The *other* reason we don't see as many condoms in fanfic as we should ...

[andraste]

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?

Comments

[andraste]

Ah, but at least the women on that island have an additional motive to demand their male lovers should wear condoms. Season 3 makes it quite clear that pregnancy = death sentence if they didn't get pregnant before setting foot on that island.

Oooo, that sounds interesting. I hope nothing bad happens to Sun!

Also, given that Sawyer has admitted to Jack and Kate he slept with a prostitute in s1, it would make sense for either party to demand condoms if they sleep with him.

Personally, I don't think I'd go near Sawyer without a Hazmat suit *g*. Who knows where he's been and what he's picked up?

Otoh, I don't think it would be an issue if Danielle slept with either Sayid or Locke, due to the emotional and mental state of all parties involved...

You will not be surprised to hear that I was thinking of Danielle/Locke when I made that remark *g*. I think with a show like Lost it depends very much on the characters. Depending on his state of mind, Jack would probably be sensible and use condoms. (Or practice non-penetrative sex if they'd run out. I wonder if those food drops include boxes of Trojans ...?) 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.

Well, he might have as long as he still thought the guy was Zane or, in the 5YGverse, Nathan.*g*

Good point! In that situation, it would go something like this:

Mohinder: *long speech about safer sex in the same tone of voice he uses to monologue about evolution*

Sylar: *contemplates killing Mohinder, self. Agrees to condom so Mohinder will shut up*

(Also, I bet condoms were used when Jessica slept with actual Nathan in the realverse.)

Absolutely. Apart from anything else, Nathan doesn't want any more illegitimate offspring.

But yeah, otherwise I doubt it would be an issue in a Sylar/Mohinder story.

Should Mohinder ever be in a mental state where he'd (willingly) have sex with Sylar, I feel safe in saying that STDs will be the last thing he needs to worry about.

Hiro and Ando wouldn't have to bother either, due to presumed lack of sexual activities elsewhere.

They should be safe until the day when humans can catch viruses from too much internet porn *g*.

Peter, being the little black dress of Heroes, can be plausibly written as thinking of it (he's a nurse, after all) or ignoring the nessecity (swept away by emotions), depending on whom he gets paired with.

Also, he has Claire's healing factor. Condoms would be useful as contraception for both of them, but they could well be immune to disease.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

You will not be surprised to hear that I was thinking of Danielle/Locke when I made that remark *g*.

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.

[astrogirl2.livejournal.com]

I could see him suggest condoms just for LOLs

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?!

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Oh, god. Why am I actually capable of hearing that in my head?

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...

[astrogirl2.livejournal.com]

*whimpers*

[andraste]

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.

Based on this and your conversation with AstroGirl, I have the feeling that I'm going to enjoy Season Three *g*.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

I must admit I haven't watched the first half of s3 yet, which supposedly is all about the Kate/Sawyer/Jack triangle, but the second one rocks, imo (and hads lots of Locke, who is part of the far more interesting triangle of Locke/Island/Ben (aka Henry Gale from s2)).

[andraste]

I must admit I haven't watched the first half of s3 yet, which supposedly is all about the Kate/Sawyer/Jack triangle, but the second one rocks, imo (and hads lots of Locke, who is part of the far more interesting triangle of Locke/Island/Ben (aka Henry Gale from s2)).

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.

[astrogirl2.livejournal.com]

Excellent. Write us some fic when you're done watching it. ;)

[andraste]

Excellent. Write us some fic when you're done watching it. ;)

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.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Good point! In that situation, it would go something like this:

Mohinder: *long speech about safer sex in the same tone of voice he uses to monologue about evolution*

Sylar: *contemplates killing Mohinder, self. Agrees to condom so Mohinder will shut up*

This is totally how it would go.

Absolutely. Apart from anything else, Nathan doesn't want any more illegitimate offspring.

Which only leaves the question: would he use condoms with a man, too? *veg*

[astrogirl2.livejournal.com]

This is totally how it would go.

That's probably the only reason he'd bother. Anybody who eats brains is clearly not particularly contentious about disease prevention. Mmm, Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease...

[andraste]

That's probably the only reason he'd bother. Anybody who eats brains is clearly not particularly contentious about disease prevention. Mmm, Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease...

Psycopaths are generally bad at risk assessment, as this behaviour illustrates. Sylar is just asking for a horrible disease *g*.

[astrogirl2.livejournal.com]

Sylar's asking for a lot of things, but that's definitely one of them. :)

(And how did I let my spellchecker mangle my attempt at "conscientious" into "contentious" in that comment above? *scratches head*)

[andraste]

Which only leaves the question: would he use condoms with a man, too? *veg*

Probably depends on the man. With Hiro? I think so, because I see Nathan as being rather protective of him. He'd probably use them out of concern for Hiro's health rather than his own, unless he had a recent clean STD test.

With Peter? This is another one of those pairings where condom use would really be the least of the characters' worries *g*. I vote no, because if Nathan is having sex with his brother, I somehow doubt either of them is thinking this through.

... and Nathan not being the Little Black Dress of fandom that his brother is, does he even get slashed with anyone other than those two?

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Your arguments are convincing.*g*

... and Nathan not being the Little Black Dress of fandom that his brother is, does he even get slashed with anyone other than those two?

There is some Nathan/Linderman and some Nathan/Mohinder (err, not Sylar-as-Nathan/Mohinder, but Real!Nathan/Mohinder), but I don't think I've spotted more than two or so stories of each.