Title: Inclination
Fandom: The Sentinel (in the Star Trek universe)
Pairing: Jim/Blair
Categories: AU, angst
Length: long
Warnings: n/a

Author on LJ: n/a
Author Website: http://www.dementia.org/~jacquez/writing/fanfic.html


Review:
Blair is the only known Vulcan guide (and he's called Telar in this fic). Jim is a Starfleet Captain (with a reputation for having a man in every port). It's a story that shouldn't work, and yet somehow is amazing.

Telar is a trainer for Sentinels and Guides at Starfleet when he is informed that he's being assigned to Jim, who has just come on-line. Since in this universe there is a sexual component to the Sentinel/Guide relationship (in fact, bonded pairs are automatically married) and since Vulcans (including Telar) are strictly heterosexual, Telar's not thrilled with the assignment. He doesn't have a choice, however, and while Starfleet doesn't actually order him to bond with/marry Jim, it isn't logical for Telar to attempt something he knows will fail, so they are married almost immediately. Since Telar hasn't reached his first pon farr (and since Jim isn't, you know, an *assohole*), there isn't any actual sex going on, but Telar's anxiety about the future borders on terror, and after a visit to Vulcan, Jim learns why. Turns out Vulcans aren't as enlightened as you might think...

Star Trek as a fandom has never really appealed to me (probably because I only have a passing interest in the canon), but I have a kink for AU's so I gave this fic a chance. Man, am I glad I did. Jim and even Telar/Blair are perfectly in character, despite the restrictions of the universe, and it's both fascinating and surprisingly believable to know that in some ways the Federation is more advanced than Vulcan. If you're tired of all of the Sentinel's fandom cliches (TableLeg!Blair, Repressed!Jim, evil Sentinels/Guide kidnapping governments/global conspiracies!) then this is the fic for you.

Inclination