Be afraid

[leethet]

Like all my fanfic thoughts, this is probably a dead horse kind of thing. But I was thinking that in gen hurt/comfort, there is a strong erotic element. It's not exactly sexual, but it's usually extremely physical -- much touching, much physical trust and intimacy. And I wonder if it's as close as nonslashers will get to slash. Any and all thoughts on the topic are welcome here.

Comments

[franciskerst.livejournal.com]

In the story I was refering to, the whole situation is felt as embarassing and disturbing by Napoleon, while Illya is too sick to mind, and the result is (temporarily) more distance and wariness, not more closeness; so, I thought the physical intimacy was really not slash but was nonetheless deemed slashy by a strictly gen reviewer. I suppose she used the same argument (maybe not slash in itself but could be perceived as equivocal by some readers).

Personally, contrary to you, I love ambiguity, but it was not so in this case (too early in the partnership). If I ever write slash, it will be as unexplicit as possible, not because I positively dislike sex scenes but because I find the emotion stronger that way.

[leethet.livejournal.com]

I don't mind ambiguity in a story. :) I just don't have it in the sexuality of the characters when I'm writing gen and slash. I know where their persuasion lies when I write them. That doesn't mean there can't be ambiguity in the story (of many sorts); it only means there's none in my mind as I'm writing. :)
However, I think I understand what you're saying about the story you're referring to -- and it is true that a gen story may be perceived by a reader as slashy. That's well and good. I only draw a line when a reader tries to tell me I wrote a slash story when I wrote a gen story. As ever, readers can think what they like. I just don't like other people telling me what I was thinking. :)

[st-crispins.livejournal.com]

My feeling is that unless explicitly stated, slash is often in the eye of the beholder. Some folks see slash where others do not.

I don't really care whether or not someone finds something I wrote slashy. I know what I was thinking when I wrote it. Once it's out in the world, readers can provide whatever interpretation they desire.

Frankly, I'd rather that than not be read at all :)

[leethet.livejournal.com]

I don't really care whether or not someone finds something I wrote slashy. I know what I was thinking when I wrote it.

I entirely agree.