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

[st-crispins.livejournal.com]

Unless someone is really fascinated by torture side, I do believe that the point of h/c is about emotional intimacy and has a kind of eroticism (visceral physicality?) to it and have said so in the past in terms of women looking for feelings of nurturance/being nurtured to within fiction. (I'd have to go rummage through my lj to find it).

Like you, I don't believe most gen writers are writing it because they're afraid or uncomfortable with writing sex between the partners. Some folks are nervous about writing sex ---period --- even when they're writing slash so that's not where the correlation lies. (Hard to believe for slash writers, I know, but the possibility of sex between partners may not even *occur* to a gen writer)

However, I do think a lot of fan writing has a strong emphasis (and one might argue *over* emphasis) on the emotional side of a story. As slash writers have argued to me, it's not the sex but the intimacy that's important. H/c is steeped in intimacy so there's definitely a relation.

Personally, I'd rather read a decent slash story than one that is specifically written as h/c. In RL, when I'm hurt, I would rather withdraw than seek so-called comfort in whatever form.

To me, even fictionally, h/c works like this: "Hurt... and leave me the hell alone." :)

[leethet.livejournal.com]

The funny thing is, I'm the same way. When I'm not well I'd want to kill anyone who fussed over me (except that I'm not well enough to do it). I suppose because I grew up without fussing. I know it's meant well, but it's an irritant at the time. However, I'd call one guy dragging his injured partner out of the line of fire and holding a hand to a bleeding wound until help arrives H/C. Emergency H/C, and grudging H/C. That's what I like. :) The tucking in of covers, etc., is OK if not overdone. If it goes a little too mommy-ish, I admit I don't care for it.

[st-crispins.livejournal.com]

one guy dragging his injured partner out of the line of fire and holding a hand to a bleeding wound until help arrives H/C.

See, I wouldn't call this H/C. I'd call it necessary. :)

If it goes a little too mommy-ish, I admit I don't care for it.

Yeah, that's pretty much where I am. And I really can't abide one of the guys 'tucking in' the other.

[leethet.livejournal.com]

one guy dragging his injured partner out of the line of fire and holding a hand to a bleeding wound until help arrives H/C.

See, I wouldn't call this H/C. I'd call it necessary. :)

I guess it's just my version of H/C. :)