew sometimes… I end up thinking that things will just be easier if I handle it all on my own. I know how frustrating I must be, I’m sorry.”
Chakotay stared at her. This show of emotion was so rare. He was shocked.
“Kathryn, you know you can trust me with anything.” Chakotay moved closer on the couch and reached out to place his hand atop hers.
“Of course I know that, Chakotay,” she responded seriously, turning on the couch to face him and flipping her hand to grip his hand tightly, “I just-” she stopped suddenly to look down at their joined hands, “Chakotay, why are you bleeding?”
Chakotay joined her in looking down at his hand, “oh, that.” He was just now noticing his cracked knuckles which oozed a few drops of blood and had suddenly begun to ache.“It’s nothing really, just left over from my workout,” Chakotay answered, trying to sound nonchalant.
“Why didn’t you wear gloves?” Kathryn moved quickly to a cabinet near her desk.
“I don’t know. It just feels more real somehow. More therapeutic.”
Kathryn returned quickly, holding a dermal regenerator. She sat down and pulled both of his hands into her lap. She then began gently running the device over his injured knuckles. When she finished, she set the regenerator aside and softly ran the tips of her fingers over the newly regrown skin. She continued to look down at his hands as she asked quietly, “was this because of me?”
Chakotay paused for a moment before nodding ever so slightly. Kathryn pulled away and turned to face forward on the couch, not looking at him.
“I’m sorry. This is all my fault, Chakotay. If I could just learn to not be so damned selfish all the time, we wouldn’t be in this situation.” Chakotay sat and watched for a moment as Kathryn hung her head and covered her face with her hands. “I’m so sorry, Chakotay,” she repeated.
This woman will be the end of me, he thought. Chakotay slid slowly along the couch until their thighs were practically touching and stretched his right arm around her shoulders, pulling her close, “look at me.”
She hesitated for a moment, then slowly removed her hands and turned to meet his gaze.
“We’ll get through this, Kathryn. The same way we always do,” he raised his other hand to brush his thumb across her cheek, “together.”
She nodded and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him into a tight hug, “together.”
Are you a writer, artist, gifmaker, vidder or underwater basket weaver who creates stuff for Star Trek Voyager?
Are you interested in creating fanworks for Fictober, Kinktober, Inktober (the official version or your own) or any other kind of ‘tober I haven’t heard of?
Then please post your works to this AO3 collection!
bekjaneway 