FIC: "The Bandage and the Blade," Helen/Will/Nikola, Sanctuary, NC17

[geonncannon]

Title: The Bandage and the Blade
Author: geonncannon
Fandom: Sanctuary
Pairing: Helen Magnus/Nikola Tesla/Will Zimmerman
Word Count: 2,432
Category: AU, Angst, hurt/comfort, drama
Spoilers: End of Nights, Vigilante, One Night, Wingman, Carentan, Out of the Blue
Disclaimer: They don't belong to me.
Rating: NC17
Sequel to: The Whisper and the Shout, but it's

Comments

[sheikah]

You really need to put a warning on this that specifies that rape is mentioned. "A little bit of violence," made me think this was just in regards to Abby's death and while this may not be an issue for you personally, rape or the mention thereof is incredibly triggering to some people, myself included.

[geonncannon]

Oh, geez. I'm sorry! :( I really utterly apologize for leaving that off. It was very unthinking of me to put this out there without any kind of warning. I'm really sorry. :(

[sheikah]

It's fine, it's just clicking to read something I might be interested in since it's a pairing (combination?) I like and being bombarded with something that is incredibly triggering to me on a personal level, not so good. I have no doubt that it was unintentional.

[geonncannon]

~nods~ I've added a warning. There's nothing worse than being intrigued and having something like that jump up without warning. I was so focused on the first warning that I completely neglected the second. No excuse. :(

[technosage]

I don't want to be a jackass out of hand (because I'm quite capable of being one in hand and I recognize that), so before I tell you why I'm really disturbed by this fic, I'd like to ask a personal question. You don't have to answer it, because identity on the internet is yours to share or not as you choose.

Are you biologically or do you identify as male?

[geonncannon]

Oh, yikes. That's a scary caveat... but I am biologically male. ~cringes~

I knew this fic might be a little... ~coughs~ I'm sorry to hear you were disturbed by it whatever your reasons! That was NOT my intent whatsoever. Maybe I was channeling someone-- anyway, um, yeah. Go ahead. ~braces self~

[technosage]

In the interests of full disclosure: I am female, I identify as female, and I'm one of the owner-operators of an erotic romance publishing company known for publishing extremely edgy and sometimes very dark stories. Dubious consent is a staple, for example, but it's something we always warn for

[geonncannon]

I totally get your complaint and, to be honest, I'm starting to wish I'd listened to my better conscience and not included that line. But I thought I would throw it out there and... sigh. Yeah. ~rubs head~ It was a mistake

[technosage]

I very much appreciate you not getting super-defensive about this. It's difficult to hear criticism of something that you put a lot of work into, especially when it's a few lines in a larger piece.

I don't, for clarification, have any problem with men writing women. If I did, I shouldn't be allowed to write men or Abnormals.

We write where the muse takes us, and that's all right. You've been gracious, and seem to understand the content of the objection. Thank you for that.

In the future if you do choose to venture off in this direction - darkfic has a place in Fandom, lots of people write it, and I don't have to read it if it bothers me - just use a much stronger warning, and it'll help balance out the other issue.

[geonncannon]

There's nothing to get defensive about. It was a valid concern, and I should have thought more - a LOT more - about how to phrase the warning. It's rare for me to write a fic that needs two warnings, so I thought I had my bases covered with the first. And, technically, I should add a third for the bloodplay with Nikola and Will.

I'll do better in the future. It's far, far better for people to look at a warning and wonder why I bothered than to click and get blindsided by something they should have been warned about.

(I added a third warning... and the reason I'm doing it as second, third, is so that it's not buried/lost in the length of the first one... so I hope it'll keep anyone else from stumbling over it.)

Thank you for speaking up! It would be very easy to just wrinkle your nose and move me onto the blacklist or something. ;-D

[technosage]

I think your warnings are more than fine now. You probably could cover the entire thing with "character death, bloodplay, and controversial dubious consent, likely to trigger for rape and sexual abuse." That's probably what I would say if I'd written it.

Like I said, I appreciate your reasonableness all the way around. I'd rather speak up for my sake and that of others and give you a chance to speak for yourself, which you've done well.

Thank you, also.