The Darker Side, Month One : Incest (warning, triggers likely)

[kahuna_burger]

Welcome to the Darker Side! In case you missed the initial discussion, these posts are going to explore some of the more 'warning-worthy' topics and tropes that we see and use in fic. They are meant as both prompts and discussion topics, so if you are inspired to write a fic, post a bunny, link to an example of things 'done well', discuss in

Comments

[agdhani]

one of my earliest rp experiences was with a character who was suffering from split personality...he had 3 distinct selves, one of whom was a child version of himself developed after an incestuous/rape relationship with an older brother. It was a challenge to write, to say the least, but it pushed my comfort limits and helped me grow as a writer.

Later (with the same writing partner) we wrote a 'couple'...a man and a boy who became involved (they're part of a clan of supernatural beings who don't view such things as wrong...see them as normal between partners 'destined' to be Mates)...who discovered later they were father and son. That would, I guess, be part of that genetic sexual attraction spectrum.

We also wrote/write a relationship between brothers...where it isn't an attraction thing but rather a 'we're horny and there's no one else around, so why not each other' sort of relationship.

Maybe its telling that the only incestual relationships I've written are between male characters...

[asphaltcowgrrl]

That's actually a really fascinating array of fics/RPs you've written.

I agree with what Dreamy said below in regards to alien/gods/etc to make it a step removed from our own cultural taboos and making it more paltable. And I agree that it would fall under the genetic attraction spectrum.

[agdhani]

The list is made of of 'houses'...where head of house (the writer) has a family of clones...characters from books, tv, movies and any npcs they want to write. This particular writer and I have combined our 'houses' and have a huge group of characters to choose from, so we've created a lot of interesting scenarios. We've been at it for about 13 years now, so we must be doing something right to keep at it ;)

[asphaltcowgrrl]

I think the two of you are doing something MORE than right! Congrats and keep it up. :)

[agdhani]

Writing with her was my first foray into slash...into smut...into pushing out of my comfort zone to try new ideas and directions. I really can't credit her enough for facilitating my growth as a writer.
RL has given us less time to write together now, (she's on the east coast and I'm on the west...logistics are tricky) but we still do it as often as we can.

[asphaltcowgrrl]

It's awesome that you found someone that not only encouraged you but helped you to become more than you were. And I hear ya. I'm on the west coast as well and everyone else is at the closest in the Midwest. :/

[kahuna_burger]

"Maybe its telling that the only incestual relationships I've written are between male characters..."

Ya, the likelyhood of procreation does play a role in how incest is seen as well, in my experience. Especially when the Skywalker effect is in play, if there is no possibility of babies, it moves it into the catagory of "social taboo" imo.

[agdhani]

Yea...removing the possibility of pregnancy helps I guess...though I've yet to write sisters or a mother/daughter, aunt/niece sort of thing either. Maybe that will be our next endeavor.