With Cords of a Man

Fanfiction
Title:	With Cords of a Man
Author(s):	Vivienne Rivers
Date(s):	1984
Length:
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
External Links:
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With Cords of a Man is a Kirk/Spock story by Vivienne Rivers.

It was published in the print zine The Voice #3. Prequel: Those Who Favour Fire. Sequel: Mending Walls.

Summary

"On the first night back of the Enterprise after leaving Organia, Kirk and Spock set the parameters of their new relationship.

Reactions and Reviews

1986

The first thing I noted was an interesting exchange about sex roles. Kirk: "I wanted you to indulge me — what am I doing up here?" Spock: "Is it obligatory that I indulge you from the dominant position?" What Spock is saying is that being on top can be passive, contrary to stereotype. I cite this as an example of playing with sex roles and not relying on the conventional. And where did I see this? In an English K/S zine, which Joanna Russ says are much more role-dominated than American K/S zines. I don't find this to be the case. I find that English and American K/S are both equally role-dominated with a few memorable exceptions in the output of both countries.

Another issue brought forward in "With Cords of a Man" is the one of spatial needs and perceptions. Toward the end of the story. Kirk worries about "crowding" Spock and asks if he doesn't want some privacy. Spock responds that it isn't necessary. It occurs me that if Spock did need privacy, he doesn't have to go elsewhere for it. He can go inside himself by establishing a trance state. This would influence Spock's perception of space and privacy. Kirk, like most contemporary Americans, has to have actual unshared space and a closed door to see himself as having privacy. Japanese don't expect to have space of their own, but this doesn't mean they have no privacy. For them, privacy is internal as it is with Vulcans. Both Vulcans and Japanese know that they can go away somewhere else in their minds, and be totally alone inside themselves. Vivienne doesn't point this out in her story, but the differences in spatial needs explain Spock's reaction to Kirk's concern about privacy better than a sentimental belief in eternal togetherness. Since Kirk and Spock are in their honeymoon phase in this story, Spock may be feeling an obsessive desire never to be parted from Kirk for an instant, but he still has this knowledge that his mind is his best resource for privacy, if he should need it.