Hmmm.

[vr_trakowski]

If you read Löyli, would you be willing to give me an opinion on a possibly touchy issue? 


It has been brought to my attention that the scenario I created in Löyli could be considered sexual assault. 

I am not in possession of details, so I'm not sure to which part the objection refers--Tony hugging Pepper during their argument, or the encounter afterwards.  It could be both, I suppose, though I thought I was making it clear that Pepper was entirely willing for at least the latter part. 

In my head, Tony's hug, while unwelcome, isn't sexual in nature; it's a product of his epiphany, and he doesn't let her go at first because he's too caught up in that to pay attention to her anger.  But I may not have made that clear enough.  It could also be that some definitions of sexual assault are more stringent than mine. 

Opinions?  I'd really like to know what you think; you are, after all, the people for whom these stories are written.  Did I go too far?  Did I break character?  Am I doing the characters, or the fandom, a disservice? 

Thank you. 

ETA: Wow.  I wasn't anticipating quite this response, but I'm glad to see it!  Thank you all for your honesty, and for your courtesy.  And if you came from somewhere outside the fandom, welcome, feel free to join in. 

I fully intend to respond to the new replies, but if I don't get some sleep I'm going to start hallucinating, so I'll be back tomorrow.  Please, carry on meanwhile if you are so moved; just stay courteous. 

Comments

[4persephone.livejournal.com]

>>>I realized later that this is common in romance novels, that outright rape and "forced seduction" are/were integral parts of that genre in many ways, and this maybe is why the views of this story are so varying.

Interesting comments - definitely thought provoking. It's just intriguing to me because I guess I chose to process what I was reading differently than some. I didn't so much see this piece as a battle between Pepper and Tony about the nature of their relationship as I saw it being the outward expression of emotional battles that both were having with themselves... -shrugs- Yes it was edgy - but I guess I didn't find it upsetting because they both made choices and had moments they could have cried quits, but they did not. It may not have been a pretty way to begin a relationship - but it still felt believable to me, and I like the characters enough to know that ideal beginning or not, they are likely to find ways to talk it through and work it out.

[amonitrate.livejournal.com]

I didn't so much see this piece as a battle between Pepper and Tony about the nature of their relationship as I saw it being the outward expression of emotional battles that both were having with themselves.

I don't see this as a battle over the nature of their relationship either. I saw Tony force unwanted physical attention onto Pepper, who very blatantly told him to stop, and he didn't. Until she physically hurt him. And then he tried it again.

[(Anonymous)]

Again that's your right of interpretation - I'm not saying your view is wrong, I'm just expressing my own. I didn't find what Tony did as offsetting as you did apparently, and I still throughly enjoyed the story as a whole. VR asked for opinions so I gave her one as honestly as I could...

:)

-yawns-

-goes to feed Kaia-

[amonitrate.livejournal.com]

I disagree this case is a matter of interpretation. What atrata and I have both done is merely state exactly what happens in the story. The facts of the actions. No one has disputed that this is what in fact happens in the story. In fact, no one has engaged with these facts, and have instead sidestepped the issue completely.