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

Part II

[amonitrate.livejournal.com]

Now we change to Pepper's POV.

He was looking. Pepper knew he was, as surely as she knew her own name, but she didn't call him on it. There was no point; he'd only laugh, and anyway she wasn't actually revealing anything Tony hadn't seen before. She'd made him look away in order to keep some control of the situation--and because she'd never hear the end of it if she didn't.

So Pepper's aware that he's gone against her express request to not stare at her while she takes off her stockings, and she doesn't call him on it. Why? Not because she welcomes the attention, but because "there was no point." Because "she'd never hear the end of it." So what kind of power does Pepper have? Not the power to even take off her stockings in peace. She comes off here as worn down, passive. She has no control over the situation, not really, and knows it. And he rubs it in, constantly, by going against her express wishes. If this was in real life, I'd call this relationship abusive and manipulative; not healthy or romantic at all. Which -- those stories can be good, no lie; but the problem is that doesn't appear to be the intent of this story; this story appears to say that Tony's behavior is acceptable and even romantic.

She'd made him look away in order to keep control of the situation and yet she has no control at all, because he looks anyway.

Here's where the mixed messages start:

He straightened on the bench, looking as innocent as possible, and Pepper kept her smile to herself, taking a seat on the bench opposite him and reaching for her bottle of water.

This contradicts what has gone before, but it's not explained. Why is she smiling? Before she comes off as just barely tolerating his behavior because she feels there's no point in protesting.

“I'm locked in a small space with a beautiful woman, and all she wants to do is talk business. Just my luck.”

Tony tries again, gives her an in to a sexual encounter. She ignores it and continues on trying to talk business. At one point Pepper does physically reach out to him, but the context is comforting his angst. In her narration, there is nothing sexual about it.

And here's another bit of the power imbalance, from Pepper's perspective: She still had to deal with Tony as well, and they hadn't yet found a balance as equals, as it were.

Which again, makes sense given the plot. And would be interesting to explore. But again, given the nature of the encounter to follow, takes on a completely different meaning.

Pepper takes a look at him, her desire for him is made plain. But she moves on in her thoughts back to the business. So does Tony. Again, Pepper chooses against acting on any sexual thoughts.

Pepper gets uncomfortably soggy from the heat.

Pepper stood, and reached back for the zipper of her dress. “I'm too hot. And I swear to you, Tony Stark, if you so much as think about this once we get out of here, I will make your life a living hell whether I'm your assistant or not.” She pulled the zipper down in two quick motions.

She repeats her disinterest in making this a sexual encounter, even goes as far as to express her displeasure that he'd think about her sexually afterwards. She does not try to take off her dress in a seductive manner; the opposite. She merely wants to be less hot and not be harassed about it.

“Can I think about it now?” Tony asked, voice a little constricted. Pepper ignored him.

Again, she rejects his attempt to sexualize the moment. Her thoughts are not about how the moment is romantic or sexually charged, but about how she doesn't want to get a rash.

She's aware of his sexual desire. She's aware of her desire for him. She chooses not to act on it. Again.