In response to a request from Keidahattori for a Miyazaki film, I've gone with "My Neighbour Totoro" – not necessarily my favourite out of so many awesome movies but definitely my continual go–to any time I'm feeling kinda sad!

My Neighbour Totoro

"Thank god that's today over with!" groans Dr McCoy as he sinks into a chair in the captain's quarters – "I mean what is with security staff on this ship?"

"Bones are you implying my staff don't do their job?"

"It's not that it's just they keep trying to die on me!"

Kirk and Spock look at Bones as though he has just broken an unspeakable ship taboo.

"If you're so done why are you cluttering up my quarters? It is kinda late you could go to bed."

"No see if you're trying to get rid of me I really don't wanna go. Like I need to lie up for the next few hours hearing my walls ring to the sound of "Oh god Spock".

"Hmmm" Kirk sighs – "I thought I asked Scotty to look into that"

"Jim I don't think there's a damned thing Scotty can do to help you with problems like that"

"I meant the sound proofing Bones, get a grip."

"I suspect –" Spock cuts in, quietly eager to effectively change the conversation fast – "That the doctors' intention in your quarters is to seek some form of stress relief Captain."

"See?" Bones grins – "Even the Vulcan gets it – so where's the brandy?"

"I was not referring to the perceived relief you humans seem to find in the consumption of alcohol doctor. I was contemplating the fact that when the captain feels stressed –"

"Spock!" Kirk warns;

"I don't wanna know!" Bones wails.

" – he is particularly partial to being wrapped in a blanket he describes as "Snuggly" and watching these things you call Ghibli movies."

"Spock!" Kirk howls, not liking the way this is going.

"I believe in particular you have a tendency to repeatedly watch "My neighbour Totoro" because in your words it is "Entirely benign and only contains the mildest peril"".

Kirk rails. Bones moans that he is not being dragged into watching what he can only assume to be the Japanese equivalent of Disney and ten minutes late sees Spock wrapping them both in blankets like little burritos and sticking them on the bed, side by side with cups of hot chocolate, watching "My neighbour Totoro" for the doctor's first and Kirk's umpteenth time.

"God help me" Bones grumbles when the soot sprites appear.

"This is disgustingly cute" he mumbles when Totoro appears.

"Don't offend the woodland spirit Bones, Spock'll glare at you."

"Spock? You're invested in this – this – lumpen ball with a face?"

"A most peaceable and logical creature doctor."

"He respects the little ogres' affinity with the natural world" Kirk elucidates.

"Dear god". Spock opens his mouth to continue but Kirk does not allow it –

"No Spock, don't give us that speech on the aesthetics of kawaii in Japanese culture again – you ruined this for me last time with that!"

Half an hour later however Bones is horrified to find himself smiling benignly at umbrella – holding Totoro and then giggling like a tiny girl at the rain dance.

"Spock you still seeing the logic here?" He grins, wondering why Spock is not grumbling at the implausibility of plants growing magically overnight.

"Shut up Bones!" Kirk hisses – "It's his favourite part!"

Next time Bones tries to speak Kirk pauses the movie to tell him very sternly that some movies are sacrosanct and you do not speak through them and this is one of them.

"Well pardon me if I need to talk with actual words unlike the two of –" Kirk and Spock glare at him until he shuts up and stays shut up for the rest of the film.

"Jim –" Bones says sleepily, once they have sung their way along through the end credits – "You're kinda like a cat – bus, you're big and you're squidgy and you take us all where we want to go –" and he promptly falls asleep like a tired child in a ball on the Captain's bed.

"Spock –" Kirk sighs, yawning – "You put brandy in the chocolate didn't you?"

"I believe you would call it "Doctor's orders" Captain" Spock replies smoothly, smiling faintly to himself.

_x_

Yay! I finished on a dumb joke just like many an episode of TOS!

I apologise if you haven't seen this movie – but not much because if you haven't SEE IT. It's genuinely beautiful. See all the Studio Ghibli movies. You won't regret a thing. :-)

On a serious note I deeply apologise for not having updated in actual forever – I've been ill (like horrible hospital going ill, ick) and also work's been a bitch. But I'm here! I'm back and I'm writing crack again so I must be better! Woohoo! :-) Someone remind me what to write next!