define "badass".
So, for au_bigbang, I'm doing this cracktastic prompt from the kinkmeme. Basically? 1920s Prohibition Era AU. Spock's a Prohibition Bureau officer investigating the illicit activities of one James T. Kirk.
SO-- Jim's supposed to be this badass almost-gangster running the speakeasy, but with a heart of gold. Spock is this hard-ass cop type person , and the whole arc of the fic is basically the two of them reconciling the fact that you can do bad things and be a good person (or, brewing alcohol to make a buck doesn't make you Satan). And by two of them, I mean Spock. Jim's pretty much got that lesson down.
Even in the planning process, I can tell that reconciling the badassery of Jim with his heart of gold (...ery?) is going to suuucccckkkkk. Too much badass? Unsympathetic character who would be an insult to Spock if they were to be lovers (which, hehe, they will). Too much heart of gold? Makes him unsympathetic as it takes away the part of him which needs to be reconciled in the first place. Also, who wants to read about A) Someone who is all sunshine, daisies, and morals but also runs an illegal liquor operation (yeah right!), B) a boring, completely under control James T. Kirk, alternate universe or not.
Basically, I'm bitching because I can't think of a good ending that makes Spock and Kirk true to who they are whilst having mad monkey sex. Or, you know, being in love.
GUH THIS IS WHY THIS WASN'T A GOOD IDEA EVEN THOUGH I'M TOTALLY LOVING IT