Kirk/Spock Online Festival/KSOF 2000

Spock Online Festival/KSOF 2000 · Spock Online Festival/KSOF 2002 · Spock Online Festival/KSOF 2003 · Spock Online Festival/KSOF 2004-2005

The first Kirk/Spock Online Festival (KSOF 2000) was a joint online/printzine challenge, where all stories submitted would be posted online at Lady Kardasi's Domain and then selected stories would be included and distributed in print form as the Festival zine.

Authors participating in the first KSOF were randomly allocated a "scenario" (story challenge), although according to the rules they could swap with other authors or ask for a second chance if they felt "no inspiration". Available and allocated scenarios, associated authors, and story status were all listed on the Scenarios, ^{Archived version} page at Lady Kardasi's Domain. The published stories eventually included scenarios filled by more than one author, more than one scenario used for a single story, poetry with no associated scenario and artwork added "just for the fun of it".

The stories were released in two 'waves', the first in October 2000, the second in November of the same year.

Rules

From the KSOF 2000 announcement post:

RULES FOR THE KIRK/SPOCK ONLINE FESTIVAL

NOTE! By joining the Kirk & Spock Online Festival list you acknowledge that you have read all the rules and are aware of their contents and subsequently that you give permission to archive and print your stories!

• If you're a lurker, this list is not for you. Everyone who joins is required to participate, by writing, that means writing a challenge fic.

• Deadline for the stories is September 30

• All stories are required to be R or NC-17 rated. Only pairing allowed is Kirk/Spock.

• No stories are to be posted anywhere except the KSOF list until the deadline is up, when we will post the stories at large to the 'net simultaneously.

• You will be assigned a scenario to write. You may not choose. This is the challenge.

• You may swap scenarios with a friend or ask for a second chance if the scenario that you draw does not give you the slightest bit of inspiration. This is supposed to be fun - not a hardship.

• All stories will be archived at the KSOF site at http://www.kardasi.com when the Festival is over. By joining you give permission for this to be done.

• Stories submitted to the KSOF will eventually end up in a printzine version of the Festival. By joining, you give your permission for the story to be incorporated in such a zine, edited and published by Jenna Sinclair and Dusky. Copyright of course, still belongs to you, as the author of the story. You may post it elsewhere when the KSOF is over.

• Some stories, even if posted to the KSOF may not appear in such a printed fanzine. The editor retains the final decision of what stories to include or exclude.

• When the stories are finished, you may post them to the KSOF mailinglist, and then you send a Word 97, txt or HTML version of the story to [...]

• The stories must be beta-read and edited, i.e - arrive to the co-ordinators for the site and the zine (kira-nerys and Jenna Sinclair) with correct spelling and no grammatical errors.

An additional rule was added to the KSOF 2000 rules list at Lady Kardasi's Domain:

• PWP's are allowed. Preferably the stories should be a few pages long though, which rules out poetry, vignettes and drabbles as a challenge fic. You may submit such things after you have finished the 'challenge-story' you've been assigned.

Example Scenarios

Some of the filled and unfilled scenarios that were proposed for KSOF 2000.

Filled

• Spock sees Kirk throwing eyes at another man and decides that this is enough! He can take the women, the way he's always done, but Kirk eyeing another guy? Nope. Vulcan jealousy is awakened.

• First time story in a Romulan Jail.

• Spock reveals that he's in love with Kirk but Spock does not see the logic in such a liaison.

• V-ger never happened. Kirk is lonely and bored and angry on Earth. His marriage to Lori just broke up and Spock is about to enter his final rites at the Kohlinari. Will Kirk just let this happen?

• Spock and Kirk have sex on the Bridge of the Enterprise.

Unfilled

• Spock spots Kirk in a gay bar. What happens?

• A being with *almost* godlike powers (think Q or Trelane) pops up without warning on the Enterprise. The alien's historical studies have led him/her to conclude that the best lovers in the galaxy are the pre-reform Vulcans. But his powers can't bring him back that far in time, and the Enterprise is the nearest ship around that has the only Vulcan in it. The alien kidnaps the dismayed Spock for his experiments, with a "promise" that he will set the Vulcan free from his inhibitions in no time at all. Kirk sets off in hot pursuit.

• Spock sleepwalks and amazing things are revealed.

Wave 1

Untitled artwork #1 by kira-nerys

• The Bonding Contingent by Bats for the scenario: AU - Kirk and Spock have never met. A marriage between them is arranged. It is up to the author to explain why a same-sex marriage is done.
• Eros by Bats for the scenario: Kirk and Spock are in a place reminiscent of ancient Greece.They are in negotiations for something that Starfleet desperately needs. Homosexuality is very common here, and of course readily accepted. Spock hasn't encountered this very often, but sees Kirk's reaction to it - which is rather positive and realizes that his dreams and hopes may not be so far-fetched after all. He lures Kirk with him to some kind of gathering and there the participants are all male gay couples.... Perhaps some semi-public sex ensues.
• The Waterfall Dance by Bats for the scenario: Spock is of feline ancestry and does not like to get wet, while one of Kirk's fondest dreams is to make love to his bondmate in a watershower, a lake, a pool or perhaps a bathtub.
• Oh You Kid by bigmisssunbeam for the scenario: Sex in a Jefferies tube.
• But Never Parted on AO3 by Dreadnought for the scenario: Spock and Kirk are lovers. Due to Starfleet protocols they have to keep their relationship secret. Unfortunately the truth is revealed. Starfleet decides to separate the best command team they've got. What do Kirk and Spock do?
• Jealous Mistress by Dreadnought for two scenarios: Spock is of feline ancestry and does not like to get wet, while one of Kirk's fondest dreams is to make love to his bondmate in a watershower, a lake, a pool or perhaps a bathtub and Spock sees Kirk throwing eyes at another man and decides that this is enough! He can take the women, the way he's always done, but Kirk eyeing another guy? Nope. Vulcan jealousy is awakened.
• Losing Myself in You on AO3 by Francesca Vitale for the scenario: Sarek acts as match-maker.
• The Siren's Call on AO3 by hafital for the scenario: First time story in a Romulan Jail.
• The Same Mistake on AO3 by Islaofhope for the scenario: V-ger never happened. Kirk is lonely and bored and angry on Earth. His marriage to Lori just broke up and Spock is about to enter his final rites at the Kohlinari. Will Kirk just let this happen?
• Sex on the Beach by Islaofhope for the scenario: Kirk and Spock have sex on a beach.
• The World Turned Upside Down on AO3 by Jenna Hilary Sinclair for the scenario: Kirk overhears a conversation between Spock and someone. Or perhaps Spock is doing a personal log? He finds out that Spock is in love with him.
• Camping by k10f7 for the scenario: Write how Kirk and Spock become lovers during the camping trip with McCoy at the beginning of The Final Frontier - or the end. Make it so that McCoy doesn't even know about it until they tell him. How do they pull that off?
• Loneliness by kira-nerys, poetry that did not meet any scenario.
• Return to Life by kira-nerys, poetry that did not meet any scenario.
• Silent Touch by kira-nerys, poetry that did not meet any scenario.
• That of Which We Do Not Speak on AO3 by kira-nerys for the scenario: Spock finds a letter from Kirk that was never sent. A love letter. Late in their lives. Post-TOS series.
• The Letter by Lady Charena for the scenario: Spock finds a letter from Kirk that was never sent. A love letter. Late in their lives. Post-TOS series.
• The Last Straw on AO3 by Liz Ellington for the scenario: Spock sees Kirk throwing eyes at another man and decides that this is enough! He can take the women, the way he's always done, but Kirk eyeing another guy? Nope. Vulcan jealousy is awakened.
• The Island by Menolly for the scenario: Kirk and Spock are stranded on a deserted island together. No Pon Farr.
• Never Parted by Menolly for the scenario: Kirk and Spock are stranded on a deserted island together. No Pon Farr.
• Galileo Foursome by Rae Trail for the scenario: The Caretaker (from Voyager) or Q or something akin to these entities swirls Kirk and Spock's shuttlecraft across the galaxy. They are trapped in the Delta Quadrant - or at least very far from home in the Galileo.
• Younger Times by Rae Trail for the scenario: Sex in a turbolift.
• The Place of Marriage or... by SAMK for the scenario: T'Pring didn't challenge Spock at the koon-ut-kalif-fee. And Spock does not want her. He wants Kirk. What happens?
• What We Do For Love by T'Len for the scenario: Spock saves Kirk from Soran. What would happen if Kirk had lived after Generations?
• Afterthoughts: Spock by T'Len. Sequel to What We Do For Love for the scenario: Spock saves Kirk from Soran. What would happen if Kirk had lived after Generations?
• May I Buy You a Drink? by T'Lin for the scenario: Kirk spots Spock in a gay bar. What happens?
• The Road Not Taken by T'Lin for the scenario: Near the end of the five-year mission, when Kirk is really beginning to feel the strain of command. Carol Marcus comes back into his life with a ten-year-old David in tow, and suddenly, the once dismissed prospect of home and hearth becomes a very real possibility for Kirk. How would Spock react?
• The Truth of the Matter by T'Lin, a drabble that did not meet any scenario.
• A Mother Alone by Vanasati for the scenario: Amanda plays match-maker.
• Bridge by Vanasati for the scenario: Sex on the bridge.

ART

• Untitled #1 (K/S) (R) b/w by kira-nerys
• Untitled #2 (Spock) (NC-17) b/w by kira-nerys

Reactions and Reviews: Wave 1

See reactions and reviews for But Never Parted, Losing Myself in You, The Same Mistake, The World Turned Upside Down, The Siren's Call, The Last Straw and That of Which We Do Not Speak.

[Oh You Kid] Comments from ASCEM

• My dear ol' beam, did I feed you on this one on KSOF? I love this. It's so YOU to put the boys into such a strange place but keep them the boys.... you're truly amazing. Spock with his 'important family' and Kirk as the bright boy, oh my god! And that 'dream' sex sequence was very, very!! Dreamy! Sigh and I think I'd marry you if I could...
• Holy purple moley. Only, only you could write this. It's deranged, off-the-wall, accurate, loopy, not anchronistic, bizarro, hot. My lawd. I started to snip out my favorite bits, but it was the whole thing. I boggle in awe before you.
• Absolutely capital, my dear! White flannels, tribble-skin coats, the bees' knees and "When You Peeked in My Gazebo" -- what more could we ask for when TOS meets the Roaring Twenties, college-style? A Skull and Bones Society, maybe, or is that Spock and Bones? A fabulous tour de force.

[The Island] Comments from ASCEM.

• What a lovely contribution to the KSOF! [...] Short and very sweet. I was a little surprised that Spock didn't explain fully about bonding, that it was a marriage; I tend to think that there are too many assumptions made in fanfic about "bonding." However, I love the idea that your Kirk went ahead with it even though (as I imagined) he didn't fully understand, because he trusted Spock and he understood enough. I loved the bonding scene and the "not entirely inappropriate reactions" they had. Wow. And the ending was *perfect.* I can imagine the officers in the transporter room standing there gaping as Kirk stepped down and joined his fingers to Spock's. Lovely. <g>
• Good story. I'm assuming the way they got in that predicament was via the standard issue defective shuttlecraft? <g> Only one small quibble - they sounded as if they were suffering from acute malnutrition and people in that condition generally aren't able to perform sexually (the libido simply shuts down when the body weight falls below a certain ratio) until their health improves. No point in potential reproduction if the food supply is so poor it can't sustain an adult adequately.
• What a terrific first-time story! And very believable too. I could "see" Spock act the way you portrayed, and I could "see" Kirk react to how Spock was acting. The story was so well written, it was like watching a movie in my mind as I was reading it. Excellent job!! And the sex scene was a real dick-raiser!

[Loneliness] Comments from ASCEM

• Highly evocative imagery. You can really sense the emotions here. I'm a little confused by the first stanza, though. The third line seems - incomplete? I'm probably just reading it wrong.
• Lovely, lovely description of a K/S moment, kira. I've written at least one of those observation-room moments in a story, and I've read a few written by others, and I never get tired of them. You described yours beautifully.
• This was a lovely poem - I particularly liked the last stanza.

[Younger Times] Comments from the Kirk/Spock Archive. Author responses shown in italics.

• Perfect turbolift story.
• I adore your vision of these two. Thanks for reviewing. I like them as an old couple.
• It's funny how we view ourselves after a couple years. Sometimes it's really amazing how you grow and discover new things. It's really true. I am constantly surprised by my un-realized insight, borne of how much I have seen and emerging when I need to know how to respond. Discovery should be the goal of humanity, I reckon... however, for me it's usually beer, sad to say...
• I loved the way you let us see Jim from Spock`s point of view. And the melding in the turbolift was delightful. Thank you for this. My pleasure. One of the things I like about this now is that I can see both Original TOS and Reboot characters in this story. For me, it's new again.
• Awwww :) I love this story! It just feels so right - all the cute, established relationship old married couple stuff makes me feel so warm and fuzzy inside... <3 Thanks! I like starting late in the story, because I spent many years writing only for my own enjoyment (before I discovered ASCEM) I have a huge, multiverse backstory on these guys.
• Ah! Ah! This is beautiful, I was floored by the innocence and the gentleness! I have no adequate words for this, except thank you. Thank you for sharing this! Hey [...] (like the car racing, hope you're not insulted, I love F1) I'm so happy that I made you smile! Thank YOU for reviewing.
• I remembered reading this piece, on the kardasi site I believe. Very emotional, Jim hating to be so needy, but Spock understands fully, and is there for him. Loved how you made Spock think back to the past, and even though so many years has passed, he still loves him as if time stood still. Excellent. It chuffs me that you remember, and that you still enjoy. I was very pleased to read your review, and thanks for writing back. I think you're right, I think it was on kira nerys' site a million years ago... time flies. Your insight into Jim's needy-ness (word?) is very apropos. Thanks for reviewing!
• It is beautiful. Thank your sharing. And I sincerely thank you for reviewing, and letting me know that you liked it.
• This has been a favourite story of mine. I love the comfort that Spock projects and how protective McCoy has been. Thanks for uploading it here! Thanks for reviewing! McCoy only has a walk-on, but he does shine, doesn't he? I loved the dynamic of the three of them. I'm going to have to write in Reboot, just to take advantage of a young, handsome McCoy!

[The Road Not Taken]

Comments from ASCEM. Author responses shown in italics.

• M-hmmmm! What a lovely, angsty story this was. Beautiful. It's one of my favs in the entire KSOF and here I thought I wouldn't like it that much because it was 'only' PG :-) Will I never learn? I really loved the way you built the angst between Spock and Kirk and the way I almost believed that Kirk would choose Carol and David. But... I didn't really buy that Kirk would have used artificial insemination to impregnate her. I had a hard time accepting Kirk as exclusively gay. Barring that the entire story was... very, very enjoyable. Any story that brings out strong emotions while reading is an accomplishment and you managed to make me feel a lot during the course of reading this. Thanks for sharing. Thanks so much for your kind words ... I appreciate them. This was a dificult story to write, trying to balance 'what we know' with 'what could have been' ... and making it all believable. I understand how 'Kirk being exclusively gay' is hard to believe ... after all, we have been made to think of him as a womanizer ... but in 'reality' he *may* be very different. I know someone in RL who is like this ... and even after 20 years, my mother will not believe he is gay (nor did she believe his partner of 30+ years was, either <g>) If you like, you can think of this as slightly a/u <g> Thanks once again for the feedback, >:-]
• Man, am I ever glad they worked it out. I'm kinda old fashioned in a way, but I have always disagreed with Carol's decision not to have Kirk acknowledged as the father of her child. I was yelling at the paper (I printed your story) because your superb writing style was getting me involved in your story. (This is a compliment, btw). You can imagine the looks I was getting from my wife! But I got involved. I think that's the highest compliment an author can get, and I'm giving it to you! Beautifully done! I am honored ... it is always gratifying to know your work can touch someone in some small way. Thank you. >:-]

Comments from the Kirk/Spock Archive

• Explains how Jim knew of David but David was oblivious that Jim was his father.

Wave 2

• Perceptions by Amanda Stinnett Casada for the scenario: Spock overhears a conversation between Kirk and McCoy and finds out Kirk's got a crush on him.
• He's My Friend by Bats, a story that did not meet any scenario.
• Perdition's Fortune by Bats for the scenario: Public sex. They are forced by an outside party. Fuck or die scenario.
• Moondance (revised version) by bigmisssunbeam for the scenario: Public sex by choice. Can be semi-public as well.
• Unexpected Hand by BlairHeart for the scenario: Instead of their usual game of chess, Kirk suggests strip-poker, mostly as a joke. To his surprise, Spock accepts. First time K/S.
• Arrows by Dreadnought for the scenario: Based loosely on the "Kirk gets sick" scenario. I call it the "Kirk gets an ow-ie" scenario.
• Give and Take by stageira for the scenario: Spock reveals that he's in love with Kirk but Spock does not see the logic in such a liaison.
• The Word Withheld on AO3 by J.S. Cavalcante for the scenario: A Spock from the future comes back in time and tells the "now" Spock to Carpe Diem... Seize the day...
• Homecoming by kira-nerys, a story that did not meet any scenario.
• The Truth of You by kira-nerys, poetry that did not meet any scenario.
• Getting to Know on AO3] by Rae Trail, for the scenario: Kirk is caught in Spock's quarters and becomes witness to Spock masturbating.
• In The Eye of the Beholder by Lady Hawk, for the scenario: Jim challenges T'Pring (or another Vulcan mate for Spock) to fight over Spock. Spock doesn't know this and is surprised to find Jim in his bed later. What will happen?

• The Park at Twilight by Liz Ellington for the scenario: Semi-public sex by choice.
• Ever and Always by Liz Ellington for the scenario: Kirk is seduced by a Vulcan woman and realizes that Vulcans do have the capacity to love outside their Mating Time.
• Naked Stars by T'Emael for the scenario: Christine Chapel plays match-maker.
• Like Mother, Like Daughter by T'Len for the scenario: A woman (reminiscent of Lwaxana Troi) comes aboard the Enterprise. She sets her eyes on Spock, and in a desperate attempt to divert her, Spock says he is bonded to Kirk, which - of course - he isn't. What next?
• You are Talking Too Much, Jim by T'Len for the scenario: During a diplomatic mission Kirk eats something, which has the effect of a strong aphrodisiac on him. He has to share a room with Spock and Jim can't keep his hands to himself.
• What if it's you? by Vanasati for the scenario: Kirk sees Spock throwing eyes at someone else, gets jealous and intervenes.

Reactions and Reviews: Wave 2

See reactions and reviews for The Word Withheld and Getting to Know.

[Moondance:original version] Comments from ASCEM. Author responses shown in italics.

• Sunbeam, oh moonbeam! How I love your style. I love that sparse, pared down and intimate writing, so shocking and intimate, and soooo sweet. Ahhhh..... Straight into the keeper file with that! I think I'm gonna have to give up K/S now that you're here! You do the boys SO well! And thank you for the dedication, that was very kind of you. I love Controlling!Spock and Debased!Kirk! But this story is all you... and I thank you for it. What a nice ride.
• Very cool! Way to go Sunbeam! Hot, Hot, Hot, lol.
• I really enjoyed this story. I especially liked the fact that Kirk and Spock had a discussion about the possibility that they would be expected to have sex. I do see them having a logical discussion about this. I really enjoyed your descriptions of the orgy and Kirk's reactions. I enjoyed the fact that Spock was so cool and matter of fact about the whole matter--even though we all know that he was dying to "stick it to" the captain. Oh, and I loved that Padek said that he isn't usually interested in Terrans, but "this is exquisite." I gotta admit, I'm not sure I get McCoy's joke: "Need anything to help you pass? I got some juice that'll do the trick." Is it because they are talking about passing as homosexuals, and he's joking about being able to...um...have bowel movements? I guess I shouldn't ask. oohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhnooooooooooooooo not that! anything but that!!! my joke (and it was a poor one) was that McCoy would give them some sort of aphrodisiac so they'd want to have sex with one and all. McCoy is a Southerner as am I; the notion of "passing" may be a Southern thing. [...] McCoy was offering them a hormone boost that would help them "pass" for gay. The part that surprised me about this story was that Kirk was thinking that Spock was fucking him like a woman. The early cues in this story are that homoerotic acts are not a big deal, and Kirk has engaged in them before. I'm not clear on why he's having such a reaction during this. And why he's convincing himself that he's drugged rather than having a positive reaction <g> to Spock fucking him. musta played up the "I am a gal" angle too much. Let me get back to the drawing board. My original thought about Kirk and Spock here was that Kirk couldn't believe he was forcing someone as straight and unemotional as Spock into fucking him. He was ashamed at how much he wanted the staid Spock. Not realizing that Spock was wild for him. Part of his denial is that he kept saying, fuck me one more time. Just until the mission is over. But I think that denial is more specific to the captain fucking (or being fucked by) his first officer. I think we agree. For Kirk, it's not the male/male thing, but the Spock thing. Other than my hesitation about those elements, I really enjoyed the story!

[Moondance:revised version] Comments from ASCEM

• Ahhhhhhh ..... <sigh of deep satisfaction>. I've been eagerly anticipating the repost of this story for ages, and it was certainly worth the wait. Sunbeam, you do such a fabulous job of putting the reader in Kirk's shoes, making us feel the sheer blind relentless physicality of Kirk's craving, making us also want more and more and more just as he does. This is one of the most erotic stories I think I've ever read. Even the political context fed into the eroticism of the story -- your leaving it suitably vague with just the right amount of purpose. I thought this version seemed more focused than the first version; perhaps there was even less talk and more action. I noticed that they didn't talk about their previous m/m experience in this version, and somehow the silence seemed to enhance the erotic tension. The "tiny pulse beating at the base of Spock's throat" at the first hint of what the evening might mean was a neat touch; it spoke volumes. Thanks for a most, hmmm, gratifying read.
• Dearie me, I missed this treasure first time round. What a satisfying story :) I love an orgy (who doesn't? <g>) and this was a particularly nice one. Lots of busy images, each one coming into focus then fading back as the next comes into vision. Yum. Now just what was with Jim's rather thinly shored up denial? LOL. How like Spock to gently humour the man along, it was very kind :). Loved these lines: "Jim. The commonplace syllable always sounded so exotic in Spock's voice, as if he were exploring the possibilities of a Jim, what a Jim could be." Mmm, loved the powerful and understated sexiness of Spock all through this story. Now this: "Kirk nodded. They were passing a large widow. 'Pretty scenery. I like that full moon.'" Bwahahahahahaaaa... oh dear, I love a well placed typo <g>. You see, I instantly saw a handsome and rather beefy older woman, flashing her buttocks at the passers-by......great story.

[Homecoming] Comments from the Kirk/Spock Archive

• This story is absolutely beautiful. Thank you for writing it.
• indeed very nice!
• That was one hot homecoming!It looks like they both had one thing on their minds, and it had to happen NOW. I like it :-D
• Extremely hot, I especially love the desperation written into Spock's actions and words. Very well done!

[You Are Talking Too Much, Jim] Comments from the Kirk/Spock Archive

• Jajajjajajjajajjajajjajajajjajajjajajjajajajjajajjajajajajjajajajja!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D
• that was awesome, written really well, hope you'll write more!! :P
• Enjoyable and amusing! poor Spock, six hours! 0__0 He was indeed too much!

References