Yes, He Said, Yes

Fanfiction
Title:	Yes, He Said, Yes
Author(s):	Kathy Stanis
Date(s):	1993
Length:
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: TOS
Relationship(s):	Kirk/Spock
External Links:
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Yes, He Said, Yes is a Kirk/Spock story by Kathy Stanis.

It was published in the print zine First Time #37.

Summary

"Kirk and Spock are lovers but Kirk refuses to meld during sex until, raped by his own body while trapped in Janice Lesterʼs, he realizes the difference love can make."

Reactions and Reviews

Beautifully poetic, this story explores Spock's need for a mind meld with Kirk and Kirk's fears of the resulting knowledge and intimacy. The Janice Lester incident is used as a catalyst for Kirk and Spock to understand the needs and desires that come with their lovemaking.

Lovely language: "The Vulcan stepped into his warm red room, sat on his cold red bed." And there's so much beauty and sensuality in this story, I wish I could relate it all. Some highlights are: His fingers touched the soft face; his mind gently peered into the open doorways of his captain's vibrant mind, and he was drawn into the quicksilver flow — the love was so warm It felt wet."

While allowing for the description of Janice Lester in Kirk's body raping Kirk (a very powerful idea) -- the only thing this story needs is a through line of a plot. Without an event or a dramatic happening, the poetic language tends to meander. We have nothing to follow along with the emotional build-up so the language loses some if its potential impact. Somehow, it needs some place to go.

But still, when read slowly and carefully, the images really take off. With a surrounding plot, they might have soared. One of the most insightful parts was when Kirk thought of the mind meld: "It was an ultimate exposure, and Kirk sometimes thought he needed a little something to withhold, that if he were known so completely there would be none of the mystery that love thrived on." I found this to be so perceptive and so exactly Kirk. One last word on the title. The "yes" of the story becomes twofold. One, it's

Kirk' s acquiescence to Spock for a mind meld. Two, it's Spock's need for Kirk's vulnerability and openness. It's a superb title that is thoughtful and intriguing.

I first read it years ago and thought it was too dense. On this reading I found out it was me who was dense and the writing was intense! All about Kirk at first not wanting the bond and how empty that made Spock feel. But through the encounter with Janice Lester—here she is again!—Kirk realizes what he's been denying his lover, and accepts the bond joyfully. A beautiful vignette and the illo that goes with it, by Fiona Graves, is simply gorgeous.