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The *other* reason we don't see as many condoms in fanfic as we should ...
You know, sometimes the characters are (in the past/in the future/on the astral plane/having interspecies tentacle sex/evil giant robots/omnipotent) and condoms just don't seem relevant to the situation. And other times, the characters are idiots.
I mean I care deeply about whether the characters in the story I'm writing practice safe sex, but I'm not entirely sure that they do. It's the mid-eighties, so they definitely should use protection. But given that they walk around with nuclear accelerators strapped to their backs, unsafe sex is probably not high on the list of stupid things that are likely to get them killed.
Probably I will solve this dilemma by putting this argument into the story, but it occurred to me that this has cross-fandom applications. Maybe one of the reasons condom use isn't universal in fanfiction is that many of the characters we write about take ludicrous risks of other kinds.
Now, I think it's entirely in character for Buffy Summers to endanger her life fighting vampires every night but demand that her lovers (well, the human ones) use condoms. Taking risks in one area of life doesn't necessarily mean that you'll take them in another. But if you're stuck on a desert island with invisible monsters, is not catching an STD really that much of a priority? If you're with the brain-eating serial killer who murdered your father, are you actually going to try to discuss safer sex?
I mean I care deeply about whether the characters in the story I'm writing practice safe sex, but I'm not entirely sure that they do. It's the mid-eighties, so they definitely should use protection. But given that they walk around with nuclear accelerators strapped to their backs, unsafe sex is probably not high on the list of stupid things that are likely to get them killed.
Probably I will solve this dilemma by putting this argument into the story, but it occurred to me that this has cross-fandom applications. Maybe one of the reasons condom use isn't universal in fanfiction is that many of the characters we write about take ludicrous risks of other kinds.
Now, I think it's entirely in character for Buffy Summers to endanger her life fighting vampires every night but demand that her lovers (well, the human ones) use condoms. Taking risks in one area of life doesn't necessarily mean that you'll take them in another. But if you're stuck on a desert island with invisible monsters, is not catching an STD really that much of a priority? If you're with the brain-eating serial killer who murdered your father, are you actually going to try to discuss safer sex?
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Yay!
Locke would be more likely to trust to the will of the island, at least up to the point where I last caught up with him.
Oh, that attitude won't change later on.*g* The character other than Danielle I could see him having sex with is a mindmessing sociopath somewhat frustrated about Locke's greater connection to the island and the island's healing abilities; I could see him suggest condoms just for LOLs, not as part of a serious precaution, and otherwise just skip them.
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Oh, god. Why am I actually capable of hearing that in my head?
And what is it with the deeply messed-up antagonist pairings lately?!
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Because the internet has corrupted us both?
And what is it with the deeply messed-up antagonist pairings lately?!
Well, come on. They already had chemistry back in season 2. And Drew Goddard totally knew what he was doing when giving them more scenes together in his episodes in s3! We're just a good audience...
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Based on this and your conversation with AstroGirl, I have the feeling that I'm going to enjoy Season Three *g*.
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I am going to be so, so tempted to fast-forward through Kate/Sawyer/Jack and just watch the interesting bits, but I'm glad that there is lots of Locke to look forward to! Locke/Island/Ben for the win.
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I'll try, although for some reason I seem incapable of actually writing Lost fic. All my bunnies for that fandom are vid bunnies! Maybe Season Three will change that, though.